Happy Independence Day!

Sorry we haven't posted in a while. I'm not even sure that people are still reading this. This will be the last post for now.

If there are any noteworthy changes in Ted's health, I'll update the blog, and email you that we're posting again.

Happy Independence Day!

Today has extra special meaning for us, because we're celebrating the gradual return of Ted's independence. Today, Ted reached the goal of walking our entire circle in our neighborhood (about a half mile)!!!!!! He reports that although it was hot, this walk hurt LESS than before his surgeries! The pain is almost gone.

We celebrate every little milestone that Ted reaches. They are many. There are good days and bad days, but we're beginning to put this whole ordeal behind us and move forward. Part of doing that is not thinking constantly about Ted's health and worrying if the cancer will return. My mother gave me the best advice about that, "Don't even GO there!" So, we're not.

Our day to day life is pretty much back to "normal." We've settled into our summer routines, Ted is back to work, and I'm keeping busy around the house and working in the yard. We're both reading lots of books, and have taken some "outings." We went out to dinner 3 times in the past week!

Ted is doing his therapy exercises, and begins outpatient Physical therapy on Monday- where he'll start to use some weights and some equipment. He still uses his cane, but can get around really well with it.

There was a quote from a book I read this week, that has stuck with me. It was used in a completely unrelated context, but it went something like this: "God doesn't always give you what you want, but He will give you what you need."

As we have said over and over throughout this whole ordeal, we are blessed in so many ways. We were blessed with a good, very experienced Dr. who diagnosed Ted's problem, and treated him. We really are confident in the Dr. and his treatment. We were blessed with very good health insurance that helped Ted to get the best care possible.

We are blessed with great friends, family, co-workers and neighbors, who have given us overwhelming support, kind words, well wishes, prayers, surprises, and understanding. This is what helped us the most. Ted and I are deeply touched by all the support. He has enjoyed all of the little "surprises" he has received.

We are also very fortunate with the "timing" of the surgery in that I have the summer off, and have nothing to do but help Ted get better.

We are thankful for Ted's job and that he works from home. He was able to return to work 2 weeks after his surgery. He doesn't have to worry about driving, and getting around. It allowed him to be able to sit with his leg up on ice during conference calls. It allows the flexibility to take a break during the day for therapy. His friend Steve has been a HUGE help with work.

We are thankful for Crystal, who dropped everything and stayed at our house during Ted's hospital stay- holding down the fort is not easy with 4 cats and a dopey dog.

We are thankful for my mother, who then swooped in and helped us figure out how to move on, and who got us into a daily routine, when it was all we could do to get out of bed each morning. My mother would tell me, "It's clean up time," and "It's quiet time," and "Time to work in the yard!"

We are thankful for the AWESOME physical therapists that have worked with Ted so far. He is very pleased with his therapists and has taken an active role, doing his exercises, asking questions, challenging himself, setting goals, and meeting them.

So, although we didn't get what we wanted (The news that Ted's tumor was benign), we got what we needed, and we'll continue to count our blessings as we look ahead.