Whew. Where do I even start?

The last few weeks have been a blur of recovery, road trips, and real-life parenting—with a dash of peace, a splash of chaos, and a whole lot of grace.

🚨 Surgery: Done and Dusted

My tubal ligation surgery is officially in the books. I’m healing well and feeling surprisingly okay—physically and emotionally.

Honestly, the relief hit me harder than the pain. There’s something powerful about knowing your body is finally your own again.

No more “what if” worries. No more juggling pills or tracking cycles. Just clarity. Calm. Control.

It wasn’t easy—but it was necessary. And I’m proud of myself for following through.

🚗 The Road to Texas

Five days post-op, I loaded up the car and hit the road with my girls, my mom, and my dad for a multi-generational road trip from Chicago to Seabrook, Texas. Because why not combine post-surgery soreness with seatbelts, snacks, and 16+ hours of “Are we there yet?” energy?

Let’s just say… the memories were plentiful.

Some highlights:

My 5-year-old was the snack queen and the official coloring boss, keeping the backseat bright and busy with crayons and snacks. My 8-year-old took on the role of sleeping beauty—except when she was being the timekeeper, announcing every few hours how long we had left… and loudly protesting her assigned seat in the third row (which is actually very comfortable, I might add). My mom was the snack handler and chief entertainment officer, keeping the girls occupied, calm, and laughing while my dad and I shared driving duties and tried not to miss any Shell stations along the way.

Somehow, we made it. Tired but grateful.

👵👴 Grandparent Time (and Parent Break!)

Now that we’re here, the girls are officially spending the next 2½ weeks soaking up all the love, spoiling, and sugar their grandparents can dish out.

And me? I’ll be soaking up the silence.

Because this mama and her husband are getting a much-needed, long-overdue mommy and daddy break.

No snack demands. No sibling debates. Just quiet evenings, full nights of sleep, and the occasional grown-up dinner.

(Insert praise hands here.)

🌞 A New Summer Rhythm

With the girls in Texas and no full-time work schedule, I’m giving myself permission to slow down.

To ease into mornings.

To write, rest, reflect—and maybe even finish a cup of coffee before it goes cold.

This summer is about healing, softness, and reclaiming space—physically and mentally.

👨‍👧 Road Trip, Part 2: The Return

Tomorrow, I’ll hit the road again—just me and my dad.

We’re driving back to Chicago together for a father-daughter trip I didn’t realize I needed.

No chaos in the back seat. No playlist battles. Just conversation, quiet miles, and a car full of gratitude.

It’s going to be good.

If you’re still here reading—thank you.

Thank you for holding space for me to rest and reset. I’ve missed this.

Missed writing with my whole heart.

Missed sharing the moments in between the chaos.

So here we are. Summer’s not over, and neither is this journey.

Let’s keep going—one post, one real moment at a time.

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New posts every Friday (and midweek check-ins when life calls for them).

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