HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE. I want each and every one of you to know that I am extremely thankful for everything you have done for me in the past year, whether is was giving me therapy, visiting me, taking care of my creatures, bills, house, insurance or whatever else came up. I am thankful to all of the many people that I don't know personally, but who asked about my progress and prayed for my recovery, I understand there are many, many, of you throughout the country and I offer my sincere thanks to you. This is a very special Thanksgiving for me and I want to let everyone know that I appreciate everything everyone has done.

Had a pity party day yesterday, I've been doing exercises that I used to do so easily when I was able to go to my dance group, now they are hard to do, so I started getting frustrated. Basically it boils down to the fact that I do not want to be handicapped anymore, I want to what I used to do and do it easily and I want it now. I realize this is not going to happen, no one can help and I am not asking for advice and don't you dare give me sympathy, I don't want that either. I basically and just sounding off and letting off steam, so just listen to me and stop saying little things like, think about how far you have come, I know all of that, I just need to let things out, so just listen. In that vein, I was told to reflect on how far I had come and because I do everything my therapists or former therapists tell me to, I actually did. I realize that I will have been home from the hospital for six months on Dec. 1st, and it doesn't seem like it has been that long. At that time I could get out of the wheelchair with the help of a board on my walker, couldn't get out of any of my other chairs, was winded when I walked, couldn't bend down, needed a grabber to get dressed, the bath seat to get into the shower. Holding the shampoo was a challenge, cutting things was difficult and I couldn't move my legs enough to drive. I needed the ramps to enter and exit the house and if I went anywhere it needed to be in the wheelchair. I did pool therapy and needed to enter the pool by using the ramp and holding on with two hands.

Looking at myself today, I realize that I do so many things easily again, that I don't think about it. I still use the wheelchair, it makes a great extra seat and you can carry so many things around on it, it is almost like a wagon. Actually I do still take it to the pool because I can leave faster when using it, that's the only reason. Since I am talking about the pool, I can enter it by using the stairs, and if I use the ramp, I don't have to hold on going in. I walk around the inside of buildings using a cane, I walk around the house , just by walking. Getting out of chairs, while not always easy, is not a problem. Regular toilets are another story, with a vanity next to the toilet, I am fine, without, we'll find out later today. I am driving, bathing faster and easier. I can get into the tub by stepping over the side, the bench now just holds shampoo and body wash bottles. I walk down the step to get out of the house. I use a four wheel walker and go farther and faster each and every day. I am back teaching, I am not as tired as I was at the end of the day, I walk between 4,000 and 6,000 steps a day. I still have a way to go, but I realize I have made a lot of progress, I really do.

Wednesday, big banner day, I am going to the pool by myself. Used my caddy walker, got inside not a problem. Had my coffee before I left, and made the comment, don't feel sore from therapy, obviously my muscles are getting stronger. Then I hit the pool, and found every single muscle that had been worked yesterday, they obviously had just not woken up yet, and when they did, my entire core was definitely sore! Walked up almost all of the steps into the vets office this morning with just the cane but needed the walker for the last one and through the door. When leaving, I only needed the walker to get out of the door, used the cane to get down all of the steps, awesome job for me. Irma has left early to join her family. It is time for fun, fun, fun, but not too much since I can feel every muscle complain everytime I move.

Tuesday, the last day of the week, very laid back at school, took care of some unfinished business involving grades and then did educational games with the kids, multiplication bingo, Thanksgiving Bingo, thinking activities on the computer. The campus had a staff Thanksgiving lunch, the first in many years. Parents helped serve, each grade level provided part of the meal. Real china, utensils, cloth napkins, just beautiful. One of the many things to be thankful for this year is the new administration. Had a truly beautiful day. Leg lifts, balance ball and assorted other activities during therapy, no stress, no pain, not too much frustration.

I was so sore on Monday, it is amazing how difficult it is walking with just a cane, spent all of Sunday wandering around the house using just the cane, oh sweet freedom. I decided I was going to take it to school and use it there, after all, if I can walk at home I can walk at school. After a text message cancelling my therapy on Monday and changing it to Tuesday, I asked my beloved physical therapist if I could use it at school. Of course she agreed, especially since she knew I was using it anyway. I have promised to be careful, not use it outside and to not use it when there are a lot of people around. I have been liberated.

You really use your ab muscles when you walk, don't really notice until you focus just on that when you are walking and trying to keep good posture.

Today was a long day, left the house at 8:30 and didn't get back until 7:00 tonight. Went to my WW meeting, then breakfast with the teachers from school. Went to Cafe Shiraz for my birthday lunch, yummy food, definitely recommend it. Then went on the big cane search, how difficult is it to find a nice colored cane, something not too garish, it is one CVS and 3 Walgreen's worth of difficult. Finally got a blue gray one with a satin finish at the Walgreen's on Central. All day I was a little worried, I have some sniffles, and it seemed more difficult to move my legs, especially if I was getting into the car like a normal person. Finally when I was in church it hit me, I had done all of my therapy the day before with one pound ankle weights on, plus I did marching with the weights. This is why my legs were so sore, not the GBS coming back. Rest time now, believe it or not.

Just go ahead and challenge me, that is the easiest way to motivate me to prove that I can do whatever you think I can't. Case in point, Monday, I wanted to know if I was getting a turkey, since the hospital was giving them to each staff member. My beloved therapist said that I could have hers if I could walk from the kitchen to the door with the frozen turkey, using just the cane. Just to prove I could, I took her up on the challenge and on Wednesdsay I walked from the kitchen all the way to the therapy gym carrying the turkey in my left hand, while walking with the cane. When I got to the gym, I put the cane down and lifted the turkey onto the mat with the help of my right hand. Though this turkey is rightfully mine, I let her keep it, since I really didn't want it to begin with, but had to do it to prove I could! Really need to get a cane, I am so ready for it in certain places.

Didn't do anything special today, continued walking around the house without the walker. Used the cane to walk around the hospital during therapy, plus walk on the gravel outside and up and down the ramp. Not ready for steps with just the cane, but soon.

I walked around the mall in Harlingen all by myself!!! Did a little shopping, discovered stores are not set up to accommodate walkers, but no matter, I did it. Walked the mall in sneakers, and then changed into my dress flats for the WW Celebrations, where I did some walking around without the walker, I am getting better and better at that. Surprise of surprises, I was awarded the Rookie Receptionist of the year award for our territory, that includes Corpus and San Antonio. This was a huge shock, especially since I hadn't worked very much because of my illness. I received a very nice glass plaque, which will need to be put someplace away from crazed beagles. Didn't do much else, ate too much, but enjoyed the day.

Because of insurance company problems I didn't have therapy yesterday, so I did my own. This may not be a good idea, because there is no one looking over my shoulder playing mommy and making me stop. I did a solid half hour, that is without stopping for anything of marching, leg kicks, side steps and kick backs. Some of these were when I was holding onto the walker, the others were without holding onto the walker. This was after my usual half hour pool session in the morning. I had also decided that Friday was a good day to walk around my classroom without using the walker. I also went out to celebrate my birthday at night. Well, for some reason today I am SORE! My legs feel like rubber at times, and I definitely can't stand without pushing up from the car. So I rested by only walking around the WW meeting room without using the walker, and by walking around the house without it. I definitely used it when I went to HEB, Wal-Mart and my friend Sue's house when she groomed by beagles, as well as when I went to church. I am home for the evening and going to sit around and watch TV and rest, believe it or not. Tomorrow is another day and I will be driving to Harlingen and wearing regular shoes, another high point in this boring life of mine.