I’m thankful I made it safely back home today. I’m not sure about Patrick, but the pups seemed happy about it too.

I’ve been staying with my younger sister, Jen, Jim and my mom. Today Jenny and Jim went to his sister’s lake cabin for the 4th of July holiday. My mom and I spent the morning scrounging through an antique/junk shop before we headed to a wedding celebration for my nephew and his wife. They got married last year in a very small ceremony in Colorado, where they live. Today family and friends gathered for a party. It rained at first, but then ended up being a lovely day outside.

I’m glad I was able to spend the last couple of days here. It’s been busy, and I’ve stayed up way later then normal, so I’m extra tired. But its been nonstop sarcasm, sass, and laughter. It’s good to be with your people.

I’m thankful for my family and for being able to see some nieces and nephews I don’t get to see too often, including my great niece, who is adorable. She was hitting the picture button on my phone and taking selfies.

Today I’m grateful for an early off day at work heading into a long weekend, for light traffic, cute squirrels, a relaxing evening, and laughter.

I’m thankful today for friends and plans and running into old friends. And dinner out. And that tomorrow is the end of the work week before a long weekend.

I’m thankful today for Brianna and Noah’s one year anniversary, for dinner with my friend Ann, for sunshine and laughter, and for my grandma who is 96 years young.

It was a dreary, rainy morning and better part of the day. Outside of running a few errands early on, we mostly lounged with the pups and watched nonsense on tv. I’m thankful for a day without pressure. And I only needed Tylenol once today!

I got my bandages off today. The nurse cleaned my incisions and put silicone tape over them, and I’ll see my doctor again in a couple of weeks.

When my doctor said a week of recovery, I thought he was nuts. Even my general doctor rolled her eyes and said she’d write me a note if I needed more time off work when I told her during my pre-op visit. But here I am, a week post surgery, and I’m almost completely off pain meds. That being said, I’m still quite bruised, swollen, and generally uncomfortable. It often feels like my ribs are being squeezed. Every once in a while, I stretch or twist wrong and pull the stitches on the left side which renders me speechless. Shooting pain. Ugh. Thankfully, it passes quickly.

Even though I have this time of healing and getting used to another change in my body, I’m so grateful to have come this far. I already feel so much better.