|
Today was an interesting day because I got to play with my four-year-old granddaughter Lila. She found an old tea set that our youngest daughter Amanda used to enjoy playing with many years ago. I've glad I kept it now and it's a Vintage Madeleine Porcelain tea set. I got on the floor with Lila and we had a grand time. I was able to get off the floor too. LOL We played a lot of fun activities. I was exhausted by afternoon, but a good type of exhaustion from a well-spent day with Lila.  
0 Comments
My phone didn't take great photos (probably will need to get a new phone - speaker doesn't work and I'm not getting some texts) so my daughter April sent me some of the ones she took at the party. I think Amanda posed with every guest at the birthday party. Haha! April was in charge of the food and beverages. We had pizza, chicken wings, fruit, chips, celery, pretzels, cheese dip and tortilla chips. Christina did the party decorations which were awesome and she got the cake and ice cream. I'm thankful that Christina and April hosted the 30th birthday celebration for their sister. Emily was in charge of the music so everything was covered. The guests enjoyed playing the Sarah Wrap ball game!      When my appointment was scheduled for today, I thought about changing it because it's our youngest daughter Amanda's 30th birthday. I realized she was going to her camp anyhow while I would have my second IV infusion. Her big birthday celebration is this weekend. Her sisters are busy with their plans for it with getting the food and decorations. I'm posting a photo of her with a very kind manager Rick at O'Charley's where we ate at today. Amanda made a good choice choosing to eat at O'Charley's. We had a delicious meal with free pie Wednesday promotion. I'm glad my husband Tom took me this morning because I felt sleepy and weak after it. He usually does take me or my daughter Emily has too. I still have the same critical low white blood count. It hasn't gone up at all. My low platelets increased a little. Even with low counts, I can still have the maintenance therapy. I'm grateful my nurse only tried one vein in my arm. She blew the vein so couldn't use it for my blood samples and for infusion. She tried a vein in hand and it worked. I'm glad I wasn't stuck several times as in the past. I was approved for a port in November because of the difficulty with my veins. I know port has disadvantages, too, so I am not getting it. Next IV infusion is in March with a CT scan in February. Hoping I get an experienced technician for CT scan In the past they jabbed me a lot, then sometimes have to find someone else to get a IV started.  Our daughter, Sara, is very noisy at night and keeps me up. Last night was not any different. She made bizarre noises until at least midnight. It's hard because we get up at 6:30 and the days I babysit for grandchildren, I get up at 5 a.m. Seeing this wonderful review early this morning is just what I needed especially after all the edits I have been making for The Amish Mother's Secret (my title was Her Mother's Deception.) 5 stars Very Good Story This is the second time I read this book and enjoyed it both times The characters are very real and the twins bring a little levity. Amazon  I decided to give a gift during the Christmas season but will only be for a short time! All my Amish ebooks (Dreams of Plain Daughters Series and The Bishop's Daughters Series, and 2 shorts), Contemporary Christian Romance (When Love Happens Again, Marrying Mallory), Chick-Lit Mystery (A Fiery Secret - only on Amazon), Women's Fiction (Never the Same), Historical Christian Fiction (A Gift Forever), and Contemporary Romance (Whitney in Charge and The Proposal)are 99 cents each!
They are available on Amazon, B & N, Apple, and Kobo! My husband and I have been ill so nice to read a new review for my Book Two in my Dreams of Plain Daughters Series! I'm always thankful for reviews! Sweet Love Story - 5 Stars This sweet romance between an Amish couple is informative as well as entertaining. While learning more about Amish customs, I also learned more about my own beliefs as I pondered the difficulties that challenged these young people. Buy here: Amazon Apple  I had my first maintenance therapy . I was supposed to have it when oncologist went over the CT scan results on Oct. 30th but they messed up and hadn't submitted the drug for approval. Then it wasn't submitted correctly or something because insurance did not approve it and said it was for maintenance therapy and I was getting it for lymphoma now. I am in remission. It was approved last week so glad I had it on Tuesday. Usual difficulty with getting IV in my small veins. Nurse said she is going to suggest that I get a port. Why now? I will have maintenance every other month for 2 years. It was a problem during my whole chemo with trying to get IV in and CT scans and each time it takes 2 or 3 nurses to get IV in. Anyhow the 1st bag of steroids and Benadryl took 20 minutes, then I got the bag of Rituximab. It took 2 and half hrs. My WBC is very low and platelets too, but unlike chemo treatments, I could still have the Rituximab. I was thankful my husband took me to appointment because I felt lightheaded and weak. I was very tired when I came home and wanted to take a nap, but didn't happen. My face is flushed from the steroids.
I received my edits from my agent Lesley a little over a week ago. I was surprised with all the edits because she had said originally there were minor edits. She doesn't like the title Her Mother's Deception so it will be The Amish Mother's Secret. She thinks Amish needs to be in the title for branding me. Of course, I already have self-published books but I'm okay with the change. I pray I can do the corrections and make it a better book and I'll be offered a contract in the new year. Lesley is sweet and helpful. Tom and I went to see my oncologist about my CT scan results. I had the scan on Monday. Dr. Herms said I am in remission and nothing showed up in the lymph nodes. My spleen has also shrunk more and is only a little bigger than normal. I wish he would have told me the exact size. The first nurse had difficulty in getting blood for the three tubes necessary for lab. After sticking me with the needle a few times, she got another nurse. A second nurse did something different and put a blood pressure cuff on my arm and pumped it up. That worked and she found a vein to use. I was told at my survivorship visit earlier this month that I'd have my first IV maintenance infusion today. I didn't! They didn't get it submitted to the insurance when they should have, so I have to go back next Wednesday to get the infusion. The insurance will probably approve the request by then. It was disappointing because I wanted to get two treatments in by the end of the year. Now the second one will be in the new year and I'll have to pay out of pocket again. I decided to do the maintenance because it should extend my remission. I won't have to get blood work done again next week, so that's wonderful. I'm thankful to God for being in remission!!! I babysat Lila on Tuesday and put Dillon and Elena on the bus. Dillon and Elena are amazing and get up quickly to get dressed for school. I'm sharing their school pictures and also one of Dean. We have such cute grandkids.
 My daughter Amanda went with me to the Writers Festival last Saturday at the Miami Branch Library in Clermont County. It was great sharing a table with Rebecca Waters. I bought her book, Libby's Cuppa Joe, and it is a wonderful Christian book! It has many surprises and isn't preachy but shows how drawing close to God is possible after making wrong choices.
Tom and I went to my appointment yesterday to meet with my Nurse Practitioner, Lisa. Before I got to see her, I had to have blood drawn. The first nurse stuck me twice but couldn't get enough blood. She left to get another nurse. She stuck me in my hand on other arm and nothing there. A third nurse came and she got 3 tubes filled with my blood on the first try. Unfortunately, my white blood count is very low. Lisa said my bone marrow is having trouble recovering from my chemo. She called an antibiotic in to the pharmacy because of a concern that I'll become ill with an infection. I haven't had a fever yet.
She told me that I'm at higher risk to have other cancers because of the chemo treatments. I knew this from my previous research. I should have a mammogram and etc. I am not worried and have faith that I won't get other cancers. I will have a CT scan in a few weeks before my next appointment on October 30th. I'll see Dr. Herms and he will go over the scan's results. I also start my maintenance therapy on this date. I'll have maintenance for 2 years but only every other month and just one drug IV infusion. It should only take 3 hours at the most. Yes, I've decided to do the maintenance therapy but hate the expense for it. |
AuthorI write Amish fiction, Christian fiction, Historical Christian fiction, Contemporary Romances, and Chick-Lit Mystery. I am a wife, mother, and grandmother. I have 6 wonderful children and 4 adorable grandchildren. I give thanks to God for being a cancer survivor! Archives
March 2020
|
RSS Feed