9/21
Wow, I’ve been pooped. I guess there’s not much to add there?
Okay my low back and glutes are fired up like crazy after getting in the standing frame for the first time in the past two days!! Goodness yesterday I got TIGHT! All the shenanigans all day in the chair has really lent to me feeling very tight. Not getting my body stretched out is definitely difficult!
Okay getting some cardio done for the day, up in the standing frame! Trying to get back in a rhythm! It’s been a LONG weekend! Trying to get back on track! It was interesting too, reading my notes from 3 weeks ago, and how much better I’m doing than then! When I was hitting the heavy bag, and pushing the bag back and forth, I was feeling my calves and shins engaging! This was a first! I have not felmmmmmmmmmmmmm them engage like this ever before! I was so happy! I was also thinking about how my left glute was firing and waking up too!! It’s weird, it’s almost like new muscles are only able to come back online at a certain time? As in only so many can come back at once. Since my body needs so much healing, re-awakening muscles takes a lot of energy and resources, so I don’t think they all can at once? Not sure, just a theory? Hmm?
I pulled out the magic circle to work the inner thighs (adductors), and I also feel how much it also works the reciprocal muscles too? For some reason? Like I feel my glutes also firing up tremendously when I do this as well!
Springs. Different types of natural and artificial springs out there? I know that wood + fabric/ string = bow. These are essentially just a spring used for throwing a small javelin/ rod, aka an arrow. I am now wondering and thinking about other types of natural springs? Or other applications outside of the standard extension and compression springs? Those I do like, in clutches, Rammers, Pilates, Struts/Wheel-end assemblies, you name it. I’m just curious what other fun spring applications are there? There are so many different rubber/ artificial rubber springs, with interesting spring and damping properties. But the tension in a cable or rope, I feel, is one of the most interesting spring applications. Dynamic rope is really interesting. It’s used in climbing applications everywhere, I just feel like i need to explore more spring options for working out, applied back to my body.
9/22
Monday morning. I was fortunate to take today off after all the busy wedding festivities! I actually was able to get a decent night sleep last night, and I’m wondering if the knee pillow was the big game changer that helped with this?? Seems like something I will need to explore more! I have so many ideas in the morning, that I want to explore and work on, and it’s interesting to me, as to why? I was even saying to Callie last night when we got home from dinner, if all the heavens from all the religions are actually just parallel universes, and because of the collective consciousness between human beings, is this the reason for them all to exist? It was just an interesting random thought, and sometimes I need to slow down to talk about them. For my body too, I had an idea, while I was hitting the punching bag last night too. I wasn’t able to explore that idea at that time, and now it’s kinda slipped my mind. It’s interesting to have thoughts and ideas. Where do they come from? Is it just that? Our brain working subconsciously in the background while doing other activities?
Oh yes! Hip flexors! How do they really work? I’m interested too in their roles in adduction and abduction as well, and what comes first? As in abduction, or flexion and extension? Seems to me the adduction and abduction are more important! “the muscles of the hip joint are those muscles that cause movement in the hip. Most modern anatomists define 17 of these muscles, although some additional muscles may sometimes be considered.” [4] okay that’s just insane?! 17 muscles!?!?! Why have I not been focusing on them more!? This is exactly why Therese has been telling me to use the Magic Circle EVERYDAY! Fortunately I’ve been doing it at night, but I’m going to ramp things up!
What’s interesting is how my heart rate has a hard time getting elevated when I’m doing vigorous exercise earlier in the day? I just got done with the Heavy Bag, and it’s almost like I need to give my heart the time throughout the day before he can finally be worked up? Hmm, so I’d have to hit the Heavy Bag first thing in the morning, and then the subsequent days, see if when I do it later and later, if my heart rate also slowly increased with each later time?
So like, I’m exhausted. My body has done a good job today of getting a good amount of work done. Standing frame, HIIT Heavy Bag, Stand frame round 2, Exo Walk with Callie, then OT with Danica doing tall kneeling work. This was a long day for exercise. I noticed today too, how much my spasms decrease when I’m actually hydrated. That kinda caused me an accident earlier, but it was a good finding, nonetheless!
9/23
Wow. My legs are really filling in! Last night while getting up to go pee, they again felt so different from the earlier part of the day? They are more and more feeling like legs, but this time sensation is everywhere, but activation is still bit low. Well, working my quads to get me in extension is hard, and the hamstrings are overpowering them. So activation in the hamstrings is high. Need to get them checked out! I’m just shocked at how much this knee pillow is helping?! This is pretty incredible.
I was also so tired last night, I was noticing too how quickly I was to get irritated by events in the future, almost like they were overwhelming me before they happen, because I was so tired. So I asked Callie for us to not discuss that until we get some food and rest. It felt better taking that time in the afternoon to get rested up. Sometimes it’s just all too much, and we can’t do anything the night ahead anyways, so might as well focus on relaxing.
So right now, after taking this time to drive home, I’ve had some time to think. This new book I found has intrigued me, because it’s so far ahead of what I think most people (I said I think) are actually thinking about. It’s odd to think of a Hyperspace, a type of world and dimension that connects us with other parallel dimensions. The book is starting, after I get through the preview and prologue, with an introductory quote by Einstein. About how he believes the mind should be able to grasp the ideas of reality, and how math helps explain it all. The other additional idea now is how they talk about how the authors foremost memory is when he was a child, looking at the coy pond, and imagining what the fish are thinking, about their world, and how they can’t possibly imagine what we are experiencing up here. To be honest, when the author was talking about having “child like thoughts” I took myself to a place in my childhood. To the woods, and then up into the trees. It’s really interesting, because the idea of climbing and exploring in that means, is so intertwined to how my childhood was. Always trying to solve the next problem of how to get a little higher. This whole idea of continually seeking new ways to challenge my brain and body is definitely something that helps keep me moving. It’s so odd. So hard. My body sometimes is just so…. Oof. I have kinda had soggy pants for a lot of today because I spilled water on myself, but I haven’t been able to change or get out of the clothes really just yet. It’s just been a bit of a busy day.
Okay, so my legs have been doing some wild things right now!! I’m on the floor, and when I’m in a deep squat, they’re literally pushing me up?!? Honestly these floor sessions are wild sometimes!
I was doing some inhales for 4, then a pursed lip exhale for 6-8s. What was wild was when I was reaching my arm overhead in supine, and I was attempting to bring my left arm to the floor, with each long exhale, I was holding my arm and moving it down further and further with each exhale set?! How was it that I was able to get my shoulder In Flexion more and more when I was doing an hold during the inhale, and the a contraction on a slow exhale?! I was able to get my fingertips to touch the ground!
9/24
So when, Callie rests her hand on my abdomen, what happens is, somehow my body sends an increase of inhibitory signals to my left hip flexor. I honestly don’t understand it. I’m not sure exactly how it works, but it does. Once she gently lays her hand on this part of my body, the overactive areas, like my left hip flexor, calm down. Just as they should when the proper amount of inhibitory signals are being sent.
What’s also interesting, is at almost any point throughout the day, I can give myself a smile, with the thought of idea of going for a run. Honestly that sounds so refreshing right now.
Well, this is interesting, I think I have 4 different new avenues of interest/ study/ conversations that are all going on right now? This is honestly pretty wild!
Oh interesting….. I need to make a portable knee block, one where I can utilize the same knee pads from the standing frame, but then pop em off, to then be able to take on the go!
I’m honestly kinda amazed right now, at really everything. Today at PT, I was doing some tall kneeling, overhead press work, then some cardio to get myself worked up and heart rate up before I got into the Rewalk! This session went really well!
Honestly, the continued conditioning I’m doing on my legs, throughout the day, as I’m getting into the standing frame 1-2x in the morning, going to PT for 2hrs, then another session in after dinner for 15-30min, puts me at 4 1/2- 6 1/2hrs! That seems like decent time to be up on one’s feet? To be able to translate this into walking and standing time?
9/25
It’s always crazy when a week goes by. Just like that, BOOM! And it’s gone. Guess that’s a big reason why we should enjoy each day as best we can! Speaking of which, for the car ride today, keep yourself stretched out, keep moving your legs! What are other fun ways I can keep them moving? Hmm I’ll have to think! I’m not going to lie, the knee pillow plus pill combo has been helping, plus I’ve been using my legs more than ever! I can feel my hips relaxing, glutes and quads filling in, and my hamstrings relaxing!! It’s all coming together! Hmm, so I’m learning about the Kaluza Klein Theory. This is interesting because I’m learning about the theoretical physics idea proposed during Einstein’s day of the 5th dimension. I have more reading and research to do, but it’s interesting how these ideas give me hope. Hope to keep going, to keep searching, exploring what the human mind is capable of doing. It’s also so interesting how these ideas are built off from one another, as in how these theoretical physicists are building off one another’s ideas. That’s how I feel as well with my recovery, where now I’m going to be trying to help Joni with a case study for using biofeedback!
“Asking questions that only children will ask”
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It was 9 o’clock in the evening, made it on the floor to move around and stretch out to hopefully get some rest before the night. My body has been restless today, so I need to help him out.
9/26
Not sure yet. I’m not sure yet how all these topics intersect and relate to one another. About the latest topics I’ve been studying and reading, the ideas of hyperspace and the exploration on unified field theory, as well as the latest ideas and advances in neuroscience. I’m really excited to help out and participate in this study with Joni, I’m now wondering how I can use this to continue to build off what I’m currently trying to explore and learn about. To be honest these ideas are a big driving force behind helping keep me moving and motivated. I had a really hard time at moments yesterday, and those moments are so hard, that sometimes it really makes it all feel so hard, and I question why any of the work I’m doing is worth it. Ugh. (Sigh). It’s interesting and depressing all the same. To not have your body working and having to witness seemingly everyone around you just living without a care in the world makes it so hard to have to struggle through the most basic life sustaining tasks. I guess that’s why I’m so hellbent on figuring out why/ no how to help my autonomic nervous system, as well as the musculoskeletal system below my level of injury. There is more going on and happening inside our bodies than we all realize is actually happening. Because of that, and the systems inside us, I know my body is capable of more. Goodness! I woke up this morning with such an increase in activation and proprioception in my quads, shins, knees, ankles, feet and toes! I know that on the car ride yesterday my left foot was working so hard to stay on the left side of the driver side floor, over on the “dead pedal” place holder. It’s so interesting how the hydration I was keeping up on allowed me to take the shortest amount of breaks, and make the trip in almost record breaking time because we only stopped twice! I’m proud of that. Albeit the 2nd stop was hard because the one setup did not work AT ALL, but we did get through it. I was just trying to save some time. That didn’t work.
I guess, all these happenings, the work I’m doing on my body and mind, the day to day work and grind, and all the patents/ inventions I want to make, all seems like it’s pointing me in a certain direction. It feels like I should try to use my abilities to help others, like myself, in this situation. I remember shortly after my accident, laying in the hospital bed in the rehab hospital, and thinking, “wow, you know, everything does seem pretty small and trivial in situations like this. How can I better help others?” And I was thinking about this before I even got out of the rehab hospital. It’s so weird. I think I would like to explore this idea more, but for now I need to help myself by getting up for the day and taking care of my bodily needs. More on this later.
I’m really struggling. I think I know why. That’s awfully fun. To have to literally, “sit”, and watch it all pass you by. Really, really fun. I’m surprised with how hot the sun is on your face or body if you just “sit” there, not moving. Almost perfectly still. What a flippin perk of having to sit in this “chair”. It’s crazy how the slightest bit of movement is all you need to just make that sun’s heat feel less oppressive. I’m just really overjoyed right now.
9/27
Had a day where I wasn’t out of the chair much at all. But had an immense amount of fun visiting! Julia’s 1st birthday was great! It was so much fun! Pretty wild my little brother is a dad now, I was the first to see Julia after they brought her home from the hospital! It’s been a long year, with lots happening on both sides of the Lake! John & Jill, as well as Callie and I, have all been busy living life! To be honest, if you would have asked me 5 years ago, I wouldn’t have had a clue as to what to guess, where I would be in 5 years. I feel like John would say the same!
We had a lot of fun though, it was a day filled with a lot of love. That lil stinker sure is a cute one! Hard to imagine sometimes how quick they grow up! Also had some fun showing the boys how to juggle a soccer ball in a circle with people! They were really interested and trying very hard to keep it up! Unfortunately I had to be the hype man, on the side, but I realized that as the coach, I don’t do too bad! I was able to help keep Henry and Willie really engaged, and they were doing great! Will have to do this more with them!
Hung out at John’s for a while too! I love just being outside with these guys, it’s a beautiful fall day, with some great weather. Talked with Uncle Don too, about family and seeing each other more! We need to do that!
Also too, can’t believe we made it to another party! It was late in the evening, and we made it to Ashley’s and Tyler’s engagement party! Boy was that fun to see everyone! I hadn’t seen a lot of the Won’s in quite some time! It was a blast.
Busy weekend, I need to try to get some rest! Let’s hit it tomorrow before we leave! Another busy day ahead!
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Works Cited
- Heisenberg, Werner. Physics & Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science. HarperPerennial, 2007.
- “Operant Conditioning.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Aug. 2025, en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operant_conditioning.
- “Cardiac Conduction System.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 31 May 2025, en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_conduction_system.
- “Muscles of the Hip.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 Nov. 2023, en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscles_of_the_hip.
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