I don't want to be like you

Just as quickly as I can achieve mom of the year or champion status I can come crashing right back down.

I took a lot of classes last year in my master's program. A lot. And we had one or two other things going on in our lives (transplant anyone?) so I had a really busy year. I was gone in the evenings visiting Dad at the hospital, working late, in class, or doing homework more than I would have liked. But life is like that some times.

During one particularly busy stretch toward the end of my marathon year of classes Josie was extremely upset about the amount of time I was spending at work or class. I tried to explain to her that work and school were important to me, just as family and friends are important too.

"You're always work and masters, masters and work. I don't get it!"

I took some time to explain why school and work matter to me, and that she is a large reason why those things are important. Not more important than her, but important. I told her that some day she may be a similar situation and have to balance many things that are important to her.

"But I don't want to be like you. I want to have fun too. And have time for family and friends. Being smart isn't everything."

Point taken.

While I could have pushed hard to finish my degree this spring I am instead spreading my classes out more evenly throughout the year and will be done in December. I'll also have a large portion of the summer off so hopefully we can make up for lost time at the lake last summer. Plus we have one heck of a lungiversary to celebrate in July! Graduation can wait.

3,000+

No, not 3,000+ followers of this blog. Its more like 3, so thanks Mom and Grandma. Ha!

For the first time since surgery I hit over 3,000 steps on my Fit Bit. Unfortunately I'm feeling every.single.one of them. I switched to a cane just over a week ago and while its considered a step in the right direction I kind of miss my crutch. I've hit a bit of a snag in the recovery process and am having a lot of difficulty getting my knee entirely straight. I made significant progress after 1 week of intensive physical therapy but then hit a wall again and have only moved a few degrees since. So maybe my crutch was.....a crutch.

Josie and Brent continue to take good care of me, but with Brent working nights it seems that Jo takes the brunt of the work. Yesterday the two of us braved a Target run thinking I'd ride a scooter and she could get things off the shelves for me. It was a brilliant plan until we realized that all of the scooters had zero battery charge. Apparently the scooter crowd met without me and I was late to the game.

Josie was very patient with me as we slowly moved up and down the aisles. She pushed the cart like a champ and only deviated toward the toy aisles a few times. As we were checking out she realized for the first time just how exhausting this trip was for me and was quick to help get the bags in the cart and led us out to the car. As we got the final bag in the trunk, even as she realized she was the one who would need to unload everything when we got home, she commented under her breath that "my mom is a champion". I wasn't quite sure I heard her correctly so I asked her to say it again. She gave me a big hug and said she was proud of me and that I'm a champion for making it through the store.

Given the fact that we're well into the 'tween drama these days I'll take it!

Decisions, decisions

Easy decision- NOT HAPPENING!