Well I had another first since my stroke. Michael and I drove go-karts last night. We were the only two on the track for 10 minutes. I drove the kart as fast as I could primarily using my right hand and right foot. My left foot struggled with the break so I decided not to use it :) It was a fun challenge for me and I'd do it again in a heart beat. Afterwards, Michael did a 30-minute go-kart endurance race with a couple of his buddies from work. He had a great time doing that.
7747
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October 16, 2009
It's now October 2009. Crazy how time flies. I'm still chugging along doing my day-to-day activities. I changed medication recently from Nortriptyline (was on this for a year) to Lyrica in order to manage the constant feeling of pain and discomfort on my left side as a result of the stroke. The new medication, Lyrica, seems to be helping as I am feeling better. No wonder I felt bad, the medication wasn't doing me any good.
I even joined Curves a month ago in order to do more cardio and strength workouts. I was feeling so good, I was going 5 days a week.
I tried going back on Nortriptyline in order to save money on the Lyrica prescription. After only 4 days on this drug, I felt so terrible, I didn't want to get out of bed, off the couch or even stand or walk.
Now, I'm back on Lyrica which has made a huge difference. I feel so much better only after 2 doses so far.
Every Friday night, Michael and I have date night. Sometimes it's dinner and a movies, other times it's a surprise. So last week, Michael surprised me with a trip to the batting cages to hit some softballs. I was soooo excited to try this again. It's been over two years since I've even held a bat in my hands. I struggled a little bit to hold the bat since I still cannot feel left hand, and it has nerve damage. When swinging, you step towards the ball. That was tough because I can't feel my foot and I had to trust that I was stepping wrong and twisting my ankle. But I still was able to hit some line drives. It was awesome! I loved it. It was something I've been wanting to do for a long time to prove to myself how much I've improved since my stroke.
All these little things add up to big things and make me very happy.
7727
I even joined Curves a month ago in order to do more cardio and strength workouts. I was feeling so good, I was going 5 days a week.
I tried going back on Nortriptyline in order to save money on the Lyrica prescription. After only 4 days on this drug, I felt so terrible, I didn't want to get out of bed, off the couch or even stand or walk.
Now, I'm back on Lyrica which has made a huge difference. I feel so much better only after 2 doses so far.
Every Friday night, Michael and I have date night. Sometimes it's dinner and a movies, other times it's a surprise. So last week, Michael surprised me with a trip to the batting cages to hit some softballs. I was soooo excited to try this again. It's been over two years since I've even held a bat in my hands. I struggled a little bit to hold the bat since I still cannot feel left hand, and it has nerve damage. When swinging, you step towards the ball. That was tough because I can't feel my foot and I had to trust that I was stepping wrong and twisting my ankle. But I still was able to hit some line drives. It was awesome! I loved it. It was something I've been wanting to do for a long time to prove to myself how much I've improved since my stroke.
All these little things add up to big things and make me very happy.
7727
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Oh yeah, and Curtis and Alanna came up for a visit too. We went to the Space Needle and did the touristy thing.
Ooops, Alanna wanted me to mention the day on Mom and Dad's lake. We took Dad's boat out for the day on the lake and went tubing! It was a blast. Curtis, Alanna and I got our fair share of water in our face and sore muscles. Would not have traded it for anything!
7686
Ooops, Alanna wanted me to mention the day on Mom and Dad's lake. We took Dad's boat out for the day on the lake and went tubing! It was a blast. Curtis, Alanna and I got our fair share of water in our face and sore muscles. Would not have traded it for anything!
7686
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Man, what a gap in time. So much has happened. But we lost our computer, then got it all back luckily.
We did go to Alaska on a cruise in July.
Here is our NCL Cruiseship.
We did go to Alaska on a cruise in July.
Here is our NCL Cruiseship.
Our whole family went on a canoe ride in Ketchikan.
The weather was so great we even got to wear shorts in Skagway. This is taken downtown with our whip in the background.
Taken on the ship.
Here we are standing on Mendenhal Glacier in Juneau. It is July 7th, 2009, our 2nd wedding anniversary.
Michael's sister Lori in our cabin.
Self portrait.
Just leaving Seattle. Sister "Pete", Mom, Dad, Alex and me.
Michael drinking from Mendenhal Glacier. They say the last time that water was water, was about 300 years ago.
7658
Monday, June 8, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
The weather up here in WA has finally turned into what could be considered "nice". We've had just over 2 weeks of sunshine without rain with temperatures in the mid 70's and above. I've even been outside watering and weeding my flowers and garden everyday. Hope to have corn this summer. Crossing our fingers.
This past weekend we drove up to Ferndale to watch Michael's nephew David graduate. It was a 5-hour commute round trip. It was colder up there so luckily it was indoors at the gymnasium at Western WA University.
In a little less than a month, we will be on a cruise to Alaska. We are going with Michael's entire family for a week. We'll be in Juneau for our 2nd anniversary on July 7th so that will be fun. We're looking forward to our trip and to visit another part of the country that is new to us.
7557
This past weekend we drove up to Ferndale to watch Michael's nephew David graduate. It was a 5-hour commute round trip. It was colder up there so luckily it was indoors at the gymnasium at Western WA University.
In a little less than a month, we will be on a cruise to Alaska. We are going with Michael's entire family for a week. We'll be in Juneau for our 2nd anniversary on July 7th so that will be fun. We're looking forward to our trip and to visit another part of the country that is new to us.
7557
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Oh lordy, the things adults will do for their birthday. Especially if it's their 50th birthday.
Michael and I flew down to SoCal to surprise Dave for his 50th birthday this weekend. It was no ordinary birthday party. It was a themed party - come as your favorite superhero party.
We had various Superman costumes, various Wonder Woman costumes, The Incredible Hulk, Flash, Mr Incredible, Bat Girl, Cat Woman, Mr Bio Degradable, Super Mom, Marge Simpson, even President Barack Obama was tending bar.
7517
Michael and I flew down to SoCal to surprise Dave for his 50th birthday this weekend. It was no ordinary birthday party. It was a themed party - come as your favorite superhero party.
We had various Superman costumes, various Wonder Woman costumes, The Incredible Hulk, Flash, Mr Incredible, Bat Girl, Cat Woman, Mr Bio Degradable, Super Mom, Marge Simpson, even President Barack Obama was tending bar.
7517
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Wow, what a beautiful day up here in Seattle today. Since Michael's birthday is next week, I planned a day together for him. He has a love for airplanes.
So I booked a plane ride for us on a Seattle Seaplane that took off from Lake Union. We flew over downtown Seattle, Lake Union, Lake Washington, Puget Sound touring the areas from the sky. I packed a lunch for us for afterwards. So in 80 degree weather, we sat at Gas Works Park, ate lunch, watched the boats, and more seaplanes take off and land in the water, and even took a nap.
The day was clear and sunny with little clouds. We couldn't have asked for a better day today as the forecast calls for rain starting tomorrow for the next 5 days.
He didn't know where we were going. Armed with only knowing a clue that we were going to downtown Seattle, he thought maybe the Victoria Clipper to Vancouver, BC. Then, perhaps the Aquarium to see fish. He even toyed with the idea that it was the Aquatic Duck tour of Seattle.
The surprise was well worth it as he figured it out once we pulled into the parking lot.
7496
So I booked a plane ride for us on a Seattle Seaplane that took off from Lake Union. We flew over downtown Seattle, Lake Union, Lake Washington, Puget Sound touring the areas from the sky. I packed a lunch for us for afterwards. So in 80 degree weather, we sat at Gas Works Park, ate lunch, watched the boats, and more seaplanes take off and land in the water, and even took a nap.
The day was clear and sunny with little clouds. We couldn't have asked for a better day today as the forecast calls for rain starting tomorrow for the next 5 days.
He didn't know where we were going. Armed with only knowing a clue that we were going to downtown Seattle, he thought maybe the Victoria Clipper to Vancouver, BC. Then, perhaps the Aquarium to see fish. He even toyed with the idea that it was the Aquatic Duck tour of Seattle.
The surprise was well worth it as he figured it out once we pulled into the parking lot.
7496
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Michael always told me, if you don't like the weather up here, wait 5 minutes and it will change. Well I wait one week and this is what I got.
We woke up to 6 inches of snow last Sunday morning. Today, it's sunny and warm! So warm, Michael is out mowing the lawn. First time this year.
Last weekend - backyard - March 29, 2009
This weekend - backyard - April 5, 2009
This weekend - front yard - April 5, 2009
Podiatrist Visit
I went to see a podiatrist last week. I wanted to speak with a specialist about the pain in my left foot and ankle. He feels the muscles on the inside (arch) of my foot are not doing their full job. Therefore, all the other muscles in my foot and ankle are having to over compensation for the deficit. Which in fact, is the cause of all my pain.
Not sure, but I think I may seek out the opinion of another podiatrist too. I didn't get a good vibe from him.
7440
We woke up to 6 inches of snow last Sunday morning. Today, it's sunny and warm! So warm, Michael is out mowing the lawn. First time this year.
Last weekend - backyard - March 29, 2009
This weekend - backyard - April 5, 2009
This weekend - front yard - April 5, 2009
Podiatrist Visit
I went to see a podiatrist last week. I wanted to speak with a specialist about the pain in my left foot and ankle. He feels the muscles on the inside (arch) of my foot are not doing their full job. Therefore, all the other muscles in my foot and ankle are having to over compensation for the deficit. Which in fact, is the cause of all my pain.
Not sure, but I think I may seek out the opinion of another podiatrist too. I didn't get a good vibe from him.
7440
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Oops, I've been silent on this blog too long.
For New Year's Eve, we scrapped together our frequent flyer miles and flew down to Plaster City in SoCal to camp in the desert for a few nights. It was the inaugural race for the bug that Dave, Dennis, Curtis and others helped build as a tribute to our dear friend Dale Webb whom we lost a few years ago.
We finally got to wear these things that were made to protect your eyes from the sunshine. I think I remember them being called sunglasses or something like that! Then there were these black things on the ground that kept following us. Someone old us they were shadows.
Curtis, Uncle Don, Dave and Dennis
It was a pretty silent celebration to ring in 2009 as we were both asleep by 9:30pm or so in the trailer.
In January, I did a little bit more occupational therapy to work on my left hand. Since I stil cannot feel the left side of my body, and I have nerve damage my left hand, I'm trying to work on it getting better. My rehab doctor suggested I try mirror therapy using my right hand reflection in the mirror, doing various tasks, and mimicing those actions with my left. Sounded good in theory, but the therapists in the hospital didn't attend the same seminar the doctor did. Therefore, they didn't know what to do with me. After a month, I decided to stop therapy since the hospital was sending me a bill that was supposed to be covered by my insurance. I didn't want to start another fight with the hospital and insurance company.
So now, I'm keeping active by returning to gym, doing Zumba with my friends, trying to walk 5K's as much as possible and stretching. There is a street nearby that I found that is a safe place to walk. Lots of couples walk, friends together, mothers pushing strollers, people walking dogs, runners etc... We park at one end of the street and walk to the end and back. It goes down and up hills gradually. And the distance is a little over 3.4 miles. Therefore, we say it's a 5K rather than a walk cuz to us it sounds more impressive for motivation. Of course, weather permitting.
I can't wait for Spring to come. We've had lots of snow at the house lately. The sun will come out, but it is still very cold. Looking forward to my trip to CA in April. I hope the sun is out. None of that April showers bring May flowers. I get enough showers up here!
7398
For New Year's Eve, we scrapped together our frequent flyer miles and flew down to Plaster City in SoCal to camp in the desert for a few nights. It was the inaugural race for the bug that Dave, Dennis, Curtis and others helped build as a tribute to our dear friend Dale Webb whom we lost a few years ago.
We finally got to wear these things that were made to protect your eyes from the sunshine. I think I remember them being called sunglasses or something like that! Then there were these black things on the ground that kept following us. Someone old us they were shadows.
Curtis, Uncle Don, Dave and Dennis
It was a pretty silent celebration to ring in 2009 as we were both asleep by 9:30pm or so in the trailer.
In January, I did a little bit more occupational therapy to work on my left hand. Since I stil cannot feel the left side of my body, and I have nerve damage my left hand, I'm trying to work on it getting better. My rehab doctor suggested I try mirror therapy using my right hand reflection in the mirror, doing various tasks, and mimicing those actions with my left. Sounded good in theory, but the therapists in the hospital didn't attend the same seminar the doctor did. Therefore, they didn't know what to do with me. After a month, I decided to stop therapy since the hospital was sending me a bill that was supposed to be covered by my insurance. I didn't want to start another fight with the hospital and insurance company.
So now, I'm keeping active by returning to gym, doing Zumba with my friends, trying to walk 5K's as much as possible and stretching. There is a street nearby that I found that is a safe place to walk. Lots of couples walk, friends together, mothers pushing strollers, people walking dogs, runners etc... We park at one end of the street and walk to the end and back. It goes down and up hills gradually. And the distance is a little over 3.4 miles. Therefore, we say it's a 5K rather than a walk cuz to us it sounds more impressive for motivation. Of course, weather permitting.
I can't wait for Spring to come. We've had lots of snow at the house lately. The sun will come out, but it is still very cold. Looking forward to my trip to CA in April. I hope the sun is out. None of that April showers bring May flowers. I get enough showers up here!
7398
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)