My Life, Adventures, and Recovery
This year I didn’t have time to go to the pumpkin patch, but I did get a pumpkin from Safeway! It was the first pumpkin I carved since my accident … with A LOT of help from my dad. I decided to keep it simple with triangle eyes and a nose – those fancy sketches are too much for me. And let’s be honest, I’m not the least bit crafty or artistic.
This was the trip I had been waiting for … I was going to take my first steps in four and a half years. Day one with Ekso. I woke up early and was excited to go to therapy (not a common occurrence). Each session with the Ekso is an hour long. I knew it was going to take about 45 minutes to get all my measurements and it setup, but I would take at least a few steps. Then we had a scare and…Continue Reading “First Steps”
Baltimore was great. It was so fun to be there with friends from home, see patients I’d met from previous trips, and meet new remarkable people. I had the chance to try several new pieces of equipment – something called the Geo, the Smart Drive (a third wheel that goes under my chair, has a motor, and can essentially push me around, all I have to do is steer), walk with the Ekso skeleton, move my legs by putting electrical stimulation on my spine, and…Continue Reading “Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore”
On April 1st, 2012 I lost the ability to do a lot of things I took for granted. Many people would probably think it’s things like walking, running, or my independence that I miss most. Maybe for many in my situation that is what they miss; however, that’s not the case for me. Of course, if I could miraculously be healed and walk again I would be beyond ecstatic – I pray for that every once in a while. But it’s the little things I…Continue Reading “The Little Things”
One of my closest friends, Larisa, is incredibly talented at makeup. Any opportunity I get to have her do my makeup I take – this time she did it just for fun. I love being glammed up. I jump at any chance I get to spend time with Larisa and be made into a total babe in the process. If you need your makeup done for a high school dance, date night, photo shoot, wedding, any event I would highly recommend her. You can check…Continue Reading “LJO Makeup”
I have a few exercises I hate when I workout, as I’m sure everyone does. My top three are lateral raises, biceps curls, and back combo. And no matter how much stronger or better I am at them than when I first started I will forever dread them and complain when they’re in my programming. I’m always scared to find out how much weight and how many reps and sets I’m going to have to do. You can probably guess in the picture above what…Continue Reading “Those dreaded exercises”
Today my dad took my mom, Charlie (my puppy), and me on what he called a “hike,” which was really a small loop trail right up the road from my house. It was great to get out and enjoy the last bit of sunshine we might have this year. Once again, I rolled in dog sh*t – the second time in a week! Ugh. I washed my hands REALLY good when I got home because I think I may have touched it multiple times since…Continue Reading “The “Hike””
Over the weekend Marty and I went on a drive on the North Cascades Highway. Our final destination was Diablo Lake, which was absolutely stunning – the picture doesn’t do it justice. I highly recommend taking a day to make this drive and stop at all the little towns along the way. On our way we drove through Arlington and talked about how fun it would be to live in a similar place away from the busy city, build a house on a big piece of…Continue Reading “Drive”
Last night I went to the Carrie Underwood concert with Marty. Anybody who knows me knows she’s my girl. Earlier in the day I’d gotten my hair colored, which I’m obsessed with by the way, then we went our favorite restaurant, Tutta Bella, and then it was time for Carrie. Even though the day ended with me wheeling through dog sh*t and sitting in 45 minutes of traffic to get out of downtown, it was a great day. It was my third time seeing her…Continue Reading “Carrie Underwood – Storyteller Tour”
We made it to and from Mexico … and with only a few hiccups and a whole lot of adventure. Going through security has always been a breeze; however, on our way to Mexico that wasn’t the case. My bag with all the medical supplies got stopped because I carry sterile water to clean out my catheter and they had to run tests on it. Next thing we know my dad is getting a pat down and they’ve called the “bomb specialist” – who shows…Continue Reading “Playa Del Carmen”