Back Update

Life is still, you guessed it, busy.  Which isn't a bad thing.  However, I feel like Fall has just flown by.  So here's a little update.
School - it's been going well. Quite well. And the semester is pretty much over, with the exception of finals.  Which makes me soooo happy.  I am getting so excited to get some free time back.  I won't be going to school next semester, and here's why - my back - It is going to be cut open in January. And I'm quite excited about it.  I've had herniated disks for almost 2 years now.  I've tried everything.  Some things have helped... some things have hurt... but nothing has gotten me to the point of feeling great.  I'm ready to go in and fix things surgically now.  I'm hoping through surgery, my nerve pain (which is now in both legs, not just my left leg) will go away.  I feel really good about it.  I have high hopes that I will be a lot less uncomfortable afterwards.  I just hope I haven't put it off too long and damaged nerves, but only time will tell.  Although this pain is nearly constant, and so often feels like it's crippling me, I am grateful to have experienced it.  I know, that sounds weird.  But through this trial, I have learned and grown so much.  I have learned to truly love myself and my body and to never take good health for granted.  It's interesting how the Lord teaches us.  He always knows exactly how to teach us invaluable important life lessons.  and for that I am so grateful.  I have learned to buck up tough things out.  But mostly, I've learned just how much happiness has nothing to do with the situation you might be in.  These last few years have been the happiest and best of my life.  I've learned to smile even when things hurt, whether that pain is physical, mental, or emotional.
In preparation for my surgery, I had to get an MRI yesterday.  MRIs don't bug me.  I don't mind being in the tube.  I actually kind of like the small cramped space; in a weird way, small spaces make me feel safe.  However, when you nose itches, and you can't scratch it, you realize just how long an MRI takes.  :S  Usually my MRIs take around 20 minutes... this one yesterday took me 40.  Oh man, I thought I was going to go crazy.
Everyone has asked me lately if I'm nervous for my surgery.  I'm really not.  I feel really good about it.  The idea of not having leg pain excites me so much, but I have to admit, it seems so foreign to me.  I go in exactly 1 month from today!  January 7th.  Then I'll be taking it easy for quite a while.  So if anyone gets bored, feel free to come read and watch movies with me.
Until next time,
Katie