Oddbean

Today is one month since my appendectomy. I praise the Lord that it was caught in time and wasn't worse. I could easily have waited longer to go in, since my symptoms never matched typical appendicitis and the pain I was in Friday had subsided by Saturday morning (probably because my appendix had already ruptured). Waiting longer would have led to a harder surgery, increased risk of infection, or possible death. Just 150-200 years ago, I'd probably be dead or dying now, which is a sobering thought. Recovery has progressed well, the incision is nearly fully healed, just some scabs and glue left. I'm still under a 5 lb weight restriction, but my job has accommodated my "disability" so I have been able to go to work for the last week. I went from needing to hold my lower abdomen to walk around very slowly to walking at pretty close to normal speed and doing light stretching exercises for the first time this morning. My younger son is still eagerly looking forward to the day when he can wrestle me and knock me down. Some time during my recovery I decided to up my Bible reading from 1 chapter to 5 chapters a day. I've read Acts, John, 1,2&3 John, Jude, Hebrews (twice), James (twice), 1&2 Peter (twice). It has been good to read in larger chunks. There's arcs that I don't catch when reading a chapter at a time that become apparent when reading larger sections, which has led to aha moments that I probably should have written down. I really should have been writing lots of things down over the last month. There were traumatic events that were temporarily seared in my mind at the hospital that I don't really want to remember, and I had something in the vein of an anxiety attack about a week after surgery. But here, looking back from a month out, it's easy to forget how far I've progressed. It's easy to be frustrated by how much I still can't do without appreciating what I can do now but couldn't just two weeks ago. My wife has been a great help meet for me, I could not have recovered this way without her–I needed her help just to stand up for several days. We are expecting our third child this week, and she has had to spend the last month taking care of an invalid husband and two energetic little boys. I've been pretty powerless to help with them when they are naughty or sad. She is a rock. It's certainly not the way one would prefer to spend the last month before giving birth, but she hasn't complained and has gone above and beyond to keep our household going and plan ahead for the new baby. Overall, I'm thankful to still be here. I'm thankful for my wife and sons. I'm thankful for modern emergency medical support. I'm excited for a new baby. I'm excited for Christmas. And I'm excited to be able to lift more than 5 lbs and get my hands dirty in my growing spaces. Most of all I'm thankful for a God who arranged for this to happen at what is probably the least-worst time and has used it for his glory in ways I certainly don't fully know or understand. Get yourself some life insurance. And get to know Jesus. #grownostr #life