It's been a long and rather stressful week leading up to shot night tonight....my sister is out of town, so I had to spend the last 4 days and nights at my mom's, only coming back here to the house to feed the cats and get the mail, etc. Then the belt on my mom's washing machine broke - my brother fixed it, but we discovered that the pipe the water drains into from the machine was clogged, so I spent most of one night pouring drain opener down in and flushing it out....luckily the 4th application was the charm, and it cleared out - good thing, since I still had 4 or 5 loads left to wash!

Had 2 doctor's appointments, which went well - I got enrolled in a research study at a local university, to test a drug to help combat fatigue during tx (strangely, however - since this is a drug to combat fatigue - one of the possible side effects is falling asleep, LOL), and my "regular" doc, Dr. M, gave me a scrip for some sleep meds, since no matter how tired I am, it seems the rabid brain hamsters kick into overdrive as soon as I turn the light out....and okayed my participation in the research study.

Been on the Rebetol for a week now, and starting to have some mood swings and "rages"....they come on fast and hit hard, but don't seem to last too long at this point. So far I haven't killed anyone, LOL (although this is not a good time to cut me off on the freeway), and have been able to work through some of the rage in my art....but it's a little scary how quickly and unexpectedly it comes on me, and how intense it is while it lasts.

Today was registration at Boo's school, so we got her all set up, bought our new school t-shirts and met all her teachers....it's a brand new school and just beautiful, although very big and more than a little confusing to navigate - especially since it's brand new to everyone, and no one is sure where anything is, LOL! Then we braved the crowds at Walmart (today is registration for the entire county school system, and you don't get your supply list til you register, so everybody shops today, too) - but we got her all her "stuff" and she is now happily employed in packing and repacking (and repacking and repacking) her new backpack with it all.

No distractions this week, Boo is busy with her school supplies and tv programs, and have only my angel, Mrs. C, online with me for moral support....bless the deariest lady, I think this is harder on her than on me!

Meds mixed, water bottle disposed of out of sight so there'll be no confusion, syringe loaded, deep breath, one quick stick and it's a done deal.....and now we wait and see what happens....going to go to bed and try to get some sleep.....

Whoever came up with the description "mild flu-like symptoms" for the side effects probly also describes World War II as a "small misunderstanding".....I feel like a large and unfriendly truck not only hit me, but backed up over me and ran me down again a couple more times, just for good measure!

Woke up about 6 in the morning FREEZING (not an easy feat in Georgia in August, especially with no air conditioning) although my skin felt like it was on fire, with a splitting headache and aching in every joint from my neck to my toes. Piled on a few extra blankets and curled up into as small a ball as I possibly could, and lay there with teeth chattering for about an hour, until the hot flash hit, and I threw off all the covers and lay gasping for air and sweating up a storm. This alternated until mid-afternoon, and after that I was just continuously cold (and still aching everywhere) - and my skin was so sensitive that it felt like the seams in my pjs were bruising me, and even the breeze from the window was painful. My temperature rose steadily all afternoon until it spiked at 102 around 5 o'clock, and held there until I went to bed.

Boo was a trouper, though, and brought me icecream (when I wasn't freezing) and fresh water bottles, and didn't wake me up every time I managed to fall asleep, LOL....and didn't whine or argue once - at least not where I could hear her! (Who is this child, and can I keep her?) She went off to spend the night out, so I took the last 2 of my 4 Tylenols that I'm allowed, and a sleep med, went to bed early....hoping that will knock the fever out, and I feel a bit more human in the morning!

Woke up around noon after about 12 hours of off-and-on sleep feeling not too bad - no fever, although still cold, skin still sensitive, still ache-y (mostly in the hands and hips), and a slight headache....but nothing like yesterday, thank goodness!

Took the car in for a wheel alignment that couldn't wait any longer - and ended up needing a new tire and wheel bearing.....ACK! $300 instead of $75 (where's the lottery when you need it, LOL) - but at least the car will get me where I need to go for a while longer, which had become a rather iffy proposition!

Should have known I was getting off too easy today....got home with the car and lay down for a while, and then the nausea hit and the vomiting started, running a low-grade fever again, and so so cold. But I guess it could be a lot worse....at least the barfing is intermittent, and I'd rather be too cold than too hot - you can always add another layer of clothes, but there's only so much you can take off!

Boo is due home shortly, and hopefully will already have eaten, and be tired from her night out, so we can do a chapter of the book we're reading together and make an early night of it. We'll see what tomorrow brings - hopefully the Lord will let me make it through church with no ill effects (you'd think), although I'd better remember to bring a jacket, the church is always freezing, even when I'm not cold in the first place, LOL!

And speaking of the Lord, thank you to 2 very special people (one of whom I know only slightly, and one I didn't know at all) who emailed me this week with their prayers and encouragement....sometimes kindness and caring comes from totally unexpected places, just when we need it the most!