I had chemo on Monday, so the rest of the week passed in a haze of aches and fatigue. I’m feeling much better today, and yesterday I only took one pain pill so I could get to sleep but didn’t need a thing to get through the day!
My wound from my port removal is healing nicely. It no longer has to be packed—TG! That hurt like hell. Now, ripping off the tape is more painful than dealing with the incision. Progress!
I’m still doing the daily Advent giveaway on my Facebook friends page. If you’re not there, you don’t know what fun you’re missing!Â
The family watched Elf last night! Still love it!
This next week…
The only medical appointment I have is one to get my white blood cell count booster shot tomorrow. The rest of the week is smooth sailing as I continue to recover from chemo. The second week after usually means more fatigue, but the aches die away.
I have two sets of authors’ edits to complete this week!
I need to upload Once Upon a Legend to sites other than Amazon since it’s no longer exclusive there.
I do plan to putter some more around my office to clear out some more clutter—mostly to just get in some movement. My In Box seems to grow every time I turn around…
I have Christmas presents to wrap this week. No more procrastinating!
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I worked on one author’s edits! A not so productive week, but after spending a good part of the previous week in the hospital, I finally feel more myself.
The only medical appointment I had was a quick visit with the oncologist for a checkup post hospital stay and a blood draw. The blood draw let me know that my Cancer Antigen test result was finally in normal range, which lets me know the chemo is doing its job. Yay!
My daughter and the 15-year-old have been troopers, changing out my bandages and packing gauze into the wound (TMI?) twice a day since coming home from the hospital after my surgery to remove my port. It’s painful, yes, and now my IVs during chemo will be delivered by a vein, rather than through the much more convenient port, but I’ll be damned if they put another port in. My body didn’t like it one bit!
I began the daily Advent giveaway on my Facebook friends page. If you’re not there, you don’t know what fun you’re missing! 🙂
We watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—it’s an annual thing! It’s still as silly as ever.
This next week…
Chemo is tomorrow! I’ll be there bright and early in the morning and sitting in the chair until around 3 PM. It’s a long day, but they start it off with a bag of Benedryl, so I get a long nap, too. Silver linings, folks!
Although I’ll be pretty miserable all week long, I have two sets of edits for other authors to work on, one to finish. I’ll piddle five pages here, five pages there between naps and get ‘er done.
I do plan to putter around my office a little bit during the week to clear out some more clutter—mostly to just get in some movement, if not real exercise. My In Box is beyond the teetering phase, and there’s still dust on my bookshelves…
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I finished one author’s edits and will complete another’s today! So, a productive week, even if I didn’t write one word for myself.
I attended the annual potluck at my art guild. It was lovely seeing friends! I was good until just after I finished eating, then I felt as though a curtain fell and I was instantly exhausted. You can see the moment in the picture. Unfortunately, I couldn’t leave immediately because my dd, SIL, and the girls were busy hanging donated wreaths around the center after the meal. When I got home, I crawled straight into bed and slept like a rock. The food was good BTW. 🙂
I had a Doppler scan of my port area. The doctor wanted to rule out blood clots as the cause for the swelling. No clots! But also no explanation for why my port area is still swelling and sore. I also had a blood draw to make sure I’m good to go for infusions on Monday!
I watched the romcom Hot Frosty this week on Netflix. So I got in one Christmas movie! It was really cute! I’d recommend.
This next week…
Chemo is tomorrow! I’ll be there bright and early in the morning and sitting in the chair until around 3 PM. It’s a long day, but they start it off with a bag of Benedryl, so I get a long nap, too. Silver linings, folks!
I have no plans to do ANY WORK AT ALL this week. I’ll likely be miserable and sleeping most of the week anyway, but without the stress of working. My holiday gift to me.
Despite the fact I’ll be in my worst phase of recovery from chemo on Thanksgiving Day, I’m still looking forward to spending it with my family. Maybe I’ll sleep in the recliner in the living room rather than in my bed so I can hear the chatter and be closer to the kitchen and dining room. Fewer steps to walk! I do love the holiday meal!!!
I do plan to putter around my office a little bit during the week to clear out some clutter. Mostly to get in some movement, if not real exercise. Clutter tends to accumulate without my even noticing, but I’m noticing now because my In Box is so tall it’s teetering, and there’s dust on my bookshelves. So, there’s a goal.
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I wrote zero words! Zero! I didn’t even revise anything I’ve written, although I have a book coming out soon that needs it!
I completed 3 editing projects for other authors in October.
Still, with so little productivity, I feel like I climbed mountains.
Health-related:
I underwent my third round of chemo and noted how I felt during the days after so I could try to figure out how to work around the chemo schedule. The fatigue continues to be the worst part. My 4th round, which was to start on the 28th, was canceled due to my extremely low platelet count. The chemo-induced anemia is kicking my butt. The aches only last a few days. My white blood count takes a beating, too, but the shots they give me after chemo bring it up quickly. They are going to adjust one of the medicines they give me to try to address the platelet issue.
I’m maintaining my 20 pounds weight loss.
I’m losing muscle tone. I know I need to add some sort of exercise to my schedule on days when I can get around, but I’ve just been so tired I tend to sleep a lot.
I had a CT scan with contrast yesterday. The “shadow” they previously saw on my spine is gone. The nodule on my liver is gone. They see reduction in the thickness of my omentum and the sizes of the tumors in my ovaries and uterus. I won’t know any numbers until next Monday. But progress! 🙂
Happiness-related:Â
The family has been wonderful, doing takeout and watching movies nearly weekly, so we have family “events” to share.
I didn’t paint a thing this month. No drive at all. It’s like the writing—anything that requires imagination takes too much energy.
To complete Ignition, the fourth book in the Delta Fire series during November’s NaNoWriMo.
To complete 4 editing projects in November!
To write at least 1/4 of Built Like Mack during NaNoWriMo.
My writing goals may be pie-in-the-sky goals, given I have two bouts of chemo sceduled for the month, but I have to shoot for something.
For health related, I plan:
To go through two more rounds of chemo, which when I look at my calendar seems overwhelming, but I’ll get through it.
To continue to watch what I eat and hope I can manage to drop a few more pounds.
To up my physical activities so that I don’t lose any more muscle. Maybe I’ll give myself stairstep goals or walk the driveway to the gate and back goals—on days when I’m not sick as a dog.
For happiness-related, I plan:Â
To fiddle in my art room!
Attend the local art guild’s Potluck Dinner.
To spend time with the family—movies, meals, and flea market adventures! I’m not overly ambitious.
Enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating with the family!
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 November…
Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!
I was lazy yesterday and didn’t post my Saturday puzzle. So, today’s post includes the puzzle-contest at the end of this message! Be sure to scroll down if you want to play!
Report Card
Last week…
I worked on edits for one author.
I published the Delta Heat books in online stores other than Amazon (went wide!).
I slept—a lot, again. I’m still on the mend from the latest chemo round. (I have a scan coming in early November to see whether my cancer is diminishing.)
This next week…
I’ll be working on edits for possibly three authors this week and will finish it by the weekend. I’ll be busy, busy, busy!
I’ll try working/editing the pages I’ve already written for Ignition and, hopefully, finishing a new chapter.
I’ll be working on revisions of The Demon Lord’s Cloak, which releases November 12th. Have you pre-ordered your copy?Â
I’ll be deciding whether I’ll participate in NaNoWriMo this year. It’s a “write 50,000 words in November” challenge. It is probably/definitely more than I can commit to, but I so want to get back to writing…
Open Contests
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I am beyond excited for this series to begin! I just finished watching the trailer and thought I’d share it with you!
For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle then let me know if this show excites your interest! Or let me know what new upcoming series you’re dying to see!
I had my chemo on Monday with all the usual symptoms that followed—nausea, body aches, fatigue, and insomnia. As of today, I’m getting back to normal.
I worked on edits for one author.
I slept—a lot.
This next week…
Tomorrow, I’ll get a white cell booster shot and have a blood draw. At some point soon, my oncologist is going to order up some more scans to see how the treatment is working.
I’m still working on edits for one author and will finish it by the weekend. Then I’ll start the next set.
I’ll try working/editing on of the pages I’ve already written for Ignition, just to keep the story in my head so at some point I can commit to writing new pages.
I have the last Delta Heat stories to take wide, meaning, to upload to sites other than KU.
Yes, my plan is very unambitious, but that’s okay.
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I have a long To-do list today filled with things I need to complete before tomorrow’s date with the chemo chair. I even woke up in the middle of the night and downloaded a movie, My Spy (I know, it doesn’t have the best ratings, but I want something mindless and filled with action), and the series Reacher, so I have choices. I will be in the chair for six hours, and the initial Benadryl they hit me with to keep me from an allergic reaction will only help me nap for so long. So, I have to pre-post a blog for tomorrow morning (if I get it from my guest author in time), charge up my headphones, and pack my backpack with a jacket and wipes. I’ll have to pack my lunch bag first thing in the morning, but I’ll leave it sitting on top of my backpack as a reminder.
I just updated my weekly work plan. In the last two go-rounds, I completely blocked out chemo week, but this time I added some light tasks to each day, so I have something to prod me into doing something other than sleeping. I need to move around as much as my tired, achy body will let me. I am determined to accept chemo week as part of my new “normal.”
Anyway, I have things to do, so let me move on. I hope you all have a happy, productive week. I wish you good health. Find little and big ways to find your joy.
Report Card
Last week…
I worked on edits for one author. I will complete them today!
I had my chemo blood draw on Thursday. My white blood cell count was back up into normal range due to the shot I got the previous week. My red blood cells, platelets, and lymphocytes took a hit. I’m anemic—which is why I feel so fatigued—so I’ve been adding more meat to my diet. I’ve been napping—a lot!
I finished my binge of the old Sci-Fi series, Andromeda. The last season was awful, but I persevered. I also finished Evil and hate that it’s over after only four seasons. I loved everything about it—the cast, the story lines, the sets, the way they filmed it, the funny little nun who battled demons—she was my favorite character—and I have mixed feelings that she wound up retired in a silent cloister. Yes, she deserved rest. Maybe she was actually ready for it. And yes, she felt like a real person, so I’ll miss her. 🙂
This next week…
I’ll undergo a round of chemo infusions, and I’ll continue to track how I react throughout the days following treatment because I need to consign it to a schedule!
I’ll begin another editing project, but I’ll set my expectations for my productivity very, very low.
I’ll try working on of the pages I’ve already written for Ignition, just to keep the story in my head so at some point I can commit to writing new pages.
I’ll try to force myself to move more than I usually do after treatment. I want to know whether it helps the awfulness pass more quickly!
Open Contests
Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs!
