Oct 29th – Nov 4th 2023: UTI’s and Train Rides

Nov 1st

Today I have been feeling a lot better. I think it probably was a UTI…… but lots to do and think about! It’s been an incredible time for me thus far, and I don’t want that to stop.

Still feeling kinda wonky and this trip has me fairly stressed….. it wasn’t the most comfortable trip to begin with and I’m not sure if I’m going to be up for it this go around….. I’m trying to be a bit more conservative but also want to realize how far I’ve come since I’ve been back in Wisconsin!

I need to make sure that I can get back safe and comfortable and not in a ton of pain, but I’m increasingly nervous with how sick and shitty I was for the past two days….

Getting up and going has been a hard thing but it’s okay, you’re getting better and when you’re not feeling so hot it kinda makes sense.

My legs truly are feeling out of this world with sensation, my feet feel warm, even leading up into my ankles and calves. My left hamstring is a little tight, and I’m feeling my hamstring pretty well on my right! Knees usually are feeling a little stiff first time in the morning. I had Callie stretch me last night and that really helped my spasms.

I still got a runny nose, which has me concerned for this train ride. I’m all sorts of stressed for this, and when I get up I know I’ll either feel better or need to call it off for the weekend. I do feel a lot more confident and comfortable needing to discuss my plan with physical therapy over in Michigan! Which is great to see! That really was stressing me out for a long time. Now I don’t have that looming over me!

It’s definitely a pretty tricky time for me. I’ve definitely Been able to learn and grow so much.

What’s really interesting is taking these moments to actually try to work thru these things finally on my own! It’s my body and my responsibility to make it what I want it to be!!

I got up out of the bed and into the wheelchair by myself! And I went to the bathroom!!

I also had the biggest toot since the accident!!

The amount that I’m feeling in my abdomen, bowels, and bladder has been insane!

My spasms have been changing from just the flexors to now the extensors in my hips!!

Nov 2nd

Its interesting to think that you potentially are going to be working on a new hobby that you’ve always had interest in, that you can still do right now! I think it’s cool to think that this could always be a hobby that you can do now, do later, start now, stop later. It doesn’t have to be viewed as my whole life. It’s just something to help fill that time in between sessions.

The thoughts from when my mother sent that picture of herself really did get me going. She’s really a special person, and I cannot thank her enough for that.

Having the time to actually respond to my body, even if it’s slowed, is a great opportunity! It really is good to know that things are coming back!

Nov 3rd

Well the urge and sensation to pee and poo is really there!!!! So much so that there’s also something else going on down there….

Nov 4th

On the train, and at the train station. This is the first time/ first place I’ve been on my own! This is wild, I feel and know there are so many things that are happening!

I managed to almost lose my bag in the train station from the “red cap” fella lol 😂 we left the train, started moving, and then I followed a guy who was also in a wheelchair, and went into the general area known as “central station”

This then had me search around a bit until I found an area with a security guard, and waited to ask him. That’s when I decided to say hello to this person whom I recognized as someone who worked at Milwaukee Tool, they said they did, and They asked me,” do you work there?” And so I proceeded to say,” kinda, I’m on disability right now, so I’m not working there at the moment” and they said,” I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before” so I then kinda smirked and said,” well definitely not in a wheelchair!”

So after this little interaction, made my way to the desk, and asked them about my suitcase. They didn’t know, didn’t have a radio to call anyone, and all of a sudden after a few moments, the elusive “red cap” came in with my suitcase!

It’s definitely an interesting place to people watch, as the folks on the train definitely are a mixed breed of demographics, to say the least! I’m currently ease dropping on a fella with a bit of a southern twang who is talking about how he doesn’t get any sleep?! Up at 12:30-1, up at 2, up at 3, and then when 5 came around, he said fuck it and I guess I will wake up?

Seems to be an interesting place to do a little people watching, but I don’t want to move around to much and leave my bag unattended…. Seems like a bad idea, and I have a bit till I depart….

Welp I just saw a goofy looking man wearing a sweatshirt and hat that said,” Cash App Me” hahaha

Also, the amount of Amish here is interesting as well!

Sangfroid- keep calm, dude

“True success is not the absent of failure, it is the refusal to surrender”- Lazarus Lake