Thank goodness that's behind me

It's been a while since I've posted, and I want to update everyone on just how our family is doing. First of all, I am doing MUCH better. The two and a half weeks of bed rest were ROUGH to put it mildly, but thanks to amazing friends and family, WE MADE IT, and it is thankfully behind us FOREVER. Dave and I have been completely overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of people all around us. We could not believe how many people cared enough to call, stop by for a visit, send a card, e-mail or Facebook a message, make us yummy treats, send a gift, take restless kids for hours on end (or days at a time), help out with laundry, come over after getting their own kids ready for school and get my kids ready and off to school, take over my carpool responsibilities, bring books and magazines and movies to keep me entertained, bring flowers, stop by the store for groceries, bring us dinner, be my resident nurse, do laundry and cleaning, help out with both of our church callings, make us cookies and cake, do homework with my kids, take care of piano and scouts for my kids, drive me to doctor's appointments, bring ice cream and chocolate, and just check in with us over and over and over again to see if we needed anything or to let us know that you cared. I am of course bawling as I sit here typing this. We are surrounded by some truly amazing people, and we are so grateful. As goofy as it sounds, we could not have done it without you, your strength and help and prayers carried us through. Thank you.

Six weeks after surgery, I am feeling better than I have felt in years in a lot of ways. My body is healing and is just about back to normal. My doctor is happy with how everything is going and says I'm healing up very well. The actual recovery time for the procedures I had is six to nine months for complete recovery, and there's a few things slowing me down a bit, but for the most part, I'm feeling really good. Even the unbelievable tiredness is almost completely gone. Only five and a half more weeks until I can get back on my bike ... but who's counting?!!

Those first several weeks were so difficult. The ability to have surgery and have the body repaired is an amazing thing, and I'm so grateful for it, but it involves some serious pain and side-effects. It just simply takes a while for your body to figure things out after being messed with THAT much. And as you all very well know, patience is really not my thing. Being in bed for that long is so miserable. Hearing my family and my life go on without me outside my bedroom door was really hard on me. Not having control over really anything was probably good for me but hard to let happen. Feeling so tired and groggy and sore was frustrating. I hated feeling like I couldn't take care of myself or my family. But all of this was such a small moment compared to the rest of my life, and it feels great to look back and see that it is behind me, behind all of us. I'm grateful for my health and my strength. I'm grateful to be feeling better in time for SPRING! Being in bed during the miserable cold March we had is a whole different story than being down when the weather is actually NICE out and the sun is shining. I'm grateful for modern medicine and technology and a capable, competent, caring doctor.

Most of all, I'm grateful for my family. I'm grateful I was able to bring four beautiful amazing children into this world before that ability slipped away. I'm grateful to be their mom in spite of all my body had to go through to make it happen. I'm grateful for a patient and loving husband who has stood by my side through countless hours of sickness and pain and recovery time in our nearly 14 years of marriage. I'm grateful to be surrounded by amazing people and to know that I am loved.