Good Medicine

A cheerful disposition is good for your health; 

   gloom and doom leave you bone-tired. 

(Proverbs 17:22, The Message)

I lost track last night of how many times I woke myself up when I cried out in pain Not sure if it was the pain in my knee waking me up or the yelling. Either way it didn't add up to a restful night! Then this morning I got up and nearly collapsed between my bed and the bathroom because the pain in my knee was so bad. Hubby came in while I was trying to get dressed and asked if I would like for him to drive me to work. (Yes, please!) So I was able to take some pain medication first thing. We drove in his truck because it's a bit roomier than my S-10 so he thought it might be easier for me to get into and out of. Almost resulted in a catastrophe that was kind of funny in retrospect. Getting in and out of vehicles is difficult with my knee in it's current state but I have learned to put one leg out and then sort of brace myself against the door jamb and push backwards to stretch and get out as that allows me to bend my left knee as little as possible. (It also helps when getting in and out on the driver's side because it places weight on my torso rather than on my left leg.) Anyway ... I wasn't considering the fact that he drives a stick shift and he had put it in neutral while he got out to get my walker for me. I stuck my right leg out the door, braced my back against the door jamb, pushed hard, and ... the truck moved and hubby yelled! LOL! We both survived and I made it safely out of the truck!

Anyway ... I could choose to be really gloom and doom today! I'm in pain and I "deserve" to be a little grouchy! But I know from experience that doing so will not make me feel any better and it tends to have a negative effect on those around me! So instead I am choosing some GOOD MEDICINE! Love and laughter and a focus on the blessings rather than the trials!

Melissa just called from the doctor's office to tell me that my white cell count was a little high so they wanted to be sure I wasn't sick. I don't think I'm sick. Aside from that all systems are go (guess that means I passed the EKG) for surgery on Wednesday morning. She said they are moving me to first slot in the morning so we have to be there at 6:00 AM (yuck)! Surgery is scheduled for 7:00. At least being first means that there shouldn't be any delays. Right?

I spent most of the weekend cozied up in my recliner with my laptop on my lap cruising around the Internet trying to build up my number of followers a bit (while blessing others by following their blogs and leaving comment love here, there and everywhere). Working mostly on my other blog Beth: A Work In Progress. If you're not already following that blog please do so post haste! :) It's a more comprehensive look at my life in general whereas I try to keep this one mostly about health, diet, and fitness (or lack thereof). It's up to 23 followers now (and this one is at 12 I think) which is just 2 short of my first goal ... 25! Then I'll work on 50 ... 100 ... 250 ... to Infinity and Beyond! :)

Okay ... did something stupid. It hurts to walk right now so I tend to postpone any treks (to anywhere) as long as possible. Then I will periodically have an urgent need to get to the bathroom immediately if not sooner (that "Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now" song from the incontinence ad is my theme song for life). And it takes about twice as long to walk with the walker though it is far easier on my knee. But I had to go and twice as long just wasn't an option so I hobbled down the hall as fast as I could and then back to my chair. Now my leg is aching like a son of a gun and I'm shaking like a leaf! I hope I can look back on this and laugh someday! But today is NOT that day! I have decided that I am a certified wimp!

Okay ... where was I? Counting blessings: (I'm bound to miss a bunch!)

• Life, breath, emotion, imagination - all the things that God has blessed me with that I just accept as my fair share in life and never really stop to be thankful for!
• Family, marriage, children, extended family - they aren't perfect and some times they make me cry but they are mine and they are precious
• Friends - new and old, near and far, online and in person - I'm thankful for each and every one of you
• My home - I would probably move the house if I could but it is where it is and it is much more than walls and a roof. Within those walls we are sheltered from the storms in more ways than one. Within those walls we love and laugh and cry and live and make memories every single day! 
• My dogs - they practically worship me and I am humbled by their devotion! Copper my tiny Pomeranian who will try to stand and protect me when Bert is just trying to help me out of the chair and who cleans up after me when I spill soup on the kitchen floor. And Lucy, my German Shepherd, who quivers all over with excitement when I pull into the driveway and she waits, as patiently as she can for a pat on the head and a scratch under her chin. And both of them are determined to protect me from the UPS driver and the pizza delivery guy! 
• My job - I love my job and the people I work with and I know that not everyone can say that! And it pays for my son's education too and I know what a HUGE blessing that is!
• More than adequate shelter and clothing and nourishment - I have so much and some times I am guilty of taking it for granted!
• Prayer warriors - those who have covered us with their prayers as we have faced so many crisis moments in the last few years
• Answered prayers - regardless of what Garth Brooks thinks ... I know He answers! But some times he says wait. And some times He says no!
• Hope - the ability to dream and believe that tomorrow can be better than today!

So ... what Good Medicine is in your life today? :)