Happy second re-birthday to me!

I've been meaning to post for MONTHS (okay, actually a whole year...) to let people know how I'm doing. However, I've been so busy trying to get my life back on track that there always seems to be something more urgent in the cue of things to do. As today is a really important day, I'm making time, even if it means sacrificing some (more) sleep.

In case you've lost track of time, I got my breast cancer diagnosis two years ago in May. So I had my annual cancer check a couple weeks ago. Just yesterday I just received the results in the mail, and I wanted to share them with all of you. Fortunately, all the tests were CLEAR!! *happy dance*

As my previous blog post described, last May was tough because of all the difficult and stressful memories it brought back. Thankfully, this May hasn't been as hard because I'm focusing on all the possibilities that lie ahead. It reminds me of the difference between how we see birthdays when we're kids and when we're adults. Most kids can't WAIT for their next birthday because each year brings new opportunities, skills, responsibilities and achievements. When we're older, each birthday seems to remind us of how long we've been around, how much we've endured and/or how much (or little) time we have left. In some ways, I feel like my life restarted after cancer. I've been reborn and am forging a new and different path from the one I was on just a few years ago. So, rather than marking my second cancerversary, I'm celebrating my second re-birthday!

In this second year since my diagnosis, I've accomplished quite a lot. Remember those two New Year's resolutions I made last year? (If you don't, they were to learn Finnish and get back in shape.) Well, I achieved them both! It think it might be the first time in my whole life that I actually fulfilled my resolutions...

Last fall, I took an(other) intensive Finnish class, which was aimed at getting immigrants with advanced degrees into the workforce in Finland. It was a LOT of work– five days a week, 4.5 hours per day, for 6 months. Although I'm not fluent yet, I definitely understand well now. I'm still a bit hesitant to speak but am now working on that with a private tutor. So maybe next year's resolution is to actually be able to speak well!

As a health educator, I knew what I needed to do to lose weight and get in shape, but getting started is the hardest part. The breast cancer rehabilitation class I took last spring gave me the final push and support I needed to get going. Since then, I've lost 42 pounds and 13% body fat. I went from a US size 16/18 to a 10/12! Although looking good and having one's clothes fit are huge perks, the most important outcome is that I feel great. I am strong and have more energy and the endurance to do the things I really enjoy.

One of the things I've really missed since moving to Finland is my career. Fortunately, the Finnish class I took involved an internship period so we could get some experience in a Finnish workplace while practicing our Finnish skills. Though some very lucky networking, I managed to organize an internship in my field (public health). The first internship led to a second and then to a temporary work contract. Via more networking, I also landed a second, three-month contract with a health technology start up company. So for the past three months, I've been working full time and loving it! Working two part-time jobs while raising two children, getting in shape and learning a new language has not been easy. However, the fact that I have the stamina to do it just two years after a cancer diagnosis is a testament to how far I've come in the last year.

I still have plenty to do, such as trying to land more steady employment. However, you're supposed to learn to sit up on your own, crawl and stand before you are ready to walk. So I'm hoping to add some more to my list of skills and achievements by my third re-birthday!