Yesterday, Phil stretched me at the table first and I did some manual leg curls and extensions. Then we went to the Keiser machine and Phil brought the GREEN half popcorn ball thing. I saw that as a little bit promising. He stretched me some more and positioned the half popcorn ball thing and my feet and told me to stand. He pressed his knees against mine as I attempted to stand to offer needed resistance. I utilized my new-found strategy and had my hands on the bar as I attempted to stand making sure that I “pushed” more than I “pulled.” I TRIED and my legs shook but I did NOT stand to a *BINK.* I got a little higher on my 2nd time but still was unable to stand up fully. The 3rd time was similar to the 1st in terms of height so still NO *BINK.* Phil told me to head back to the table for some more stretching and curls. I didn’t feel SO bad that my attempts to stand were unsuccessful so I raised my hands and let out a small, “Woo-Hoo!” as I rolled down the ramp.
Once back at the table, I was doing curls and extensions and I graduated from “glistening” to straight up SWEATING! Megan was pulling the bin of clean towels to the office so Phil called her over to give me a towel. I told him that I could just use my shirt but Megan handed me a towel anyway. It was the SAME kind of towel that Phil had on his shoulders, around his neck. When she handed me the towel, I wiped my face, told Phil that we were”Matchers!”, positioned it on my neck exactly as Phil had his towel, and laughed. He shook his head and kind of laughed and then gave me the SAME face that Sean gives me when I say that to him. Apparently Phil didn’t appreciate it just like my son doesn’t appreciate it when I say that to him. Well, it amused me! So I must have said it like 4 more times.
After we were done at the table, Phil pushed me over to the stander. As he was pushing me past the stander to right beside it, I reminded it that , “I will own you.” Phil reminded me, “STILL an inanimate object. It’s not going to respond.” But, I needed that reminder for myself. He strapped me in and started cranking it up. It was INTENSE but better I think. I stood for 3 minutes, 3 1/2 minutes, and 3 minutes as Eric was pushing himself around in my wheelchair. He told me that that (pushing yourself in a wheelchair) is a workout and I agreed. As Phil was uncranking the stander, Eric asked me if that was hard referring to standing in the stander. I replied with an EMPHATIC, “YEAH!!!”
After Phil put me in my car and my chair was stowed; he told me that I did a good job and put his fist out. Before I had fully put my fist out in answer to his fist, he grabbed it, shook it, yelled, “Joystick!,” told me to have a good weekend, and shut my door. I kind of laughed and sat there for a little while and rested. I thought about how tired I was and how my back and butt would hurt tomorrow (they do!!!) but I still smiled because I stood for 26 WHOLE minutes this week and that felt REALLY good!!!