Thankful Thursday

Linking up with Jennifer for Thankful Thursday

These are going to be related to my recent surgery, hospital stay and recovery at home

1. I am thankful for the care administered to me by Donnie and Alyssa. I tongue in cheek refer to them as my caretakers. I am not completely helpless but there is very much I can’t do without being able to put any weight on one foot. They have prepared food for me, cleaned up afterward, done the laundry, gone grocery shopping, brought all the things that I need right to me, etc. And they have done so with great kindness and love. I know they feel bad for me but I know that it is not just out a sense of pity. They are simply the best! 

The teenage years are known for being difficult ones and overall, after being a parent of teen(s) for over ten years straight, I would not disabuse anyone of that notion. However, as parents of teens know, teenagers can also be fun to hang out with and spent time with. I have never seen a teen of mine step up to take on a caretaker role (thank heaven it was never necessary before!)- what a blessing it has been on multiple levels to see Alyssa shower me with love, kindness, compassion and helpfulness. 

2. I am thankful for friends and family who have helped out. And what help they have been! On Monday, Clint and Kristine dropped off a bountiful feast from Olive Garden. This meal ended up being dinners for two nights. The salad lasted the two dinners and was two lunches for me. For the lunches, I added some meat for protein but the salad was from Olive Garden. It was so thoughtful and generous. We are having another meal dropped off tonight by another friend. Since I cannot do much to get a meal on the table, I am extra thankful for the meals because it helps out Donnie and Alyssa.

3. When Abby’s boyfriend went to pick her up on Sunday to take her back to college, Donnie and I had just arrived home from the hospital. We hadn’t even gotten out of the car and he pulled up our street (the timing was coincidental). He got out of his truck carrying a meal that he’d made for us. Stick a fork in me, I am DONE! Wasn’t that sweet? He made a meal for us while he was at his parent’s house Sunday afternoon. How thoughtful! He also included some yummy looking cookies that his sister made. 

4. I am thankful for friends and family who have texted and called and stopped by to see how I am doing.

5. Donnie purchased crutches for me to use but that is all he’s had to buy. Friends dropped off a walker and Donnie’s mom had a knee scooter thing that she’s letting us use. Hopping on one foot isn’t tenable for more than a few steps so unfortunately, I need these aides. 

6. I am thankful that although I have always been active and enjoy movement, I enjoy doing things that have me sitting down- namely reading and to a lesser extent, writing. I will likely never have time to read like I have now. I have been enjoying having more time to read... but would happily give up less time for this activity if it meant that I could move easily. And drive 😆. Truly I am thankful that I have not felt bored since being grounded. Wishing I could get up and be productive, yes. Bored, no. 

Downloaded this bad boy to my Kindle and have begun to read it.

7. I am thankful for some positives on the post surgery recovery. For one thing, I had my first good night’s sleep since last Thursday. This was Tuesday into Wednesday. I slept for about eight hours straight. This required some effort on my part, namely not drinking anything after 7:30 pm so as to keep me from waking up to go to the bathroom. It was worth it for eight hours of sleep. I also was able to stop taking pain pills after Tuesday. Baby steps (sort of, though not literally, unfortunately) to, if not recovery, than normalcy. 

Not today Hydrocodone