Because family and friends are what brings you through...
DisneyWorld. Jackson and Kailey. Didn't ask them to hold hands with their Mickey Mouse gloves on, they just did. It just happened. Had the Berg cousins been there, little Erin Lynn would have donned a pair as well, making this a trio of best friend cousins. Family and friends stick by you...no matter what. Through thick and thin. At your best and at your worst. We have seen this since September 13th. I sit here today, at my home. At my computer. Tired, have a bit of a headache, but I wanted to get a note out there to everyone that I am SO THANKFUL...SO BLESSED...for ALL OF YOU. This Thanksgiving, please know, that I am thankful, more than I have EVER been, for my life, my kids, my family, my friends, and....did I say...my life?
Started back to work last week. I am going to tell you. I am only allowed 5-20 hours to start. Part time, and I am still on FMLA. When I walked back into that house with my 5 guys that I care for and help supervise~woah. The tears, they flowed. The kisses were being blown by one of my guys from his recliner. He was blowing. me. kisses. One had a smile from ear to ear and had his arms out ready to hug me and he hugged me so tight I didn't think he'd let me go. Another that cannot see, but only hear, heard my voice, and she smiled and vocalized louder than I had seen in months. Another repeated his name and smiled and held up his arms and I hugged him too. Another had a beautiful smile from ear to ear and waited until I came to hug her and was wide eyed and just was so excited to see me... I stopped dead in my tracks and cried. How BLESSED am I? How lucky am I to be a part of this FAMILY? I not only have my family at home, my inlaws, my relatives, but I have my FAMILY here at work. I LOVE them. God is so good. I am SO BLESSED. I fit right back into their family. Thank you, God, for letting me fit back in. Thank you, too, for my co-workers, who are the best that anyone could ask for. We are a team, and we work so well together. I missed them all.
So it goes. I am back to work. Part time. I am happy to be back, I am doing ok. I am trying to adjust. Have headaches about mid-day everyday. I take my medicine for that. I am walking well with the cane. I have recently graduated from OT. YEAH! That means that today when I went, my grip strength is up to 40 vs. 30 and I have at home exercises to work on, but I don't have to go in to do OT anymore. I still will do PT in house. I will probably do that still twice a week, and get the hinged AFO brace for my foot. I am wiped out at the end of the day and I am just ready for bed. I don't even want to deal with laundry or housework, etc. so thank goodness Matt helps with that. I thank you all for the continued support and prayers, love, friendship, and EVERYTHING.
This song was playing on the way home tonight. It hit home for me. Hold on, to me as we go~ as we roll down this unfamiliar road. And although this wave is stringing us along...just know you're not along...Cause I'm gonna make this place your home. This unfamiliar place has been my stroke. This wave has been the doctors and tests and pt and ot and frustrations. This place that is my home...is the love I feel in my heart because of my family, my friends, and my co-workers, and my health care team. The cards, the texts, the emails, the meals, the "hey, glad to have you back, or you look great, or good to see you...." Sure. I'm still afraid once and awhile. Actually, lots. But, I just try to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and each and every one of you, be it family or friend...help me do it. And for that, I am so very thankful and blessed, and humbled, this Thanksgiving holiday. May God Bless you all.
