3 hours of laughter

I spent my New Year's Eve with Emily and Deena. I can't think of a better way to end 2012 then laughing for hours on end! My stomach hurts! I'm thankful for friends and laughing!

Les Mis

I finally went to see Les Mis (the movie) today. It was fantastic! I listened to the music and saw the play multiple times growing up. Hearing the songs in the movie made me sentimental and I could easily have wept through the whole thing! I restrained myself since I was in a theater full of people. I'm thankful that my parents introduced us to things like that when we were growing up.

Errands

I made it out of the house. I rode to Salt Lake so Krista could finish something up at work and then we did some shopping at Costco. I also needed to do some shopping at Walmart, but I was way too tired. My body is used to laying around, not being out! I'm a little disappointed that I didn't last long, but I'm thankful I was able to at least accomplish a few of the things on my to-do list. I thankful I still have a few days to help my body adjust to being out about all day (and sleeping at night) instead of lounging!

Driving

I drove my car today. I'm so thankful that the recovery from this surgery hasn't been half as bad as I thought it would be. I read blogs from other patients who had the same surgery and they said they had to take a month off work and didn't drive themselves until 4 weeks post-op. Not me. I'm getting around great (without crutches even), I'm not taking the prescription pain killers anymore, and 2 weeks post-op, I was out driving around. I'm thankful that I can have my independence back. I'm also thankful for Rodney, who so kindly shoveled the snow so I could get my car out of the driveway! The people who do snow removal for my housing complex pushed all the snow from my driveway into a wall between my driveway and the street. I wanted to get out of the house badly enough that I almost shoveled it myself! But I didn't have to, thanks to Rodney!

Memory foam

When I found out that I would have to sleep on my back after hip surgery, I was worried. I am NOT a back sleeper. I'm not ever a side or a stomach sleeper. I'm a tosser. I knew I would struggle to sleep just on my back. My anxiety over this prompted me to buy a memory foam topper for my bed. I only slept on it once before surgery and didn't notice a big difference. Then I slept on it for a week after surgery and it was good. But it wasn't until I had to sleep somewhere else that I realized how thankful I am for that topper. My sweet mom offered to let me sleep on her bed (which is memory foam), but I made due with some creative arrangements and I actually slept fine. But I'm so excited to be curled up in my bed with 4 inches of memory foam under me. It almost makes up for the fact that I had to come home from St. George 4 days earlier than I had planned. Almost...but not quite!

A low key Christmas

It doesn't really feel like Christmas. While I am ridiculously excited to have my own little family to celebrate Christmas with, I am thankful for the opportunity I have now to celebrate a low-key Christmas. I made a delicious breakfast, lounged around, took a nap, and spent time with my mom and Chris. It wasn't quite as exciting as most Christmases, but I know I'll have plenty of those in my future.

Water heaters

I am SO thankful for warm showers. I love everything about a nice, hot, relaxing shower - especially in the winter time! I'm thankful that I live in the time I live in when I can get a hot shower everyday in the comfort of my own home!

Silent Night

That hymn gets me every hymn. I'm thankful for the special, sweet Spirit that's always present during the Christmas Sacrament Meeting.

An electric blanket

I am still thankful for my ice machine. It keeps my hip iced, which prevents it from swelling and also prevents it from hurting. However, it is SO hard to keep the rest of my body warm when my hip is wrapped in a constant, freezing wrap! My amazing mother had compassion on me and went and bought me an electric blanket. I'm thankful for the warmth it provides my poor, freezing toes!!

Movies on Netflix

I've watched a lot of movies on Netflix the past week or so. I'm thankful to be able to have so many choices without having to get up to switch DVDs.

The best drive to St George

I had surgery 7 days ago. They pretty much reshaped the bones in my hip joint. I thought I was still going to super miserable at this point. I made plans to ride to St. George with Min - a super cute girl in my ward. She's from St. George so she was driving down anyway. She said she would love the company, even if I was drugged on pain killers and slept the whole way. That was the plan. But, it didn't go anything like that. I'm actually not super miserable. I'm actually doing really well. So I wasn't super drugged on pain killers and sleeping the whole way down. Min and I chatted. We talked about how we both need friends who are normal. We committed to hanging out more, even it's just to watch TV or play a game after work. We talked about how we can help our ward. We talked about making goals and being better people. I'm so thankful that I was able to enjoy the drive and be uplifted talking to Min instead of being miserable and drugged!!

Great news

Best news ever? "You don't have to wear those surgical compression socks anymore." Hooray!! These "compression socks" are thigh high, they're SO tight, and they're SO hot!! And let me tell you, when you can't bend at the waist very easily, they're nearly impossible to put on by yourself! I'm thankful that I had those socks to wear - they improve your circulation when you're stuck in bed and they help prevent blood clots. But I'm even more thankful that I don't have to wear them anymore!!

My spin bike

When running was no longer an option with my hip the way it was, I bought a spin bike from Wendee. I've been very thankful for that bike the last couple days. I'm on bed rest. Literally, I'm supposed to lay in bed all day except to use the bathroom and shower. BUT, I am allowed to ride my spin bike for 10 minutes twice a day. The first time was pretty miserable, but now I love it. I'm thankful for the movement. I'm thankful that I can ride the bike without too much discomfort. And I'm thankful for 20 minutes out of my bed!!

Lunch provided by Jamie

I really hate depending on other people!! It's not fun for me. It mostly just makes me feel bad. But, I don't have a lot of choice this week. It makes me so very thankful that I am totally capable of providing for myself on a regular basis! Today I'm thankful that Jamie took time out of her busy day to pick up lunch for me and deliver to my bed!

A shower

It may not seem like much, but a short shower made a world of difference in the way I was feeling. Sure it hurt, and it was hard, and I almost passed out, but it was worth it! Being clean is wonderful!

Helpers

I am a pretty independent person. But, I'm about as far from independent as I can get right now. I've been counting on my roommates to do so much for me - they bring me meals and drink and treats. They make sure I have my medicine and they refill the ice in my ice machine. They come hang out with me in my room while I'm awake, and they do all my physical therapy for me! They really are bring so wonderful and I'm am SO thankful for them!!

My ice machine

Both times I've had surgery, they have sent me home with an ice machine. It has a little pad that wraps around the injured body part and then the machine pumps ice water through the pad. It makes all the difference in the world! It definitely helps keep the pain manageable.

Krista

Krista has been a rockstar for me today! I had surgery on my hip today. Krista took the day off work, drove me to my surgery, waited around for a few hours, and then spent a few hours with me. She adjusted my pillows and blankets for me, got my crackers for me, made sure the nurse didn't give me anything with gluten, helped me drink, and communicated with my family to let them know how I am doing. I'm so grateful she was here today. And I'm extra thankful that I am feeling as well as I am right now. I have to spend the night in the hospital, but so far, so good! We'll see what happens when I end up having to get out of bed to use the bathroom!

Alex

I missed being thankful for Alex on her actual birthday (the 10th), but I will make up for it today. I'm thankful that Alex is a part of family. It was when my sister learned that she was pregnant that she decided to clean her life up, which is definitely a blessing. Alex is smart. She is a trooper! That little girl has dealt with too much for only being eight! She kind oh amazes me!

Jumper cables

I'm thankful that my dad gave me jumper cables (and I'm a little impressed that I still have those cables in my trunk 12 years later!). I'm also thankful that my dad taught me how to USE those cables. This morning when I woke up to a dead battery, it wasn't a big deal. I used Krista's car to jump start mine and stopped at the auto parts store on my way to work to have them test the battery. Sure enough - the battery wouldn't hold a charge. And today I'm also thankful for a new car battery (and the 7 year warranty that cane with it)!!!

The end

Today marks the end of my school semester! I had one last final to compete - a written portion and a multiple choice portion. I worked on the written portion for most of the day on Saturday. Today I finished up a few little things and submitted it. Then I took the multiple choice part. I got 100%!!! I'm thankful that I don't have to worry about school anymore (at least for a few weeks)! I've officially got 1/4 of a Master's Degree done!!

Jessica

Jessica is a member of the Relief Society presidency in my ward. I was supposed to teach the RS lesson today, but I have a nasty cold! I'm so thankful that Jessica said she would cover for me! I feel bad, but I would feel worse going to church and spreading my cold germs to everyone!

Distractions

I spent a lot time today working on homework. I have a "final" for one of my classes. It's a written final - my teacher listed a bunch of questions and I have to write a short paragraph to answer. I'm not done yet and it's going on 10 pages - typed and single spaced! It hasn't been easy to sit at my computer all day and work, especially with this killer cold that I've been plagued with!! While I'm thankful for all the work I've even able to put into this assignment, I'm even more grateful for the few distractions I had. The distractions were definitely more fun and they were also definitely needed! Hopefully I can find some time to finish this final and be done with this semester!!

The kids in my life

I want be a mom. More than want anything else in my life right now I want to be a wife and a mother. But until I get that opportunity, I am thankful for the kids I do have in my life. My nieces and nephews are the best! I just love them to pieces!

The last class of the semester

I'm thankful that I don't have to go to any more classes this semester!! I had my last class tonight. I gave my final project presentation for that class and it went really well. Now I just have to finish the written part of that project and complete an assignment and a final in another class and I'll be done!! I'm pretty sure those things will be enough to fill my weekend! So fun for me! I will be thankful when everything is done and submitted!!

My office stuff

I'm thankful for the little things that make my new office feel more like it's mine, and not someone else's. I stopped by old office today and grabbed a few things - my space heater, my lotion, my desk color-coded desk calendar, and my color-coding pens! Now I can get some real work done!!

Perspective

I've always been blessed with a pretty logical perspective on most things. Today I'm particularly grateful for that. I am beyond overwhelmed. I started a new job (and got thrown into some pretty serious issues I get to deal with). School is wrapping up and the end-of-semester stress is here in full force. And just when things will calm down a little bit, I'm going in for surgery on my hip! Overwhelmed!! But I am definitely grateful for that good old perspective. I know my job will get easier (and harder) as I figure it out. I know that school will end next week and the stress will end with it. I also know that I don't have to ace every class and I can be content with a lower (passing) grade. And I know my surgery will be fine and that it will be a good excuse to let my body rest and my mind regroup! I'm thankful for the ability I have to see logically and plan, even when things are crazy!!

A working headlight

A few days ago I noticed the left headlight on my car was out. Today, it's fixed. I'm thankful that Emily agreed to the detour that allowed me to buy the new headlight. And I'm thankful that Chris stopped by to put the new headlight in. I'm especially thankful that Chris was willing to help considering that he worked 10 hours AND went to school today!! He's pretty great!

Game night

A few of the girls in our ward invited us over for a game night. It was fun. I'm thankful for the opportunity to get to know some other people in my ward. And playing games and laughing is always a plus!

Idaho Falls

I had a great time in Idaho Falls! I'm thankful for the time I got to spend with Emily and Rodney. I'm thankful Emily drove so I could do some homework in the car.

Suprising Rodney

Emily and I drove to Idaho today to surprise my friend Rodney. I shouldn't have come. I have a lot of homework to do. But I definitely needed a distraction. I've been in "survival mode" for a while now. I'm thankful I could leave the stress of just about everything and laugh with friends! It's been a fabulous night!