MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Today was a crazy one! I stood up with Nicole, and I actually QUIT doing an exercise! K, totally unrelated, but both were crazy in their own way!

For the first half of the session, Nicole had me doing some freakin' intense arm workouts. I used a resistance band, like I've done before, but Nicole has upped the amount of resistance on the band, making the exercises harder!

First I bicep curls with the resistance band. My abs get a workout too when I'm doing these, because of the strength it takes for my abs to hold me up and back in the chair. I accidently let the resistace band pull me forwards, and I had to engage my stomach muscles to sit me back in the wheelchair.

After doing bicep curls on both sides, I wrapped the band around each hand to ensure a tight grip. I pulled the band apart, and brought it back together (with straight arms). This execise was a killer! I did about 7 reps and had to quit! Nicole was shocked, cuz I never quit...Well, there's a first time for everything!

Next, Nicole stood behind me with the resistance band, and with straight arms, pulled the band in front of me with straight arms.

Then, she held the band above my head for pull-downs.

And then we switched over to the wooden pole for push-outs...that's a term I just invented to describe my motion. It was like a push-up, only instead I was pushing out, away from my chest. I did these with the right arm, by itself. We didn't give the left arm a chance to take over!

Afterwards, I tilted my wheelchair all the way back for some leg-lifts. I did this exercise where I would lift both legs straight, then bend the left knee up towards my chest, and lastly, try and straighten my left leg straight-up...all while maintaining my right leg-lift! We did this multiple times, the switched to work with the right leg, while maintaining the left leg-lift. My right leg is much farther behind the left, in that I can't fully bend my knee up.

Then, we worked on point and flexing my feet. Nicole said the my right ankle feels looser/more flexible than the left...which is a plus for the right side of my body...finally!

While my chair was leaned back, Nicole had me work on control in my arms while I raised and lowered the wooden pole. She also had me pretend I was rowing a kayak. Oddly enough, it took me a sec to understand how to actually row a kayak! It's one of those things you just know how to do, but I guess fake-rowing is a technique I need to re-teach my arm muscles!

And then, my grandma stopped by! Nicole and I were excited to show her how far I've come! Nicole decided to go ahead, and have me stand-up! Because my spine is so "messed-up" (strictly from muscles pulling tight on one side, being too loose on the other), my hips are uneven, making
my stance kinda cattywompus. I am able to stand much straighter when I'm wearing my back brace.

Nicole also had me sitting on a box, holding myself up with the TRX. I did some sit-ups (where holding on to the TRX, I lean back and sit myself back up.), and I pulled myself up to a standing position a few times. And I got the chance to stand with Nicole over in front of the mirror (I'm not vain. I just like to see what I need to fix in stading!).

Last, but not least, I buckled my seatbelt...which I used to have sooo much trouble doing...not anymore!

***MERRY CHRISTMAS and Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! This is my last blog entry for the year. It's been an impeccable year! Words can't express how grateful I am to have y'all following me on this journey! Thank y'all so much for your love and support...I'LL BE BACK...WALKING, I HOPE! :)