Hazel

Twelve weeks. I can hardly believe it. Honestly, after all the stress I felt in the beginning, I’m feeling really good now about how fast everything seems to be going this time. If this were my first ACL surgery, I don’t think I’d be saying that. Back then, every day felt like a mountain. But perspective changes everything—and this time, I can see how far I’ve come.

I’m back in the office now, which has definitely slowed down my blogging and my exercising. The reality is, I’ve slipped into some old habits: fast food, late nights, and fatigue. Add to that a new layer of chaos—we decided to adopt a puppy. Yes, you read that right. A 3.5-month-old terrier mix named Hazel. Actually, the shelter named her, and in an effort to avoid five kids fighting about it, we just kept it. Honestly, it fits her perfectly anyway.

Hazel has quickly taken over our house and my step count. I haven’t lifted a weight in about three and a half weeks, but I am walking—a lot. Walking the puppy, walking off stress, walking because it’s the only way to tire her out. Funny enough, even with my diet being garbage and my self-care slipping, I somehow lost two pounds this week. Proof that life balances out in strange ways.

Physical therapy is still a big part of my schedule, several days a week. Combine that with working full-time, kids back in school, and the daily shuffle of five kids in five different places—it’s a circus. Our blended family is full speed ahead, and I’m still figuring out how to keep myself on the priority list. Some days I’m not sure what I was thinking bringing a puppy into the mix, but then she curls up on my lap after a long day and I know exactly why we did it.

So here I am—12 weeks post-op. Feeling stronger, walking miles, trying to shake bad habits, and learning to find balance in the middle of the beautiful chaos.