It's been five weeks since the big surgery. The surgeon was absolutely correct when he said recovery wouldn't be a picnic. I was told it would take 3 months, and being not quite halfway to that mark, I will finally concede that I'll need every bit of that time to heal. Last week helped me finally understand this. I was feeling pretty good, so I went on an afternoon shopping trip (one store!) with my Mother. Between the extra standing and walking, and trying a couple of things on, I was wiped out by the time I got home, and very sore the next day. I had a day to recharge, and the day after that Husband and I hosted Father's Day for about 15 members of his extended family. I stood the entire afternoon, and did my best to be a decent hostess (drink runs, food runs for the elderly in-laws, and intermittent clean up of plates etc). I was admonished a few times to 'sit down!' - but I'm stubborn, and I felt fine at the time. And I knew once I sat, it'd be hard...