Sunshine and pool time...

Well no pool for me this year but my happy place is sitting on my deck listening to the splashing and laughter of my children while they are in the pool. Before the accident you would have found me in the pool alllll day! So as has been my life for the last few years and now our lives in general I’m learning to adapt to a new normal.

I can’t believe we are already making decisions about school and choices. The events of our world still tug on my heart pulling me into prayer. Similar to my last post I had hoped there would be a significant difference, but unfortunately...

So again I feel a little foolish sharing what is going on in my life with so many uncertainty going on, but hopefully this brings a smile to your heart.☺️

Therapies are still going well! I would like to share some of what has happened this last week and this week. My speech therapist tells me often the journey to healing isn’t a straight uphill battle but a mountain/valley/mountain journey. I think that is so true in all areas of our lives regardless of what journey we are on. So these week has been so full of highs I am so grateful for that truth. I’m going to keep moving forward one day at a time so the valleys aren’t soooo big.

Starting with physical therapy we have continued to work on strengthening my left ankle. I have an order working it’s way through the system to adapt my walking brace to allow my ankle to flex! That is huge for me! I’ve been in a fixed walking brace since the accident. The other big thing that happened this week was stepping up onto a 4 inch step, leading with my left foot instead of my right foot. 😃 This is the very first step to climbing stairs alternating feet. It’s struck me again how much thought it takes me now to do something I didn’t have to think about before. And so the question "who knew?" pops into my mind.

At PT I always have my ankle wrapped and Matt usually makes sure I don’t fall and my therapist helps move my foot making my placement is good. Retraining the muscles can be tricky. I went for almost my 40 appointment before my ankle got so tired I couldn’t control it well anymore. That’s so good! I got to try walking on the treadmill again with no brace. It feels so awesome to do that! I often have to think to myself "don’t think, just walk". I am usually singing a song in my mind to help me not over think walking. As with other things over thinking causes more problems and I have to stop and reset.

I asked about doing stairs again because it’s been a long time and because to finish doing what I want with my hair I need to get into the house. 😁 I had so much root growth I had my girls color my hair dark. Which was super fun to do with them. My oldest daughter has been such a huge blessing to me as far as my hair goes. Lol Totally got distracted by vanity. So in wanting to add some fun stuff to my hair I had to challenge myself and I am doing it. Baby steps...pun intended 😉

Ok I have something else that’s kinda fun to share with you...during my speech therapy session I held my breath! It sounds so silly but I haven’t been able to breathe in hold my breath and breath out since the accident. It caught me so off guard that we ended up only working on more breath holds. My therapist saw my excitement and needless to say it was contagious! 

It really is weird to be able to do something I didn’t realize I couldn’t do. That moment you make the connection is amazing! I’m sure I’ll continue to have them but wow! That was an excellent speech day but I didn’t get much speech done.

I got to do a painting party last Friday. It was so great to be with my friends! Social distancing of course. I did have to get help with the sky but I did everything else. Never would have said I’m an artist, that was always my sister and now my girls. But I have to say I’m pretty happy with how this turned out. It was so much fun! 


Outside of these updates life has been moving on as it continues to do. 


#TeamGavrilides

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