Author: Jen Rios

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

 

Because of the rain, my legs felt REALLY tight yesterday.  I almost hit a duck who was crossing the parking lot at Barwis!  I was getting into my zone and didn’t see it until almost the last second.  Phil stretched me out at the Keiser machine and I stood.  Phil didn’t time it but I think it was for an hour or so.  Seriously, might have been AT LEAST a minute.  It was a strong, sturdy stand; one in which my right leg joined the party immediately.  I sat when Phil told me to VERY slowly and with the UTMOST grace!  (At least that is how I perceived it to be).  It was even the first one and it WASN’T the worst!  I stood again equally as good.  On my third stand, Phil had me do squats in quick succession.  I did 19.  I was on my way up to make it 20 and he said, “I’m not taking you out to your car today.  The new intern is.”  Well, I lost my concentration with that so I had to sit.  I could have done like 30 maybe.. not really, I was already losing steam.

I rested and stood again but I only got 5 more squats.  He fist bumped me and “joystick”ed me.  I let him.  Phil yawned and told me that he was tired and that I was the 7th client he had with neurological problems that day.  I replied with a smile and throwing my hands in the air, “Lucky 7!”  That’s me.

I tried another stand and only completed one squat.  I was disappointed and Phil told me that I was tired.  Well, I guess I WAS.  I told Phil that, “I wanted to knock your socks of but I guess I will save that for “Walking Wednesday.” ”  He stretched me again before my time was over.  He told me I did a good job and we fist bumped like 3 times.  I think he was waiting for me to try to “joystick” him. But, I said that I’m not going to steal his thunder anymore… or am I?  It was nice to just fist bump again.

Zakk took me out to my car which I got into almost by myself.  I undershot the car seat a bit so he had to help me get onto the car seat.  I sat in the car for a while because I was  tired but it was a “good” tired.  I worked hard.  I wondered if I will ALWAYS have to work this hard.  I’m okay with that too though.  It’s bound to get easier!  It already has compared to the days BEFORE Barwis.  I ended up doing like 5 stands and 25 squats yesterday!  I think I can REALLY see walking on the horizon!  We’ll see what “Walking Wednesday” #28 brings…