Thankful Overload!

I am REALLY struggling with what to post about today. I still have 4 posts to catch up on from last week, too. It's not that I'm not thankful, I have a million and one things to be thankful for. When you're feeling down in the dumps, like I am today, now more than ever would be a good time to count my blessings! I did not sleep well last night, and I think that's the biggest reason I feel the way I do. KayCee has been on one, and I'm about ready to sell her on e-bay!!

So, I got to thinking as I was deciding what my posts should be about for the rest of the month, and I'm TRULY grateful that I was able to have back surgery. I still have some pain, and my back gets tired after a long day, but I am feeling a lot better. I used to not be able to sit through a movie, or get down on the floor and play with my kids. I gained some weight before my surgery because I just didn't move around much, I'm hoping to quickly lose that and more!!

So, because of this guy, Dr. David Nathan, I was able to get a new back!

Dr. Nathan is a very smart doctor, and I'm glad I found him! You hear a lot of horror stories about back surgery, and I'm so thankful I'm not one of them! He listens to my concerns, and always has the answer, he understands the pain and healing process and does not expect me to do more than I can.

On the left is what a Normal vertebrae should look like, on the right is what mine looked like the entire vertebrae moved every time I walked, pinching my nerves, and causing lots of pain and numbness.

This is what my fused back looks like! I have some cadaver bone in my back! Surprisingly enough, when I got the hospital bill, that bone was THE MOST expensive thing they charged for!
I am SO thankful for my mom and dad who kept my kids at their house for an entire weekend, I'm thankful for a mom that came and visited me and sent me flowers, that came to my house several times a week after I got home and helped me when Drew had to work. There is NO WAY I would've survived this without her! I'm thankful for a husband who works hard so that we have really great insurance, and my almost $100,000 back surgery only cost us $270. I appreciate how he stepped up in helping with the kids, and the cooking; cleaning still wasn't a priority for him, but I'll take what I can get :) I'm thankful for the priesthood blessings from my husband, and from ward members. I'm thankful for the meals that were brought in. For friends that came to see me, or called, or texted to see how I was doing. Several nights I've cried myself to sleep thinking I made a huge mistake, and I was never going to be pain free, but I know I made the right decision, and I get stronger and stronger every day. I will get this weight off, and my goal is to be able to run a 5K next summer.