Moving On Up

    I like to think that I am a source of entertainment for the PTA's and physical therapists @OptimusPhysicalTherapy. For the past several weeks I have been slaving away at my mind numbing exercises I must do in order to wreak havoc on Odessa once more. Tuesday was a normal session until I heard the magical words, "You have a few new exercises". I became like a kid at Disneyland joyfully clapping my hands and smiling like I had been drinking mimosas. New exercises mean that I am indeed progressing! I was happier than the Vikings conquering Normandy.

     I was not allowed to perform running drills, balancing exercises, heavy lifting, high knees, or squats. But I was allowed to sway side to side while standing on a foam pad and throw a ball at a trampoline. Let the jealousy ensue. They also let me sit on a rolling stool and roll around the room using only my calf muscles to allow me forward momentum. The finale was using a heavy resistance band and doing walk-aways on the left and right sides. This involved me holding the rope and walking my feet out several feet, keeping control of my balance and not allowing the rope to tip me over. What can I say? Physical therapy can be very exciting and challenging.
    
    So far PT this week has been fun and different which makes me a happier person. I still have aspirations of bigger leg muscles with more definition. I am not there yet but I am closer than I was yesterday.

Only cool people perform calf raises with weights.

This band exercise helps to strengthen my ACL. (Right leg)

(Left Leg) Pretty scars.

Growing Up

Today at 0900 Steven and I paid off our car!!! I am so proud and happy that this moment finally came. We are slowly but surely becoming debt free through persistence and good money management. Wow, I feel like such an adult. Thank you for allowing me to have a grownup moment :)

     This morning came way too early but I had some Spark from +AdvoCare and feel more human. I have given up +Monster Energy due to the carb crashes that will follow after my ingesting this tasty energy drink. I first became of +AdvoCare through a classmate's stunning weight loss and energy spike. Being a graduate student I couldn't help but envy the pep in her step or the fact that she felt great all the time. I began to use products like #Spark and #Slam to help me power through long study sessions, orchestra rehearsals, and working all day. The Oasis drink mix helps to keep my stress levels down and my immunity up throughout my hectic schedule.I have decided to step up my game and try the 24 Day Challenge on March 10 to help lose a few lb.'s. I, of course will be posting about the highs and lows of this challenge on the blog.

     I hope everyone has a fantastic day!

This is what is usually in my desk lol. #Advocare

Bam!! Random picture of Dixie the rescue puppy my brother in law brought home :).

Cherry Spark is my new favorite flavor.   





 

Beer Bread

    My mom has done a terrible thing to her only daughter, me. I hope one day I can forgive her for this transgression. She gave me her recipe for Beer Bread. What was she thinking?! This bread is so delicious that I keep going back to the kitchen for more. The entire house smells amazing and this bread was way too easy to make. Thanks a lot mom.

Recipe

3 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
1 12 oz. can beer (I used Shiner Farmhouse Ale)
1/2 cup melted butter
 Preheat oven to 375, mix dry ingredients with beer and then pour into a greased loaf pan, pour butter over loaf. Bake for one hour. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

    

Flowers and Good news

   Every once in a while your man will experience what I lovingly refer to as "testosterone poisoning". He might say or do something so dumb that the only recourse is flowers and chocolate.My darling love of my life experienced testosterone poisoning and when he recovered, went out and got me flowers and chocolate ice cream. Well done babe, well done.

   This morning brought much needed good news! The Adonis like hulk known as Steven Mannix worked on my knee and proclaimed that my ACL is firmly attached and stabilized. Hell Yeah and Amen ladies and gentlemen! Mannix also explained that pain was pretty normal at this still early stage of the game, I have about 13 more months to go before I am finished healing. My quad muscle is starting to really form which is quite exciting and ROM is perfect. We also talked about why Roberta (ACL #1) failed because that is a major cause of concern for me with this new ACL. An ACL becomes loose or fails when the body rejects the tissue, in this state the ACL can tear quite easily. Picture a wet noodle, that was ACL #1. It is a little odd to think my body rejected its own tissue but weirder things have happened.

   Hertha, the new ACL is like my baby, I imbibe fish oil, protein, and tons of water, she is iced twice a day, stretched every day, and I wear my brace wherever I go. I am Determined that this ACL will be with me forever. We are off to a great start and things are looking up :).

I think we need to talk

    It has been almost three months that I have been in physical therapy. I think it is time to take my relationship up a notch with my physical therapist. Maybe I need more freedom to do what I want, I feel much more secure with myself. Add more weight to my leg raises, give me a challenge, and let's start some balancing exercises. I can be the worst kind of patient because I have a tendency to tug at the bit and go full throttle like a freight train. My PT team have been great at keeping me in line but now I am feeling better and really want to get stronger.

   This morning while on a coffee run at UTPB, I saw the girl's soccer team working out. Talk about inspiring me to want to live in the gym. All I can think about is getting my legs to look like they did pre-surgery. I understand that there is no true symmetry in nature but I want to get as close as possible. Let's hope my physical therapists agree to give me what I want. 

I need to add muscle but I also need cranberry Kombucha. Fermented tea makes everything better.

    After work I met up with a few girlfriends to get manicures/pedicures. Even though I had to fight traffic and got lost, it was worth the trip. The incredibly nice man who worked on my toes did a great job massaging my calves, and making my feet relax. Working out several times a week in tennis shoes is not conducive to making my feet look pretty. This man is the bombdiggitty and I am going back for a manicure next week.

The finished product :)!

Before manicure: not very cute feet with lemongrass lotion. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can't I just read?!

   It is a warm Tuesday night and I find myself reading yet another wonderful book. Could I just read books for a living?

   I am in the midst of finding a new doctor which has turned out to be more trouble than I had anticipated. Unfortunately, my wonderful and incredibly talented country doctor has taken ill and will not be seeing any more patients. Also, he has only seen me once since my surgery December 9 and his darling PA does not take me seriously. All I can say is I want to say Bless Your Heart to her. My southern sensibilities go out the window when orthopedic personnel wave my concerns away. So, I am now on the hunt for bigger and better things. Even if I have to drive to Lubbock Texas just to be told "Everything is fine", I will with a smile on my face.

   After a lot of research I have found 4 doctors to call and hopefully someone can see me. Fingers Crossed. Thankfully, my knee still looks like a normal knee and has been functioning pretty well. With four surgeries under my belt I am a tad cautious and like to stack the deck in my favor. I hope everyone has had a great day, cheers to a fabulous week! 
    

  

From Odessa, With Love

   It has been far too long since I put pen to paper, or in this case got out my damn laptop and started typing. I hope everyone had a fantastic Valentine's Day. I, myself had a very cozy and romantic evening with:

That is one sexy textbook...Not.

This is the remnants of my first essay exam of the semester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Yes people, I stayed up late Valentine's day night completing an exam and eating copious amounts of chocolate. Thankfully, my darling husband got gussied up today and took me to dinner. I love putting on makeup and acting like a girl. My bright orange ACL brace clashed with my cute outfit but whatever, the food was delicious and the company sublime.

  Valentine's Day was also the noted pickup day for Bountiful Baskets (amazing organization). This gorgeous pineapple was in my box of vegetables and fruit. I received so much food that I had to share the wealth with my family. I paid $32 for $70 worth of food, I would turn cartwheels but my physical therapist hasn't cleared me to do that yet. Everyone should check out this website http://bountifulbaskets.org/. This organization has helped me to eat healthy on a budget.

What I'm reading now

       I hope everyone's weekend goes well. Mine will be great now that my exam has been turned in and all my homework completed. Tomorrow will be spent outside with all my books and iced tea. Good night all!

Being a Judgemental Jenny

     I would like to take a brief moment and be completely judgmental. I try to keep up with several blogs on cooking and the Paleo lifestyle. Although I thoroughly enjoy reading these posts and trying out new recipes, I have found that sometimes the writing can be lacking. I, myself am not a professional writer and consequently try my best to review my posts before publishing them. If journalism taught me anything it was how to write with style and how to write for your audience. I understand that by putting my opinion on an open forum that I am opening myself up to public opinion and criticism. That doesn't mean I will allow my writing to suffer by coming off as prickly or abrasive.

     This morning, I was perusing OMGPaleo.com because I think she is funny, witty, and her food pictures make me drool. I noticed that once again she was on a tangent about how she doesn't care what people think about her life choices etc. It must be hard to read negative comments that dissect your everyday life from absolute strangers. Maybe that is why her posts sound more defensive than educational or even funny. I realize that I now sound like the masses who hate on this food blogger. But at some point I think a great blogger Must Be Able to Write Well and Effectively. We aren't competing for a Pulitzer Prize but don't let the opinions of a few undermine how you come across in your writing.

      Everyone has an opinion good, bad, idiotic whatever. Everyone feels incredibly comfortable in expressing their dire hatred for things and people on the internet. Don't allow jackholes the chance to change you as person or a writer. I miss OMGPaleo's funny banter and could frankly use less of this defensive and irate writing. I totally get that you don't give a flying f**** about anyone's opinion. Now can we get back to having fun and eating a lot of food?

      Sincerely, The Tiny Viking