SPEED BUMP!

Not sure where the past week went, but here we are… I am so glad the first week back from vacation is over and done with and I am finally getting back into the swing of things.  Monday I got up bright and early and braved my first Pilates class in over 10 years.  I took it carefully and really enjoyed it.  Afterwards I hit the pool for a nice swim. 

Tuesday I was feeling pretty good so I decided to get a little precocious and went to spin class knowing I would not make it through the whole class, I was shooting for 30 minutes.  I love Tony, he is an amazing instructor, he welcomed me back to class and asked where I had been.  I told him I had been sick, but I am not sure that is the right word.  Yes, lupus and RA are both illnesses, but when you hurt so much you can barely walk is that an illness or an injury?  Either way, Tony told me to make sure I take it easy, I promised him I would.  In spin class I am very funny about which bike I use, I like the one in the back corner.  The bike two down from me is usually occupied by this very nice lady who I started chatting with months ago.  When I would bring my older son to class with me during the summer she would also keep an eye on him and at the end of class tell him how well he did.  Well over our chats I have learned she has fibromyalgia, so she has an understanding of what life is like for me.  She pulled a mommy on me on Tuesday and told me to stay in the saddle and not stand. I was to take it easy and listen to my body.  When my hips and my back (not to mention my butt) had enough she told me she would wipe down my bike for me after class.  This lady is probably one of the sweetest people I have ever met!  Anyway, after my 30 minutes of spinning I went to the pool.  I was feeling pretty good.  I had to run an errand before going home, still no issues.  I got home; I had my swim bag over my shoulder, my gym bag (with my spinning stuff) in one hand and my purse in the other.  I made it in the door and started up the stairs.  Next thing I knew my back went nuts and I went down.  I was on the stairs, poor Charlie was at the gate at the top of the stairs whining at me and Freddie was in his bed making sure there were no doubts about how unfair life was.  I could not believe how much pain I was in, it was difficult to breathe, I was the only one home and the doors were locked.  I managed to get up the stairs and on to my bed.   Charlie was freaking out, he knew something wasn’t right.  He ended up laying right in front of me and refused to move.  I finally reached my cell phone, called my sister in tears, luckily she was doing her time card and was on her way home.  Freddie, at that point, had settled down, I guess he realized I wasn’t ignoring him because he was bad, I had a reason for not letting him out of his “bed”.  My sister got home and Charlie was still hesitant to leave me, but he really had to go pee! My sister let Freddie out of his bed and then let both of them outside.  She came back in and hooked me up to my elector shock therapy (aka TENs). After about 10 minutes, still in pain, we headed out to the polls.  I am sure we were a trip to watch, but I did my duty, I voted! Sadly we had to do a smidge of grocery shopping before we could go home.  I hopped (ok, hop isn’t the right word) into one of those little scooters and went zooming around the store, but this time the muscle relaxer had started kicking in, I was still in pain, but I really didn’t care. 

Wednesday, my sister told me point blank I was going to take a rest day.  I spent the better part of the day in bed, I did have to go to class, but that was the most excitement I had all day.

Today I was feeling a bit better, my back was still not happy, but I could not spend another day in bed.  I got up did a bit of house work and then I went to the gym.  I was so excited when I was able to do my first really training swim in months!  I was slower than dirt, but I did it! I realized I had to be careful when breathing to the left because it is my left lat that is furious at me, but I did it.  All three thousand, four hundred yards (not sure if the pool is meters or yards, so I assume it is yards) done!  As I was swimming I realized just how tough I really am.  I refuse to be kept down and I will fight like hell to prove just how strong I am.  Earlier this year a dear friend of mine encouraged to join an amazing group of women called Team Tough Chik, recently they started selling apparel with “Toughie” written on the back all I could think about  is now would be a good time to have had a swim suite with “Toughie” written on my rump!

Tomorrow is another pool day!