Celebration Thread: What is awesome in your life right now?
 

We don't have enough of these. Tell us about the good things in your life, maybe it will make everyone feel better. Big and small...

Good things in my life:

1) My new contacts arrived yesterday and I can see so much better with my new prescription! I never started wearing glasses/contacts until the end of my undergrad years.

2) My wife got another interview invitation for Physician Assistant's school yesterday! :shedance:

That's fabulous Justin. With you becoming a specialist Physician, and your wife becoming a Physician Assistant, you guy's are going to be driving a Rolls Royce soon. :laugh:

1. Personally I am thrilled to be employed today. Many are not so I am definitely counting my blessings there.

2. I have a wonderful support network that keeps me charged for the world on a daily basis.

3. I am able to walk today which was in serious doubt a couple of years ago. I was getting more and more debilitated before my surgery.

4. I've been able to share my blessings by being supportive of others. There is nothing like getting away from your own pain by helping others.

What a wonderful post Justin.

There are oh so many things to be grateful for.

Terry Newton

HI Justin a lovely idea and makes you think when you are down

when I think of blessings I count my husband Gus twice, because he never gives up on me and is always postive and supportive caring and kind. I have never met any person better.

I also have some great friends who love me and make me laugh when they can

I have a job I want to go back to and it is a good one!

I have a great garden and another vegetable garden and I will be getting stuck in there soon!

I have support from some great people on this and the UK sites and I am so thankful for that

Maz

My life is GREAT
 

Hey Justin

My life is great, I have a wonderful wife, a good little boy, living in the mountains with great views,Yellowstone 50 miles away, I dont have cancer,
and it`s almost time for santa to visit:shedance:

Thanks for reminding me

Gil:)

Nice topic, fit for the holidays...or any days!
 

I am so grateful for being pain-free; having a lovely supportive wife and the chance to learn from all of you in many different ways.

A few years ago I was in hell; but now I can see & feel that this chapter in my life has been the most rewarding ever. Good health, love and peace to all of you!

Christmas is almost here! I love this time of year. We are headed home to see family for the Holidays -- I can't wait! :)

This thread is an awesome idea. It's so easy to think of the negative but all too often we forget to remind ourselves of what is positive in our lives. The positives in my life are:

Finally getting my life back thanks to my amazing surgeon.

Besides my back problems I've been able to stay otherwise very healthy for a long time.

I have a great job that continues to put challenges in front of me [wouldn't want to get bored!] with amazing coworkers.

Having a wonderful family, including my boyfriend and his family. Also to have had my boyfriend in my life for almost 5 years now [and hopefully a very very long time into the future. :) ]

I also have a great little house from which I can take a look at these boards where so many have given me support and hopefully I've been able to give some support to others in return.

~Sara

Things I'm Grateful For
 

Great idea for a thread!

I'm grateful for:

A terrific, understanding wife.

Wonderful children, 36, 34 and 21 year old daughters, 27 and 2 year old sons.

I'm able to keep my sense of humor through the back thing.

This Forum and it's supportive population.

Being an American and living in a country where we have the freedoms we have.

There's more:

Not having a wide stance when in airport restroom stalls.

I wasn't high bidder on the Ebay ad for an Illinois Senate seat.

Merry Christmas all!

Bob

I am so very blessed
 

Great Idea!

I am grateful for my wonderful husband, Joe, who takes such good care of me. Who loves me through my faults, who cooks dinner everynight and is an awesome father to our daughters. He works hard in the Texas heat and in the winter cold, to provide for our family. He values me and the mom I am and encourages me when I am down.

I am grateful for my sweet little girls, that I have the privelege of raising them! Emma, 5yrs., who is always wanting to rub my back, get me a drink, and 'nurse' me. Getting to get up early in the mornings and watch cartoons with her and having that special time to just the two of us. For Ava, 3yrs on the 29th, who is a little love bug. She is on my lap cuddling most of the day, she still prefers mommy over just about anything else; she reminds me so much of myself.She is so funny, learning new things everyday and her funny new words and unusual understanding of things.

My mother in law, who is the best mother in law I could ask for! She keeps my daughter every Thursday night and Friday, so hubby and I can go on a date. My mom, who keeps my other daughter on Thursday night and takes her to school on Friday, so I can sleep in.

My life, I always wanted to be a mom, a stay at home mom, be married, have a home and live the 'American Dream' and I am.

I am thankful to have found this forum and all who are on here, so willing to help others, despite their own problems. Thank you all so much, you are such a blessing.:angel:

And lastly, I could go on forever :) that I am going to have ADR soon!

Awesome: Dr. Bertagnoli is supposed to call me tomorrow and discuss my new MRI/films.

Hopefully, this is the first step to feeling like myself again! :jacks:

wow, that is awesome news justin! you know you're a spiney when a call from Dr. B and potentially more surgery is "awesome" news and it's above the "good" news of improved vision! ;)

great in my life right now:

we finally received a lot of much needed rain and snow in san francisco and the sierras the past few days. i LOVE the air in SF after it rains. although i live in a small apt, i can see a small section of the pacific ocean from my apt even though it's 2 miles away and i'm watching a beautiful sunset right now (w/wine since this is a celebration thread:)). i love sunsets and i am blessed to live in this city.

also fortunate that i still have amazing friends and family in my life even though chronic pain has changed me as a person. they support me but also distract me and still make me laugh the way i used to (i have a big laugh).

wishing everyone happy holidays and less pain in 2009!

liz

Phone call
 

Good luck with your consultation!

Thank-you Justin. Great idea.

1. I am thankful for my supportive husband and grown children, who love me dearly.
2. I am over the moon about being a Grandma, sometime in early March. First time.
3. I am extremely grateful for all the good folks on this forum who give me hope.
4. I am thankful for the blast of winter we got up at the cabin this weekend, which snowed us in, and stranded us for an extra day and night.
5. And so much more.....

Cindylou

May the Good Lord bless us and watch over us this Christmas and Holiday Season. Let us also be mindful of the needs of others.

This is going to be a horrible year for some people due to the economy and losing their jobs. Please think about that when you pass by the Salvation Army buckets this year. There is nothing worse than having a rich country and seeing good people going hungry. Any of us could be one paycheck from being homeless ourselves.

Sorry for sounding preachy. The Rotarian is coming out in me.

United we stand, divided we fail/fall.

Terry Newton

Justin, Thank you for such a lovely idea. Good luck on your consultation.

I am so thankful for my husband of 35 years who is standing by me throughout all the problems with my back, neck, and other assorted parts.

I am also thankful for finding this site because many times your friends just don't get it, nor do I expect them to. The support from this site is wonderful due to all the great people here.

Lastly, my grown children, 30, 28, and 25 who still call and need Mom. It always feels so good when they call to run by something fun, exciting, or painful. It is wonderful to feel needed and get outside myself.

Happy Holidays to all
Phylly

Justin, great idea and good luck with your consult with Dr B,

I am thankful for my amazingly supportive family, particularly my mum, dad, brother and nana. they were amazing through this whole process and mum/dad looked after me for 6wks following my op. I love them all so much.

I am thankful for my health and an excellent outcome thus far (touch wood). I'm working fulltime again and doing some personal training around my work. I am drugfree and dont even think about carrying them in my bag anymore. I can play tennis and golf (abit so far) and get out on my bike.

I am also thankful for the great friends and work colleagues that i have. through this whole process my employer has been 100% supportive, as have all of my work colleagues. They still frown at me if i try to do too much, without being patronizing about my limitations at the same time.

A special mention also goes to Clive, my osteopath. He has treated me almost weekly at no cost for the last 18months (except the last two months as ive had no reason to see him, rock on). he enabled me to keep functioning as much as i could through the difficult times

i also need to give thanks to ACC, the NZ governments accident insurance as they have said 'yes' to everything that has been requested of them either by me or my med team.

And i am able to think about my future again, its no longer about just surviving...

To all the people tha make adr support (special mention to harrison), this site has been amazing for the support and information it has provided.

I wish everyone a merry christmas and a happy new year. I hope 2009 brings positive outcomes and resolutions.

Rachel

Short and Sweet
 

1. I have my job still.
2. My wife has her job also.
3. I do not use credit cards.
4. My neck is fixed.
5. My adult children are still model citizens.
6. I bought a Wii for Christmas.
7. My 42" flat screen was repairable.
8. Walmart sells tires cheap.
9. Gas prices are down.
10. Everyone here is so special to each other.

With all that and hundreds more, the good Lord has blessed us all with the gift of Life. That alone is worth it all.:angel:

I'm thankful for:
 

1. My husband who is hanging in with me and always having to gauge between 'oh, poor baby let me make you some tea' and 'quit moping and get off your keister'. I appreciate both attitudes even though he doesn't always select properly!

2. My sons, 18 and 20, who healthy and wise.

3. My Australian Shepherd, the best dog ever.

4. That we have a new president!!

Good luck, Justin!!

Thanks for all of the well wishes. Dr. B has been tied up this week and I didn't hear from him yesterday. Bummer...

Oh well, more great news:

1) My wife received another interview for Physician's Assistant school!
2) One of my childhood friends called not too long ago to tell me he and his wife are having twins! I'm a twin, so this is too cool! However, it means I'm getting old. ;)

Have a most wonderful (and low pain level) day everyone! :)