This year for sure...

Last year at this time, I was planning for (and worrying about) abdominal surgery. I “went under” on June 25th then spent the rest of the summer, although not in pain, hunched over in recovery, not able to get into a bathing suit, and generally feeling achy and bloated.

For three weeks, drains pulled fluid from the surgical site which made it difficult to find comfortable, fitting clothes. I wore a lot of dresses that could easily drape over the drains but at the same time, not rub the bandages. Whether it was the drains or just recovery in general, I spent the summer restricted from normal activity.

Mostly I sat in different positions in different places. I tried to be on the screened porch, breathing in fresh air as much as I could, but the heat gave me a rash under the surgical dressing which just made life more uncomfortable, forcing me inside to watch TV.

In a just a few days, it felt as if I’d see every episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. I became very familiar with multiple chefs from multiple seasons of Top Chef that ran re-runs daily on Bravo or with pumpkin ravioli that I watched Giada DeLaurantiis make more than a few time. At night, I watched landscaping make-overs on Yard Crashers or Curb Appeal or watched people choose homes around the world on House Hunters International. And then there were the E! True Hollywood Stories, E! News, and the Kardashians.

I am a do-er by nature. I live life in constant motion. Slowing down for recovery last year was difficult for me. I felt old, tired, broken.

But a year later… I feel fantastic, anxious to get to all the things I missed out on last year. First on the list is an adventure trip to Arizona where we’ll hike and camp with a group that includes pack animals (see Austin Lehman). Between camps of art, basketball and gymnastics for the kids, I hope to persuade Eric to take us over to Cincinnati for a day at King’s Island— to ride The Beast, one of the best Roller Coasters on wooden tracks.

I wish we could make it to Hilton Head . It is my favorite place to relax, read, and walk the beach. There is nothing better in my book than building a sand castle with Adrienne by day then chilling with a iced tea under an umbrella while Eric grills fish and vegetables. I love to end the day with a soak in the pool, listening to Andrew talk about music. He’s an aficionado for such a young kid. But that’s a scenario for another year. We couldn’t swing it this time around.

In place of the beach, I’ll substitute our local country club. And I just can’t wait to sit at the pool all day with my kids-- even if I’ve been cut up, scarred up, and left not anywhere near perfect in a bathing suit.