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February into March (Contest)
Friday, February 28th, 2025

UPDATE: The winner is…Ani Stubbs!
*~*~*

All my plans are kind of in the air as of yesterday. I have to rejigger my work schedule to prepare for surgery on April 1st. It will be a long recovery because they are doing a full hysterectomy, plus taking out anything affected by cancer (omentum, maybe lymph nodes). The surgeon said it would take 4-6 weeks to recover. My daughter who had a radical a few years ago said think a year before you feel normal-ish again. I told the doctor my only concern is when I can get into the pool this summer. I expect to be back at work, even if I’m sitting in a recliner with my laptop instead of at my desk, within two weeks. Anyway, the upcoming surgery is guiding my workplan this month.

February

Work-related:

  1. Again, I didn’t write a single word in all of February. That was not the plan, but recovery of my imagination and stick-to-it-iveness hasn’t been something I can force, obviously.
  2. I completed 2 editing projects for other authors in February and am nearing the end of another. They were all long projects, so I feel like I’m tooling along with the editing. I’m back up to speed.
  3. So, yeah, it was another light-ish month of work! However, my pace is improving.

Health-related:

  1. I met with the heart doctor in early February. Everything there is trending well. My hypertension is under control.
  2. I had bloodwork done at the beginning of this week. My Cancer Antigen test was a normal-range 23—so it looks like the cancer is still reined in!
  3. I met with the gynecological oncology surgeon yesterday, and I’m a go for a full hysterectomy+ on April 1st—something I was told would probably never be in my cards when I started my journey but is going to happen now!

Happiness-related: 

  1. I attended my art guild’s meeting this month and participated in a guided painting session. It was so fun!
  2. I have been painting this month and began the #100dayproject! Here are a few small pieces I completed:

March

Ignition  
For work-related, I plan:

  1. AGAIN: To complete Ignition before the end of the month and publish it. Writing is a little elusive still, but I need to get this one out the door before my surgery.
  2. To plot stories for the new year for my current series, Montana Bounty Hunters: Yellowstone, MT and We are Dead Horse.
  3. To complete 3 editing projects in March. Plus, I will get halfway through another project that I will continue after surgery.
  4. To look at books I already have out that I might bundle together or publish in print. I’ll be assembling another Ultra collection of short stories for publication soon—maybe not in March because I’m going to be getting ready for surgery and down-time, but soon.

For health-related, I plan:

  1. To get another immunotherapy infusion in early March.
  2. To watch what I eat to drop a few pounds before surgery. I want to be as healthy as I can be going in.
  3. To add more physical activities to my daily routine to regain more muscle tone before I spend weeks being nearly immobile after surgery!

For happiness-related, I plan: 

  1. To get my affairs in order. That sounds so dark, doesn’t it? I just mean that I want bills paid, passwords to my accounts updated and recorded, so my dd can handle things for me during my post-op period. I don’t want to leave everything until the last minute. And yeah, I do want her to know where the life insurance policies are…
  2. To continue the #100dayproject, although I concede I will likely have to take a hiatus just before surgery and for a couple of weeks afterward, so I won’t be finishing in 100 days, but I will produce 100 pieces as quickly as I can.
  3. To spend time with the family—more movies, meals, and flea market adventures!

Contest

Comment on anything you’ve read in this post. Tell me what you’re doing to make yourself happier and healthier, or tell me what you plan to read in March…

Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

12 comments to “February into March (Contest)”

  1. Deb Brown
    Comment
    1
    · February 28th, 2025 at 9:22 am · Link

    You are strong woman. Listen to your doctors so many of us sometimes ignore advice but you are listening to them. Sometimes it’s hard not to get everything you want to do done. But the most important thing is for you to do now is to do what your docs want. Your family and us need you but remind them to also take care of themselves. This is a journey you all are on us. Thank you for allowing us to be with you in our love and prayers



  2. Jennifer Beyer
    Comment
    2
    · February 28th, 2025 at 2:52 pm · Link

    I love when you share your artwork. The flowers in a vase are really cool.



  3. flchen
    Comment
    3
    · February 28th, 2025 at 3:40 pm · Link

    Love seeing your work, Delilah, and thank you for the update on your health journey. Will be praying for your upcoming surgery–please take good care of yourself and give yourself the space and time to heal and recover. Hugs!



  4. BN
    Comment
    4
    · February 28th, 2025 at 4:38 pm · Link

    nice art



  5. Anna Taylor Sweringen
    Comment
    5
    · February 28th, 2025 at 5:14 pm · Link

    Your art work is so inspiring. No need to enter me in the drawing.



  6. Mary Preston
    Comment
    6
    · February 28th, 2025 at 6:29 pm · Link

    I think that getting your affairs in order, for whatever reason, just makes so much sense.

    I particularly like the gold fish art work.



  7. Diane Sallans
    Comment
    7
    · February 28th, 2025 at 8:18 pm · Link

    When my sister-in-law had her hysterectomy surgery I sent her a small “hysterectomy pillow” that was suggested:

    Tummy Pillow: Hold a small pillow over your incision area when coughing or sneezing to protect it from strain.
    Seatbelt Pillow: Place a small pillow between your tender incision area and the seatbelt during car rides for comfort.

    This is the kind of thing that you just keep moving forward step by step – wishing you all the luck!



  8. Sara
    Comment
    8
    · February 28th, 2025 at 10:13 pm · Link

    I had a full hysterectomy due to uterine cancer and though they told me 6 weeks and up to 6 months to feel more normal, I was feeling fine by end of 1st week, by 2nd week I was ready to go back to work since I sit at a desk. But decided to give myself the 6 weeks and was glad I did so as I found my strength felt ok until I tried to do simple things like walk the grocery store. Give yourself the treat of the full 6weeks and enjoy the time for you. You deserve it! Will keep you in my prayers!



  9. Debra
    Comment
    9
    · March 1st, 2025 at 7:17 am · Link

    I am so happy for you that you are able to get this surgery. We will all be routing for you. The planes are rumbly today.



  10. cindy
    Comment
    10
    · March 2nd, 2025 at 2:44 pm · Link

    I have to make a few doctor appointments I put off because of the weather.
    I will have my new furnace paid off this month.
    Try to start some deep decluttering.



  11. Ani Stubbs
    Comment
    11
    · March 12th, 2025 at 9:37 pm · Link

    I am happy youre alive. Already lighting candles for APRIL. you got this.



  12. Delilah
    Comment
    12
    · March 14th, 2025 at 8:25 am · Link

    Thanks for all the kind comments!

    The winner of the GC is…Ani Stubbs!



Comments are closed.