Hi friends and family! Its Anna here,

I wanted to make a post about how my recovery has been almost two weeks post-op, and almost a week out of the hospital. 

For the past two weeks I have been resting and sleeping a lot. Honestly, I don't remember much about my week in the hospital other than that I was in MASSIVE amounts of pain, and was on lots of medication. I remember my favorite nurses, and doctors, I remember restless nights writhing in pain, and I also remember some moments with family and boyfriend laughing. 

I have been doing very well considering that I had just undergone a major surgery. I am not taking naps anymore throughout the day, but try to sleep in during the morning. This is major progress, although nights are still the hardest as I wake up every hour to take a different medication, and to re-position myself in bed or have an ice pack placed under my back, which takes a lot of effort and maneuvering. I am also cut down to half doses on my major medications, which is also progress. Ever since I got home, I have been going for slow ten minute walks on my treadmill after laying down for a long period of time due to spasms and uncomfortability after being in one position for too long.  

The hardest part other than pain and constant upper back spasms is that I can't bend or twist (rotate my body) and I have to keep my shoulders in-line with my hip and foot at all times, due to the fact that my spine needs to fuse properly on its own, so I am limited with my mobility. The fusing period could take anywhere from a few months months to a year depending on my bodies healing and recovery. But once the fusing period begins I will be able to bend and move more freely again. The mobility is hard because I have to log roll in and out of my bed, I can't just twist or sit up or bend freely anymore due to the surgeons restrictions, so this stops me from being able to put my shoes on or bend down to put my socks on, or even go to the bathroom on my own. This is extremely hard, but am so unbelievably thankful for the help and support of my mom, dad, and boyfriend Taylor who help me around the clock with the littlest things. I couldn't imagine not having them by my side. I am so incredibly thankful and blessed. My mom has been my rock. This morning my brother told me that when I woke up in the ICU after surgery I was in hysterics crying and screaming out of pain and no one could get me to calm down. No doctor, no nurse, no one. But they decided to let my mom in the room, and all she did was hold my hand and I stopped crying, and became dead silent. He said it was the craziest thing. My mom hasn't left my side, and she has had so many sleepless nights but I can't imagine going through this without her. I love her so much, and appreciate her so much. 

The good news is that everyday I am gaining more and more freedom back, and am learning how to do things on my own again. I am able to somehow dress myself in loose stretchy clothing that I can maneuver on. (tried yoga pants and couldn't do it.)

Today I put my socks and shoes on without bending, with the help of a shoe horn. This was the first time I have been able to put my own shoes on since before surgery! Little things are big wins these days. :) 

For the most part I have been doing well. Watching movies, sleeping, and just allowing time and God to heal my body. I can't deny, Ive felt a little out of it due to all of the meds I'm on, (some I had pretty bad reactions to in the hospital) and feel a little like a walking zombie most days, but I remember that it's all apart of the process and that if I put one foot in front of the other, and allow God to give me strength each day I will get to where God wants me to be, healed. If God brought me to this, He will bring me through it! He has more than equipped me to deal with this even when I can't see that. I just have to remember that He promises us that He will never give us more than we can handle. He will carry me through, and my trust is in Him every step of the way.

I feel proud of how far I have come, and what I have gone through. What God has taken me through, most importantly. I have done nothing in my own strength. Its all God. He is working in me and on my body everyday. This has been an incredibly humbling experience. I can remember being in the hospital and looking up at my mom and saying that. 

I am so thankful for all of the prayers. I can feel them. I have felt them from the very beginning. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Thank you to Pastor Josh who came to the University of Minnesota, all the way from Wisconsin at 7am that Wednesday morning to pray with me and my family right before I went back into the OR. Words can't express my love, and thankfulness. 

I will keep you all posted with other updates on recovery. 

xoxo Anna