Baby Steps

I had my appointment today with my plastic surgeon and I have now graduated from standing and laying to being able to sit on a chair with one cheek :) – the right one of course, since the left one has a huge incision that is still healing – LOL.  In another week I’ll be able to try sitting normally, so we’re easing into it – baby steps to get back to my normal life. I might be able to try driving in a week too – whoo hoo, I haven’t been this excited about that since I was 16 – LOL!  She said I need to wait for 6 weeks after the surgery before I can work out – really? You’re killing me!  That by the way, is August 3^rd, so watch for me at the gym that day :).

I had a fun weekend in Park City with the fam – we stayed at the amazing Park City Hotel and I had my own little suite.  It was my first try since my surgery at being self-sufficient and I was able to manage pretty well thanks to my amazing grabber (see the attached picture).  My nieces and nephews had a great time playing with it and “grabbing” everything and everyone in sight with the contraption.  I’ve always been a connoisseur of creative solutions to difficult situations and let me tell you that grabber is definitely one of my best :).

I had to opt out of the family baseball game and swimming activities but I did manage to get a little shopping in at the Banana Republic sale and snag myself a date for Friday night – the first since my surgery.  He was a good sport and didn’t mind the creative maneuvers I used to get in and out of the car or the fact that I had to recline the seat back for the drive.  We even found a restaurant where I could eat standing up – LOL.  It was good to get out and I am glad that I didn’t have to miss the family 4^th of July celebration, which is a long standing tradition in the Steven’s family. 

So I officially start Chemo next week - my Oncologist will let me know tomorrow which day but I’m hoping for a Thursday Chemo time, so that I can have the weekends to recover.  I'll be attending the Chemo 101 class this Thursday - if anyone wants to learn all about it feel free to stop in :).  I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a bit nervous.  I have to be honest, I am scared about the many and varied side effects, not the least of which is losing my hair. But it is a necessary step in order to ensure that I have the best possible chance of the cancer never returning – so of course, I’m all for it.

Before this whole thing started I was going at lightning speed in all aspects of life – things were going well with my job, I had just finished my MBA and launched my side business – Utah’s Matchmaker.  I was even contacted by one of the producers of Millionaire Matchmaker about doing my own reality show, which I wasn’t so sure was for me, but the offer was quite flattering. I wondered what was going to happen next.    This quote seems quite fitting:

 “Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding and compassion, which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain" Richard G. Scott

As a good friend of mine once told me: “walk through the fear”. This is what I have tried to do throughout my life and I will do it again now as I start on this last but treacherous part of the journey.  Thank you for walking with me.  I need you now more than ever as I take this step into the darkness . . .