December 4th, 2024

Doreen Schmidt
Dec 4, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Dec 5, 2024

Wow! It's been a while since I've updated! Things have been pretty good. My head is still swimming with all of the thoughts and upcoming journey that lies ahead for me. My whole life as it pertains to my health has changed forever and I'm facing a lifetime checklist of things I'll need to regularly check off. Managing it with a busy work schedule as a self-employed individual has been a challenge as of late but I'm working through it.

In the days following my final chemo treatment (Oct 22) I managed to fit quite a bit in. Managing my schedule is a full time job! I've had 3 doctor appointments, 4 acupuncture appts, 7 chiropracter appts, 1 IEP meeting for my son, Eddie, 4 therapy appts, 1 tax planning appt, 3 massages, and 30 client appointments. I missed a few things due to chemo side effects - a concert with the hubs and a cookie decorating event with Kayley and Andie.

I also managed to fit in some meaningful fun with family and friends. Breakfast with Jen, dinner with Denice, Mike and Marina, a birthday party for Eddie, a birthday dinner for Cole, a weekend at the cabin with Mandy, Andie and Kayley, Les Miserables at the Orpheum, and I hosted Thanksgiving. Whew! That does seem like a lot. And I wonder why I'm always tired?

That's one thing that continues to persist - fatigue. I still have to limit work hours, avoid driving at night and limit outings. The fatigue is accompanied by brain fog and altered eyesight. All of which I am really hoping corrects itself. I need to be patient, right? As I've mentioned before, not my strong suit!

My hair is beginning to grow back, albeit, very slowly but it's there. It seems to be growing at all different lengths and fullnesses. Very sparse in some parts. I guess we'll see how that goes. In the meantime I have "contraptions" that I wear out. That's what I call them, contraptions :) I hat wearing a wig cap - they feel so tight. So, I wear a thin scarf, then a wig, the a hat of some sort. The hat depends on the weather - if I'll be outside or out and about, I wear a winter hat and for client appointments, something a bit more simple and lightweight. I have a variety of wigs that I've aptly named :-) Moira, Gaga, RiRi, Celine and Taylor. See if you can guess who is who based on the pictures below!

As for my short and long term journeys with my health, I'm going to update you on those in the next one. I have 3 client appointments today and then heading to Leavenworth, WA (Not to be confused with the federal prison located in Kansas!) Why Leavenworth? Well, it'll be a short trip - Thursday through Monday - and you should see this place in December! Or any time of year for that matter. It's absolutely adorable. I'll post some generic pics so you can get an idea :-)