Physical Therapy

Apparently, all the exercises I have done in karate for the past eight years (calf raises, stretching, leg lifts, quad stretches, standing on one leg, squats) have been helping me with my physical therapy. The physical therapist said that at my initial evaluation, I had above average balance standing on my left (good) leg. Which is pretty funny coming from me, the mistress of gracelessness. Anyway, they are pleases with me and have me working on stepping down and squats. (He also said my squats were some of the best he had ever seen.)

I continue to improve and see the doctor next Thursday. I plan on having him write me a note saying I can go back to karate. This is the longest time without karate in the last EIGHT years, and I DO NO LIKE IT ONE LITTLE BIT. I want to be back on the mat beating people. (Not really, but you get the idea. lol

I will keep you posted. Oh yeah, I am down 3.5 pounds. Hope everyone is doing well.

Getting Back On Track

Okay, so the blahs are over (for now) and I have been resting the knee, doing physical therapy and getting stronger. I am teaching Monday night (woo hoo) and I am working on getting well quick so I can get back on the mat and actually DO karate. The physical therapist was pleased with the movement of my kneecap, so that is positive. I also did 4" steps today. I also did calf raises (which we do in karate quite a bit, as well as standing and balancing on one leg). I can tell you right now one of the best things I've done is the stretching. Our karate school believes strongly in stretching and that and the fact that I do karate and have exercised regularly over the past eight years means my recovery will be that much faster. Woo Hoo!

Blah

So, the knee is not good enough to take class yet. I've known it for several days but didn't want to face it. I faced it tonight when I taught three classes in a row and the knee froze ten minutes before the last class ended. Ah well, if I don't push it it will heal faster. So I won't push it. I'm just bummed.

On the other hand, I did very well with cutting down the in between meals snacks I was having when I was on vacation. I plan on keeping that up and I hope to report a positive change in the weight soon.

:)

A New Year

Well, it's a New Year. A time to post all those goals that you want to achieve for the upcoming year. After a month of holy heck at work and an operation, I've had a lovely ten days off, sleeping late many of them, relaxing and re-charging for the upcoming year. I really want to get my body back in shape and I'm hoping my operation will certainly help. Being able to go up stairs without pain will be a nice change. I've got to get a little more organized and get the house a lot cleaner (being stuck on the sofa does have its disadvantages). I want to do more work on the outside of the house and I want to get rid of more stuff (that seems to collect when I'm not looking).

So, who's with me on this year's journey, and what are your goals? Let me know, I'd love to hear from you.

Working On Things

So, a few weeks ago I cleaned out my back porch sewing room, finished the top of the sofa lap robe and started clearing out lots of fabric that I'd had since the dawn of time.

My husband and I put up all sorts of reindeer yesterday (by the time we went inside I couldn't feel my thighs, that's how cold it was.)

I've lost three pounds, which makes me happy. I am working on continuing that and I am trying to get back on the treadmill, but my surgery is Friday, so that will slow down for a while. I've also started working on re-learning and going over some older techniques with an eye for Third Degree Black Belt. Two more years for that, but it's better to start early.

I am working a lap robe for a co-workers mother and I am trying to clean up the house, get rid of clutter that I don't need any more. I also have to fix the downstairs bathroom sink. It's leaking. I have the parts, now I just have to do it. I also have to get the Christmas tree up, lol. There are not enough hours in a day sometimes. How are you all doing?

Back On Track

Well, after being sick for a week, I got back on the treadmill. I did 20 minutes. Listening to good music sure makes the time go by quicker. I want to do this at least three times a week.

I gave a whole bunch of fabric to my best friend. Cleaned a whole bunch out of my (very large) stash. I have to be a little more aggressive about getting rid of things I don't really use or love. I got too much stuff and I need to clean house! lol Don't we all say that?

What Makes Your Day Great?

This made my day great, a card from my instructor

I'm proud of you for sticking through the step exam and giving it your all.

I'll turn any color for a card like that!

:)

I Passed And Was Multi Colored

Well, I passed my step exam. Midway through my form I was having trouble breathing. I think the sound my son made describing it (a horrifying wheezing sound) was an exaggeration. Suffice to say that when the form was done, I was really, really glad.

Afterwards, I was told I was quite red. No, said another student, I was blue. Actually, said Miss B, I was purple. Several people were afraid I was going to pass out on the mat, either during or after the form. I wasn't worried about that. I didn't feel like I was going to pass out, just that I needed some really deep breaths. Which I eventually got. Sort of. PlusOne and I both passed and I spent yesterday afternoon parked in front of the TV eating chicken soup and watching TV. I plan on doing the same thing today. Have a great day.

Step Exam

With a cold! It figures I would catch a cold two days before my karate step exam. But I've been taking the Zycam and going to bed early. The good news is that it is at 9:45 am. After I'm done with that I can go back to bed. lol.

:)

My mom wants us to go help her outside Sunday and I want to clean my cellar. If I don't do either I won't be upset. My mom will get my husband and son, and maybe my nephew. That should be enough.

Working On Me - Part Two

So, I got on the treadmill again Tuesday night, after class, no less. My step exam is coming up this Saturday. It will be my third as a Second Degree. I will need six more after that to go for Third Degree. That should be in about two years. I'll be FIFTY. lol But the idea of quitting and sitting home after that doesn't appeal to me at all. So I guess I really am in this for the long haul. lol

Working On Me

Got on the treadmill Sunday night. Walked at 3.8 mph on a 2.5 incline for 20 minutes. It's a start. Was going to do it every night, but I figured I better start off slow, with every other night. I don't need shin splints or any other complications. I'll keep you posted.

Almost There

Need a little warm weather to finish up this painting. Need a little more paint as well.

Last bit of railing to finish. No brackets at the hardware store, so I will use a substitute until they come in next spring. ACK!

Next up, quilting, inside projects and me!

New Post

Crank up the roof with this cool jack

take out the old post (that was fun)

Install the new plate for the new post to go into

Uncrank the jack and

Voila! New post!. Needs a paint job and the railings, but it was going to rain, so I had to move quicker than I wanted to. Railings should be easy, paint and then I'm done! Woo Hoo.

Three Down

On the right of the photo you can see the 4x4 that I bought to replace the post at the top of the stairs. I will put that up later this week. Maybe Saturday. I need to borrow my neighbor's roof jack. Then I will finish the last stair railing and do the small straight railing. Touch up the steps and a few paint "holidays" and this will be done! Woo Hoo!

Hi Again!

Hi all,
I am back after a very long absence. We decided not to connect internet at home when we moved in more than a year ago because we were saving money for future plans. We thought we could get signal from the development's clubhouse wi-fi but it never worked well. It turns out that our house had a very weak signal and after several visits and phone calls we were lucky enough to finally get the problem fixed by a tech yesterday - a month after we signed up for the service with a cable company. So, here I am again!
I don't even remember what my goals where before I got pregnant. During my pregnancy one of my main concerns was to organize the house to be able to use our storage room as a nursery. We live in a very tight townhouse - or, to tell the truth, not TOO tight but it lacks of sufficient closet space and my husband likes to have everything in place - nothing lying around in the living room or dining room. That goal, I got it done by myself. Although I must say that whenever we do laundry I have trouble finding a place for our clean clothes. I like them better in the laundry basket. And there's baby's toys everywhere. Ok, we need a bigger house.
My other goal was not to gain too much weight. I dreaded to stay overweight after giving birth and that did not happen. I need to loose a few pounds still and I am working on it. I am sure I had more goals and ideals but... my baby was born, and then all changed. For the better. I find myself busier than ever, happy and at the same time exhausted. Maternity leave was like a dream. No rush, no schedules (only nursing schedule)... then I went back to work. In the past my thoughts were that "this" was something I would never be able to do. I was the kind of person that needed her good lot of hours of sleep. And then a nap. I was  very laid back, not very energetic and I could multitask only at work - never at home. For those reasons, reading this blog was like reading a superhero's story. Really. "How do they do this and that? and then have enough time to also do this other? and on top of that, run a marathon?" It's been very inspirational. And now it seems more real than ever! I realize that there's so many things I've never done because I didn't need to. I am proud to say that I have become a very organized person. I prepare a healthy lunch ahead of time, I wake up at the crack of dawn, leave home with enough time to be able to nurse my baby before leaving her in daycare, I work 9 hours, I get back home 12 hours after I left... I am always doing something to have it ready for the next day. And it feels good! I am exhausted but at the same time I am getting used to being productive more hours of the day. Emotionally I still feel confused about being a working mother but for now I think it is the best for all of us. It may be time to set new goals as I am adjusting to my new life well, so I will think about them and come back.

Two Down

Two sections down. Two to go.

Of course, I will have to replace the wooden post at the top left. It's not supposed to be sitting directly on the cement, yet it is. And it's rotting. Figuring that I am doing the railings, I should finish the entire project and fix that as well. I am not sure if I want another wood post or a composite, like the railings.

As for the railings, all I can say is they are an absolute bear. I decided to toss the instructions out and build them in place. Install the top rail, the bottom lower rail, put the slats in and screw the last bracket in place. It went a whole lot faster than putting the railing together, then cutting it down to size then installing it all.

I will be glad when this is done!

The First Thing

The first thing my nephew said when I asked him what he thought of my new solar powered posts was: "Shouldn't there be railings there?"

Grrr.

The Backyard

The backyard is a whole lot cleaner. The woodpile (of the offending screw I stepped on) is gone and in it's place is 10 or so garbage bags filled with wood pieces.

I have all five posts up for the stairs. Next up is the railing. Then continue painting the foundation.

On the health front, there is a muscle (hamstring) that runs from my butt under my knee that is aching and makes sitting uncomfortable. I think it is also not helping my knee. Am working on getting that less tense. Always something to do.

Did You Know

That buying the posts for your new railings at the end of the summer means you save $4.00 per post? I didn't but I do now. Cool, huh?

I burned for Kearns three times last week, but the knee has been hurting a lot. I don't like being in pain, so I guess I will call the doctor Monday. I figure if it gets better in the two weeks it will take me to get an appointment then I am okay. But if not, I am not going through the winter eating 600mg of Advil a day for pain.

But Coach...

I was thinking of sending this photo to Coach Kearns telling him why I couldn't do my workout today. LOL. She was actually asleep on it until I moved for the camera.

Got the other half of the fence power washed and stained. My staining ended abruptly when I stepped on an upright screw. OUCH! I will be going to the doctor's tomorrow for a tetanus booster. Yuk!