November 2, 2012

Day 2: Today I am grateful for good health. Not even perfect health... because really, who has that? With what we have endured the last 3 months or so, I have gained a greater appreciation for being healthy.
**First, in January having my incredibly healthy mother in the ICU for so long with blood clots in both lungs. It was terrifying to think what could have happened had she not gotten to the hospital when she did. That experience did a number on me... mostly because she is the LAST person I expected to end up in the hospital. (I am grateful she can run 6 miles... and that she is here to be the incredible grandma that she is to our girls!!!)
**Second, losing my father-in-law in August... it was so horrible to watch him as his health deteriorated and he could no longer do the things he loved to do. We miss him terribly and don't look forward to what the holidays will feel like without him. (I am beyond grateful that we spent the precious time we did with him the weekend before he passed. I am grateful he got to see McKenna catch her first fish on a fly rod. I am grateful he was able to catch his last. I am grateful for no regrets.)
**Third, my grandma having a stroke and several other mini-strokes in August. More expected than the other events based on her age... but still alarming. (I am grateful I was able to help take her to some doctors appointments... and that she is improving!)
**Fourth, my Dad's 2 weeks in the ICU in September. It was scary. I was overcome with fear over what we may have to deal with. Again, if he hadn't gone to the hospital when he did we may have lost him. (I am grateful he is doing so well. I am grateful for antibiotics. I am grateful I got to take care of him while my mom was out of town. I am grateful in both this situation and with my mom that I was able to go and be there for them every day.)
**Fifth, McKenna. Need I say more? My own baby girl. She handled it way better than I did. I tried so hard to hide what I was feeling. Not sure how well I did... but I tried. (I am grateful that my OBGYN doesn't think she has my laundry list of female issues. If anyone on planet earth should be a mother, it's McKenna. I am grateful for priesthood blessings.)
** Sixth... this recent cold that we have been suffering through has been the worst cold ever. It pales in comparison to the things I have listed above... but the lesson learned from the last week and a half of misery is the same. Gratitude. I am grateful when I wake up and feel GOOD. I am grateful when I can get out of bed and do the things on my list for the day... and not feel the need to lay down and rest every 20 minutes. I have gratitude that all of the things that could go wrong with my body, don't. I am grateful for my health. I am grateful for the health of my family and friends. And I am grateful for doctors and nurses that have thus far been able to fix most of what has gone wrong for those I love most. I am grateful for medicine and hot baths. And sprite.