Yesterday, my friend Tory told me that every day after she wakes up, she thinks of 10 things for which she is grateful. Every. Single. Day. How lovely is that?
I would love to claim I’m going to implement that same pumped-up practice in my own life, but let’s be realistic — lately I’m lucky if I shower every single day, let alone make a 10-point list as I’m struggling not to hit snooze.
But I do genuinely miss my Thankful Things Thursday tradition, and there’s no time like the present to bring it back. Here are a few things for which I am exceptionally grateful right now…
I’m thankful for Ellie! Obviously. The first few days have been wonderful, fun, hilarious, challenging, fascinating, joyful, sleep deprived, and emotionally charged.
I was home with her all day on Monday — I didn’t run, didn’t go to yoga, didn’t even shower. We were side by side the entire day.
Then, on Tuesday, I was signed up for a spin class. I thought this would not be a problem. And it wasn’t — for her. I, on the other hand, was a damn mess. I was hysterical crying when I left the apartment, cried the entire walk to the spin studio, was crying in the lobby before class, finally stopped crying during class but was totally distracted, and then sprinted home to get her. And of course, she was fine. But I was an emotional wreck. I immediately called my mom to tell her I am emotionally incapable of having children, so that’s off the table now.
I left her for a bit longer Wednesday, and for a bit today. She continues to do fine. I am getting there.
I also took her to the vet on Tuesday, and everyone just loved her and gushed over her and played with her and I felt like the proudest puppy parent in the world. I was beaming, even when the bill came (whooooa vet bills…).
Turns out, Ellie has “a whole host of parasites” in her little belly — roundworm, hookworm, and Coccidia — and she has a yeast infection in her ear, like a delicate lady. She got some vaccinations and antibiotics while we were there, and we have to give her a few medications over the next two weeks. Today she pooped out a real live worm! I had to clean it up! I feel really bad, though. Poor girl.
She is good at “sit” and “shake” and she loves chewing on anything Lululemon. I swear she’s a snob. She’s not at all interested in my pajama pants from the Gap, but Wunder Unders? She can’t get enough.
When it comes to snoozing, she slept great the first night (moving day! she was sleepy!), then didn’t sleep at all for a few nights and kept us up with her. But last night was her first night in her crate, and to my surprise, she loved it! She whimpered a bit at first, then she slept through the night and much, much later than I did.
I’m thankful for all of the kind, genuine, deeply personal feedback I received during Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week. With every comment on every post, I felt genuinely lucky and truly appreciative. Thanks for being the best ever, and for sharing so much of yourselves with me. What a cool little community we have here.
I’m thankful for this sweet weather we’re having in the northeast! It’s going to be 60 degrees this weekend, and this morning I ran in shorts and a tank top — no legwarmers!
I’m thankful for Brian and his unwavering patience. Bringing Ellie home has unleashed this incredibly touching side of Brian. He calls her beautiful and is so proud when he teaches her new tricks. (He looked at me the other night and, dead serious, says, “I think I’m like a dog whisperer or something.” The ego grows and grows!) He is so good and patient with Ellie, and he’s equally good and patient with me. He seems to know everything about raising a puppy, and I know so little, and he’s doing a great job training both of us.
I’m thankful Christmas is right around the corner! It’s not so much Christmas I care about, but rather the idea of getting to see my family. Brian and I opted to stay in New York City for Thanksgiving (between the wedding and the honeymoon, we’ve traveled enough this year), which was lovely.
I planned, prepped, and cooked my first Thanksgiving dinner, saw the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons being inflated, ran over to watch part of the parade on Thanksgiving morning, and had an overall wonderful week.
But I missed being with my family and Tyler and Abby, so I’m extra excited to get to see them at Christmas. (And for Ty and Abby to meet Ellie! That will be so…interesting!)
I’m thankful for my health. Writing about Crohn’s and my low points reminded me how utterly pumped I am to be healthy right now. I occasionally get to run without bathroom stops, and I generally feel Crohn’s-free. That’s a beautiful thing. Every day is special. Yay!
I’m thankful for people who respond to my emails, process my invoices, and give a shit. In work stuff, and in life stuff. That’s always appreciated.
I’m thankful for the magic of Christmas in NYC. It truly never gets old. I always gasp at my first sight of the tree at Rockefeller Center, and I have made it a tradition of running to see it in the early morning before the crowds begin to gather. So very special (and you get to see Matt and Savannah and Natalie and Carson and Willie, too, because they’re next door doing Today show things).
I’m thankful for nice, good people. The world is scary right now. I am grateful for the good people by my side and beyond.
I am thankful for Spotify. I finally joined because my friend Tiger Lucy called me “old” for still using iTunes. Aside from the fact that she’s clearly a bitch, I’m really digging Spotify. So far I use it exclusively to listen to the Hamilton cast album.
And that’s 10 things! It took me until 5 PM, so now I can start my day!
SURPRISE THROWBACK THURSDAY PHOTO:
BUT NOW YOU HAVE TO DO IT, TOO, REMEMBER?! Tell me at least one thing for which you are thankful.
25 Responses
Seriously, I cannot recommend crate training enough for when you’re not home! The shelter told us to do it because dogs are den animals, and they like it. And it will save your Lulus and rugs and everything else in your apartment.
We’ve made our puppy’s crate his home enough that when he’s scared (by thunder usually), or wants to hide (with a treat he can’t wait to chew on/guard with his life), he’ll go in there on his own. It’s great to see him feel safe in there.
As always, I love your posts. I feel like I catch up on all things going on with you, Brian and now Ellie when reading your blog. BTW I share your pics of Ellie from IG every time Randy is in the room. Miss ya, xoxoxo
I totally got a laugh about your anxiety over leaving Ellie. I was a wreck the first month or so after we got our puppy. I remember laying on the couch, with my dog laying on top of me, calling my husband and crying and saying, “I think I’ve ruined him.” lol I was so obsessed with training him properly but it was harder than I thought. Anyways, my dog turned out to be a wonderful dog, and my husband and I still laugh about that phone call I made to him.
Ali! I am thankful for finding your blog :). Also, I am a nurse and feel compelled to mention that it’s important for you to be extremely careful when cleaning up Ellie’s infected poop (sorry for being gross!). Plenty of hand washing and hand sanitizer. Those nasty germs could potentially wreak havoc on your compromised gi system. Enjoy her, I’m sure she already knows she’s a lucky girl.
Hi Jen! Thanks for reading and commenting, and for the tip, which is NOT gross, because there’s no TMI here! My hands are SO dried out because I’ve been washing them eight million times a day. I am being extra super careful with all the poops she leaves all over the apartment! Hehe.
more puppy photos!!!
(helpful right?)
OMG- your puppy!!! <3
Ahh! I always recognize the park where you run because I live across the street from it (Carl Shurz Park) but never say anything about it!! I run there all the time!
https://sweetpotatoesrunner.wordpress.com
I am thankful an amazing stranger donated stem cells to my mum and that my mum is as strong as an ox, so she’s making a brilliant recovery from leukaemia. And I’m thankful to the fantastic people who figured out the science behind stem cell transplants and all the amazing care she’s received.
I’m thankful for my beautiful one year old boy who lights up all of our lives, even during the hardest times. How can you be gloomy when you hear a toddler giggle?!
I’m thankful for my kind, generous, funny husband who looks after all of us.
I’m grateful that it’s nearly Christmas and we all get to spend time together.
I’m thankful for my health and that I’m not flaring right now.
Thanks for reminding me to focus on the all the good stuff again!
Ahh! Those puppy eyes!! My little guy had a belly full of worms when he came home too. She’ll be fine. I remember the days when he couldn’t make it through a whole work day without going outside, so I biked home everyday at lunch to let him out and steal puppy snuggles for about five minutes before I had to turn around and bike back. Cherish these moments! <3
I’m thankful for your puppy pictures and Ellie’s big tubby puppy belly!!
Thankful for working from home today!
Thankful my almost 7 year old pup got a clean bill of health at his annual checkup.
Thankful for this warm weather.
Thankful for my laptop so I can get work done while waiting for my car to be serviced.
I had a nice catch up call with Tory last night myself (she’s pretty amazing!)… and I am incredibly thankful the both of you found a way into my life. NOW… what would make me REALLY thankful, is if the three of us can have a playdate in NYC someday!!
love this thankfulness post, and that your friend Tory is so awesome about thinking of a list every morning! i try to count my blessings and pray and think of all the things for which i’m thankful every morning on my Citibike to work, but i know i could be more diligent about it. such a good practice. Ellie is so cute and the Lulu part made me lollll.
Your Ellie looks like such a sweetie, I want to meet her!!! The crate is an awesome thing, our two beagles (Ellie and Maggie) share one since they like to snuggle together, they go in to hang out when they want to chill, it’s their little den. I am thankful to be home today after spending the first part of the week in Israel – good to be back with family and friends after a great work week!
Yessss. A return of TTT!
This week (well, every week, but especially this week), I am thankful for my husband. A big portion of my life turned stressful and shitty over the last few days, and he was just unwaveringly there: to listen to me, to help me problem-solve, to kind of just allow me to have a total freak out. I know how lucky I am to have that support and also how much harder the bad times would be without him. Marrying him was a good idea!
I am thankful that Thankful Thursday’s may be making a comeback!! These are some of my favorite posts from you!! Now Ellie pics as well!!
Cocoa Bean!! I love her so much and she makes me happy. She’s crazy but I love her!!
Omg, I love Ellie, I may be the nutty one who stops you on the street and goes crazy for your dog. Be forewarned. Seriously, she’s adorable. You did such a good thing adopting her. She hit the jackpot.
Among many things I am grateful for the fabulous autumn we have had weather wise – sooooo nice. Just now bought a warmer running jacket and then laughed because NO NEED FOR THAT
Life is good
Congratulation on the new puppy. She is beautiful! I am Thankful for my sweet dog, Daphne. She is one of my greatest loves and her favorite activity is running. She is the best running partner a girl could ask for. She started the couch to 5K program with me and has now advance to a 10k. When I put on my running shoes, she gets so excited! Enjoy your new furbaby. 🙂
Brian with Eliie…my husband was like with our baby. Effortless whereas I was effort-full. He’s still a MUCH better parent than I am, and at the start it was really hard to deal with. So beware, Brian might out-parent you if/when the time comes!!! 🙂
Today I am thankful for the rain, here in dusty, drought-stricken California. I got to run in the rain in the morning and then it’s raining again. Just in time for me and my little Dude to snuggle up in bed to watch movies and drink hot chocolate! Perfect.
Congrats on your puppy,getting married,seeing giraffs and feeling better. Ya – the feeling sad,worried when you leave your pup – its just the beginning!!! I had “the cutest pup in the world” for 10 wonderful years – a little terrier. I loved her more than words. She made me laugh every single day no matter what! Pups are a SO comforting – I had no idea – until she passed. You and Brian will make wonderful pup parents!!! I to am the crazy person that has to say Hi and pet every dog I see! She’s so adorable!!!! Enjoy!
Vet bills! Sign up for doggy insurance ASAP. A top notch plan will run you 40-50 per month, but will save you thousands of dollars.
Already on it 🙂