TGIF week 4

Friday, March 09, 2012

This is my 4th week at part time light duty week where I can celebrate the weekend with a TGIF! I worked 12.5 hours this week, up 1 hour since last week.
I actually do not feel as exhausted at the end of the day today.
I do not hurt as much today, at least right now. It is also not as cold out, and the sun is shining, and there are crocus popping up in my garden!

This morning my husband made me a PB&J on 7 grain bread for my lunch, and I had that with a small vegetable juice, and on my way home had an apple and low sodium Colby cheese for my snack, followed up with some low sodium turkey when I got home. I also drank 6 cups of water throughout my work day and drive there and back, and only had half of a cup of coffee this morning.
I followed up my 4 hours at work with a quick visit to one of the libraries I frequent to return some materials, and renew what I have. I am currently reading 2 fiction books, and reading through some non-fiction cookbooks. I ordered a bunch on cooking without sugar and without artificial sweeteners so I can come up with some fruity not so sweet alternatives.

My mood seems brighter, and I wonder how much how I ate and drank my water today has to do with it? That and the better weather. I am tired, just not sheer exhaustion like I have been. I am hoping that by next week the combination of working and physical therapy will not bring me to the point of exhaustion. I also walked 1.3 miles at work today.

Somehow, I feel mostly positive today.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

_LINDA 3/9/2012 8:37PM

So glad you had such a productive week and now you can relax and enjoy your weekend! It was melting all over the place, there was a river from curb to curb by the bridge club! The ground is still frozen, so it has nowhere to drain off! The warmth did feel good! It got up to 41 today!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MAGA99 3/9/2012 8:22PM

Report Inappropriate Comment

NORASPAT 3/9/2012 6:12PM

DEBORAH, I use half bananas as sweetener in my oatmeal, I use hot oats every day, i just love them You can sweeten many things with bananas. DH favourite is microwave bananas with 12 chocolate chips on top. If you need to know how to do it give a note. I am so pleased you had a good day. I wrote a blog I am truly proud of because I have totally changed my attitude , PLEASE take a read of it. No need to comment but it just suddenly made sense to me. HUGS Happy to read you are less tired GREAT!!!! You are doing just Debotah Pat in Maine. Report Inappropriate Comment

DANCINGGARDENER 3/9/2012 5:45PM

Wow! I feel lighter and happier and healthier just reading about your day!!! Thanks so much for the little burst of sparkiness! Report Inappropriate Comment

The day after

Thursday, March 08, 2012

Sooo, yesterday was Physical torture, I mean Physical Therapy. This morning my back told me in no uncertain terms that it was severely unhappy with the whole thing. I found this out the moment I tried to roll out of bed, a near impossibility again. Ugh. So I got myself up, brushed myself off, and promptly fell asleep in the recliner. When I did get up later, my mobility was better, still sore, so I used the TENS unit. I was glad I did not have to work today. And I only had to drive briefly.

Tonight, I am more mobile again, and will have dinner with a friend, and then spend some time visiting and crocheting. Tomorrow I work.

I took today as a total rest day, and did not do any extra exercise. My body needs the recovery day. Big time. I wonder how many of these I will be needing on a weekly basis right now? It's ok. One baby step at a time. The day after is part of the process, as recovery is important. Tomorrow I will move again, and walk at work, and hope to get some kind of 10 minutes of activity in. Slow happening works.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LESLIES537 3/8/2012 11:07PM

One baby step at a time! Report Inappropriate Comment

NORASPAT 3/8/2012 9:01PM

Stay with your Plan Debora, maybe you can do a few seated exercises, difficult with three surgeries in a year. I hope the summer sun will be helpful. HUGS Pat in Maine, because you are Report Inappropriate Comment

LHLADY517 3/8/2012 7:07PM

"I wonder how many of these I will be needing on a weekly basis right now? It's ok. One baby step at a time. The day after is part of the process, as recovery is important." So very, very true. Recovery is important and you must allow your body to heal. Report Inappropriate Comment

Keeping me in motion

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Session 3 in PT - Done
Into my 4th week of work - hope to make 12 + hours by Friday
Better Sleep - work in progress, so much better than it was!
Finding new PT stretches that I can do at home - in progress
Getting up after exercises on the table without back spasms keeping me locked up - DONE today!!!
Walking at least a mile at work - done
Healthy snacking every few hours - staying fueled with healthiness - in progress

Friday marks one year since my cervical spine discectemy and fusion. The scars on my neck are nearly invisible. I can turn my head right and left, even though the range is not as extreme, it is possible. The left arm pain I had before the surgery is gone, and has been since after the surgery. I am getting stronger.

It will be one year for the knee arthroscopy in June, and one year for my lumbar spine in August.

I think I am doing fairly well all things considered. I am very tired from driving, working, physical therapy, but I am daily getting stronger and am able to endure more on a daily basis. Recovery is definitely in action.

Oh, and on further note regarding my job, I will begin secondary proofing of audios soon! I will get the final listen for mistakes before they make the masters. I am being trained for that along with someone in the upcoming week. Next week I will have to figure out how to boost my hours by working on another day, or just maintain reaching 12 hours. Or just jump in and try 2 or 3 4 hr days, and add another 3 hr day. I will be patient and listen to my body though.


Getting healthy IS still my job, and always will be.
I am keeping me in motion.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MAGA99 3/8/2012 2:51PM

Report Inappropriate Comment

_LINDA 3/8/2012 12:49AM

This is awesome news! That is great you are feeling stronger! Looking for more job hours is certainly a good sign you are finally seeing the better side of recovery! Keep up the awesome work! Report Inappropriate Comment

LESLIES537 3/7/2012 11:55PM

news! Proud of you! Report Inappropriate Comment

CDNMSFIT 3/7/2012 10:30PM

Rock on! Report Inappropriate Comment

NORASPAT 3/7/2012 5:43PM

This does sound like a really good plan for you right now. Taking it in your small steps after 3 surgeries in one year is most reasonable to set as a goal. i am sure that once you are able to get outside with your flowers it will improve rapidly. HUGS Pat in Maine Report Inappropriate Comment

Checking myself in

Monday, March 05, 2012

Here we go, beginning of the week. I couldn't move really well this morning, and had a delayed start out of the house for work. I therefore ran into much more traffic than normal. I will aim to leave earlier next time. The extra traffic stresses me out.

So I worked 4 hours, and walked a mile doing it. Then I went to physical therapy (visit 2 since restarting). Wow! I am really really tired out, and achy sore.

Now, it is time for me to just rest for the night. Perhaps Peaches cat will join me in knocking me out in my chair. I will konk out the minute I sit in it I am sure.

This week I am aiming, and trying to work 3 days with a total of 12 hours. I am adding half an hour to an hour to my schedule each week. Baby steps, as always. I have also been aiming for and mostly achieving better sleep, unbelievably so.

I can't wait til my metabolism heats up and begins to melt my fat again. It is so hard to stay focused when I know it will take time for it to kick in. It WILL happen, I am certain. That's what happened last time. I just have to keep telling myself that even if I am only doing something 10 minutes a day, or walking 1 mile a day, it IS something, and it counts.

Night all.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FROSTY99 3/6/2012 8:41PM

Sounds like you are making great strides. Woo Hoo!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CDNMSFIT 3/6/2012 6:53PM

You rock! You are absolutely amazing. Report Inappropriate Comment

MAGA99 3/6/2012 5:35PM

Report Inappropriate Comment

LESLIES537 3/6/2012 12:23PM

~Leslie Report Inappropriate Comment

BEEJAY49 3/6/2012 3:50AM

It will come off! It's hard to be patient but you can and will do it! Love you! HUGS! Report Inappropriate Comment

_LINDA 3/6/2012 1:15AM

Sounds like a productive day! That is wonderful you are able to sleep -rest is so very important in the healing process! 10 minutes a day is great for someone who has had all the major surgey you have had! Keep up the great work!! Report Inappropriate Comment

NORASPAT 3/5/2012 11:48PM

EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS IN THIS journey to healthy living. HUGS Pat In Maine. OFF to bed worn out . Report Inappropriate Comment

Inch by glorious inch

Sunday, March 04, 2012

Those baby steps. Yep. Doing them. Not always easy, but doing what I can, when I can. Funny, this morning, I could barely move with my back. It eases up through the day, until night when I tire.
Tonight, my son had gotten a new drum set for his wii, and I sang, and lightly danced while he played, for 20-almost 25 minutes!
Baby steps. Yep. doing them. One baby step at a time.
One inch at a time.

Now, to go rest, and fuel, and aim to go to bed at a decent hour. PT tomorrow afternoon after work.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

THINLIN07 3/8/2012 12:09PM

I am a great believer in baby steps I use them myself and it works Report Inappropriate Comment

BANDMOM2012 3/5/2012 10:04AM

Baby steps lead to full on walking which leads to running and jumping; so go for it! Report Inappropriate Comment

BAREFOOTN 3/5/2012 8:56AM

Great job!!! Sounds like your baby steps are going to take you a long way!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

NORASPAT 3/5/2012 7:58AM

Great with those Baby steps, way to go. Now if only I could finish my day before midnight. My blog till midnight showed 12.00 but it never showed up till MONDAY. I tire so hard to get it in, Another day week in fact. Hope PT goes really well ((HUGS))) Deborah. Pat in Maine. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUNSHINE99999 3/4/2012 11:30PM

Nothing wrong with baby steps. Report Inappropriate Comment