I work in the cancer business. In my line of work, I commonly use the phrase, “Isn’t it amazing the difference just one year makes?” I use it for the patients who were soooo extremely anxious when I first met them, to the point they could barely hear, “You’re gonna be ok,” (Note: This particular subset of patients have very early disease with a terrific prognosis…like >95% at 10 yrs.) After one year, they’ve overcome the battle. They are moving back to normalcy again. Many times, their entire perspective on life has changed. I also use it for patients who are “go-getters” (kind of like myself). The ones who run and run and work and work and their cancer just slows them right on down, knocks them for a loop. Their perspective on life is also different.
That brings me to where I am now, not with cancer (praise, God), but with Emme. I can’t believe that (almost) 1 year ago, my water broke at 3 a.m.! I was happy being married and living with Robbie. I had some idea my world would change, but I had no inkling just how much. The following hours were painful, the following days surreal. We were parents.
In the following weeks/months, finding the balance between work and family has been much harder. I hate leaving her for work some days. Some days I cry the whole way to work after I drop her off. Sometimes I just call my mama. 
She always knows how to make it better…
Oh, the difference the last year has made for Emily, who has grown and cooed and giggled and rolled and “da-da’d” and splashed and cuddled and crawled and now stands and tries to walk… my baby is no longer a baby! :) Here’s some photos from her birthday party this weekend.
By Sarah, March 21, 2011 at 11:48 am
I can’t believe she is turning one already. Thanks so much for letting me be there to witness her birth. I know it was a hard day for you. I am still amazed at the strength, determindation, and patience you had during delivery. I was super impressed. I wish we lived closer so I could be there to see all her milestones. She is such a sweetie pie. You and Robbie are doing a fantastic job as parents.