It’s been awhile since I updated. My summer has been busy for sure. I’m at my mountain cabin, that I share with my ex, and we’ve owned it since 2019. We used to pop in for 2 weeks 3-4 times a year. So, the whole property has deferred maintenance. Raking leaves, bare clay spots that need grass seed, pressure washing everything outdoors.

This cabin has never been a ‘livable’ home. It was a ‘vacation’ home. Kitchen wasnt supplied or set up for true cooking. Pantry was a mess. Just not a ‘home’.

This is the first summer I’ve actually lived here. This wasn’t a vacation for sure. I was dead set on improving everything so the place looked cared for and I would be able to comfortably live here.

I started outside. Cleaned up years of decaying leaves. A fire wood pile that hadn’t been touched for as long as I’ve been here. Tree branches overhanging the backyard and causing too much shade. I walked the property and made a list of necessary tasks and then a list of what I’ve wanted to accomplish for years, but my ex didn’t feel they were necessary.

My spine…..I feel better and move better each week. From the outside, I look fantastic. Upright, clothes look good. I do still waddle when I walk. Its worst when I’m tired. I dont know if that will improve. I assume it has something to do with the big screws in my pelvis.

Everything I wrote about on the last post is still valid. I don’t think I’ll need PT when I return home. I’ve been doing so much physical work this summer and using the exercises I’ve practiced many times in PT.

Need to pick up a bag of fertilizer? Deep squat to dead lift with a kettle bell (fertilizer). Need to put down the fertilizer? Lean forward with my legs far apart. Or squat to set it down. Need to work on a flower bed? I use a garden kneeler and use the ‘legs’ to lower or raise myself. Every day, every task.

So all these squats….I’ve never had a butt and thousands of squats in the past year has me busting out of my shorts. Legs, legs, legs. That is what’s used for nearly everything. My advice is to work on legs and lower body as much as possible pre op. I can’t use my back for anything. Not that it hurts, but that I can’t use it.

My upper body is 1 straight unit. There’s no rounding my back or using my abs. Arms are fine but range of motion is limited. I presently can’t raise my arms fully above my head. I don’t know if that will improve. When I drive and need to look left or right for traffic, my whole upper body leans forward and then I need to slowly lean back. I use the steering wheel for these movements. Changing lanes quickly or pulling out quickly is difficult because my body can’t move quickly. It has taken some time to figure out what I can and can’t do. But driving is getting easier and driving for hours is really good. No more lower back aching after a short time.

My neck is still tight and sore. I’m having trouble turning it too. All of this happened after my fall. I had this before surgery. I’ve already booked my myofascial release massage as soon as I return home.

Now the biggest activity of the summer……I built a 60sq ft patio by myself. Yes it was a crazy thing to even think about doing. I thought about it, researched and learned about laying paver stones. On Aug 4, I started digging out grass and moss. I completed it in 7 days. I wasn’t able to work on it daily. I worked 2 hours a day and only 2 days in a row. I saved the weekends for rest and light activities.

I was tired and hurt. I hurt all over but mostly my legs. Every day was leg day. My legs felt like jello and getting on and off the toilet was painful. Typical hard leg day stuff.

I started with digging out the grass. Then came the sand bed. This required bags and bags of sand. More squats. Leaning over to smooth out the sand.  Then comes the pavers. I have no idea how much each one weighs, but they’re pretty heavy. I laid 41 of them over 2 days. My SUV could only handle hauling 25 at a time so had to get them in 2 parts. The crazy patio idea was my test. The personal test to prove I can do hard things on my own. I did it and did it well. And I was absolutely exhausted when it was done. The melt into the couch and not move for hours exhaustion. Then sleep 10 hours. I’m still recovering 5 days later.

Get strong. Make goals. Work every day towards your goals. Don’t exclude something because it seems too hard. Figure out how to do it with the body you have. Everything requires modification. If I can figure out how to lay a patio, I can figure out anything that comes my way.

Bottom line is take steps to do what you want to do. Don’t underestimate yourself. Phillipians 4:13 is my life long reminder.

What hard things do you want to do?