Back to life, back to reality

I returned to work yesterday. It felt really strange after being out for nearly 2.5 weeks. Since starting my full-time career after college, the only other times I’ve been out of work that long (or longer) was when we got married and went on our honeymoon, and when I had Nora and took maternity leave. It was nice to be back, but weirdly, it’s going to take some time to get back up to speed on stuff. I mean… it was only 2.5 weeks. But I guess I never really think about all my team does in that stretch of time. Things change quickly. Everything that I was working on before I left had to be finished up and out the door while I was out, so… I’ve got nothin’. That won’t last long, though!

I had my follow-up appointment with my doctor (my OB, not the surgeon) on Friday morning and all looked fine so she cleared me to return to work/normal life activity—within reason. I still have to take it slowly. I tire easily, and I get sore if I do too much. It’s all about listening to my body at this point.

I was officially down 4 lbs. by the doctor’s scale… and that was after I had already been back to eating for a week. Given what I’d been through, my doctor was not at all surprised, but told me to try to get in some extra protein if I can. Now that I can REALLY eat again, I wouldn’t be shocked if I gain it back easily, but we’ll see. Other than that little concern, my incision was good, baby’s heart rate was good. It sounds like we can finally put this whole ordeal behind us now.

It’s weird because now it feels like the baby’s due date is right around the corner. When settling back into work, I’m now looking at the calendar and thinking, “Damn, only a little more than three months and I’ll be out again.” It’s crazy, but makes sense—I basically lost 1/3 of the month of April to my blasted appendix.

And just like during my first trimester, I’m tremendously thankful for my iPhone, because I have not picked up the real camera since before my surgery. At least we have iPhone photos that documented these last few weeks, and to get a few good snaps of Nora. I have to make it my mission this week to bust out the camera and get back into a groove again.

Life. It just keeps going.

I feel behind.