Week 8 ACL Recovery. Back on My Feet... Litterally

Eight weeks post-surgery and I’m finally feeling like I’m getting my legs back under me — figuratively and literally.

I won’t sugarcoat it: by the end of the day, my leg is totally cashed. Like… “lay on the couch and don’t move again until bedtime” cashed. But you know what? I’m getting through full days. I’m keeping up with the kids (mostly). And that’s a huge win.

If you’ve been following along, you know this is my second ACL surgery. My first was the BEAR procedure — and at this point in recovery I was still working on bending my knee. I definitely wasn’t hauling my family five hours north for our annual vacation.

This year? We made it. Seven people. One camper. Five hours. A whole lot of chaos. And somehow, I only lost my mind a little bit.

I got to sit beachside and watch the kids play. I even made it into the water a couple of times. Watching the kids go tubing while their grandma — yes, their grandma — whipped them around the lake and launched them into the water was a highlight. I keep reminding them how lucky they are to have such a cool grandma. Most grandmas are baking cookies. Ours is flooring it in a speedboat.

And speaking of amazing grandparents — a huge thank you to my partner’s parents, who are taking our youngest daughter for the weekend so we can get away to Nashville. That kind of support is everything, and we’re so grateful.

This weekend, I’m turning 40. Yep. The big 4-0. And to celebrate, my partner is taking me to Nashville — which I’m super excited about because it’s my first time. But I’m not gonna lie… I’m also a little nervous. Nashville means walking. A lot of walking. And I’m just hoping I can keep up. I’m not as spry as I used to be, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about slowing us down.

But here’s what I do know: I’m on my feet. I’m moving. I’m showing up. And that counts for something.

So here’s to beach days, tubing grandmas, and surviving long car rides with kids. Here’s to turning 40, even if I’m hobbling into the next decade a little slower than planned. I’ve got a long road ahead, but I’m walking it — one wobbly, grateful step at a time.