I'm thankful for...

Every year, my husband's family holds hands and says why they're thankful. It's a tradition we love and hate. We have so much to be thankful for everyday and we acknowledge each other with love and compassion on a regular basis but I married into a family of total introverts. It also is the pressure of saying the right thing.

The Start of Hand Holding. photo by Yanxin Feng

This year, Thanksgiving was larger than previous years. We usually have the immediate family and the grandparents. This year, we had the pleasure of having his uncle and cousins too. Plus we hosted two students from China who had never experienced an American Thanksgiving. My brother-in-law issued the challenge of saying what we're thankful for in one word.

I thought about it all, what am I thankful for in one word?

• My husband is amazing and the best person I could have found. 
• I have a wonderful family both biological and in-laws. 
• Modern medicine saved my life (medications prior to surgery and surgery itself). 
• My animals are forever perfect in my world. 
• I have a good job, reliable cars, and a safe home. 

But more than anything, Vitamins...We take for granted normal absorption prior to surgery.  Post-op, regular blood tests tell us what we are lacking. Even with the 14 vitamins I've been taking daily, I was still low on Vitamin A and Vitamin D.

Vitamin A is commonly known for helping with vision but did you know it also helps with the immune system, reproduction, the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other vital organs...Learn More About Vitamin A Here

Vitamin D has been a more popular research vitamin over the past several years. Yes your body can make it from the sun but as a fair girl, I don't willingly bask in the sun too often. It's vital for calcium absorption but it also helps with the immune system! Learn More About Vitamin D Here

Post Op, those supplements are essential. Failure to abide by daily vitamin regimen and monitor levels could result in hair loss, tooth loss, organ failure, death....

Life after surgery is not for the weak. You are forever taking vitamins...I'm now up to 18/day until my Vitamin A and D get back to better ranges. I would rather take vitamins than medications!