Month: May 2014

I arrived to Barwis just in time to begin.  Phil pulled the mat out of the corner to begin our infamous stretch.  It still hurt like anything regardless of Phil’s attempts to calm me with his repetitive, “Shhh” and, “Woosah.”  I asked him if it will always hurt this badly and he said,  “Probably.”  Well, that stinks!

After the stretch, it was time to kneel.  I didn’t feel that my kneeling was better than last week’s but Phil told me that it was better than last time.  He knows.  I can’t see myself and he CAN.  I ended up kneeling  for 8 minutes this time.  I knelt 12 times for 30 seconds each time and twice for 1 full minute each time.  Phil then lifted me off of the mat to put me back into my wheelchair and pushed me over to where my coat and things were.  I was SO tired!

Phil took me out to my car and I tried to get in by myself but Phil had to put me in.  We fist bump once I’m in and I tried to, “Joystick” him but couldn’t.  He told me that I did a good job and Shut my door.  I was SO TIRED!  I left and on my way home, the “numbness” in my legs was replaced with the all too familiar pain in my butt!  I have had continuous pain in my butt, quads, and hamstrings for a few weeks now.  It’s a “good” pain though and it lets me know that I am working hard to walk and the lower half of my body is too!  It’s been SO long that I have felt ANY muscle in my legs.  Now, I feel ALL OF THEM but I’ll take it because it’s FEELING and that’s a good thing!

It rained yesterday on my way to Barwis.  Even though the weather was not good, I didn’t feel TOO, TOO badly.  I got into the center and I heard one of Jesse’s songs.  It was a song I heard a lot this past summer and he used to dance to it and we would laugh.  Phil stretched me out at the Keiser machine (after he gave me a piece of gum because I lost my pack and I really like the gum he chews.  Now I chew it.) and had me stand.  Well, first is STILL NOT the worst because I stood sturdy and strong.  I had to fight for it in the beginning but with Phil telling me to, “Push”, I was able to stand with a *BINK.*  He then told me to do two squats which I did coming up to a complete stand, *BINK.” I stood again and this time I did 3 squats.  I was excited!  So much so, I extended my fist in which Phil “joystick”ed mebut that was okay with me because I was SO happy!

I then completed two more stands where Phil counted down from ten to have me sit again.  He wouldn’t start counting  until I got my bearings and once he started counting, I let out an involuntary, “Wooo!”  Sometimes in life, a well placed, “woo-hoo!” will adequately express your mirth.  I was REALLY happy that I had put forth a good show at the bar so I was looking forward to “Walking Wednesday” #28.

I get set at the line Phil told me to.  Phil has made fun of the fact that I say, “Let’s do this thing!” at the beginning of each down but I said it anyway.  My left foot was getting EXCELLENT steps off and both Phil and Lindsay thought so and were telling me.  My right leg, not so much but my left leg was taking a good lead.  I got 13 yards on my first down.  I got 3 on my 2nd down and 2 on my 3rd down.  I stood for my 4th down but I couldn’t get anything further.  I was squeezing all of the muscles that Phil told me to but I could not will my feet to move.  I sat a bit defeated and said , “I punted.”  I got 18 yards yesterday.  But thinking about it, I have faith in my punter and faith in my D-line.  My return team is GREAT so it wasn’t such a bad thing, I suppose.

Phil didn’t take me out to my car yesterday.  We fist bumped in the center and Phil told me that I did a good job.  I grabbed his fist and gave it a good shake as I yelled, “Joystick.”  I think Phil let me because he wasn’t taking me to my car.  Zakk took me.  He complimented my rims and I told him, “If I’m gonna roll, I’m gonna roll in style.”  I got into my car COMPLETELY by myself!  I sat in the car and rested a long while, drank water, and texted Jesse to tell him how I did.  He responded, “Wow you have been steady w that”  I guess I have! I have gotten double-digit yardage for tha last three “Walking Wednesdays.”  I responded, “I have!  It’s coming!!! “Little by little…”

TOTAL YARDAGE = 341 and 2 steps