What a few weeks it’s been! Thanksgiving came and went pretty quickly. Matt’s mom hosted and we got to see some of his family from that side. Going to family events is both exciting and scary. Exciting because I love my family, people, and being a fly on the wall of the busyness. It’s always been one of my favorite things about Matt’s family, the largeness and busyness of the family members. I am definitely a people watcher among other fun things, so it always makes me happy just to be there. BUT…Can I walk up the stairs, will anyone understand me when I talk, will I be able to laugh without gasping for air, or make weird sounds? Will I drool? My body doesn’t function the same anymore and often that’s scary.

BUT…😁 I did walk up the stairs so much easier than last year. So much so that Matt noticed and asked jokingly if I wanted to walk up again. I continued to walk a little further into her house this years than last. Walked…sometimes it just suprises me what I can actually do. The suprises don’t stop there. During some conversation with my borther & sister in law, I made a joke and I think my niece smiled.😊 I’m going to assume she at least understood some of my joke and wasn’t just smiling at me. 😉 She also stuck around after the other kiddos started playing games. She’s also older, so there is that too…All that to say it was nice to see her face and hear a little about what’s going on in her life.

So often, I forget what “normal” teenage life is like, and how grateful I am my kiddos have been so adaptable. Not that we don’t have our fair share of teen drama…

I laughted, ate, and drank with no weird sounds, that I remember, and no drooling. Small victories that just continue to show me that the daily weird face exercises are actually strengthening my lips.

And, my oldest son showed up! 😍 We didn’t get any pics, but I promise he did show up. We just don’t see him enough, 🙄 you kow being an adult and stuff.

I didn’t have the brain overload that takes days to over come either, which is really nice.

Then, right into Dec. It’s been such a cool start to the month.

Monday Dec 2 I started with a new occupational therapist. These are always emotional sessions for so many reasons. I really liked my other OT, but I try to focus on the set of new eyes and ideas each therapist brings in with them. So far, I’ve been incredibly blessed to have liked and enjoyed my therapists. Sometimes I was struck with the impossibility of what they were asking, that I am able to do now.

I also had physical therapy Monday afternoon, and with the help of my bestie, 😁, I walked into the office building. It was the strangest feeling to be looking down for fall risks, and seeing the rug I had rolled in to almost 2 times a week for 4 years, and here I was walking in. I anticipated clapping and cheering, lol and yet there was none other than that in my head. Seriously, the people who work at therapy are so incredibly supportive and do cheer me on.

I mean, the Monday before Thanksgiving I cried in the middle of my session. They encouraged me to do what I could, offered me chocolate, and said it was the Monday of all Mondays, and it was ok.

Chocolate…always a good “go to” during an emotional end to a walking plan. 🥰 Taking a moment to eat and not drool the chocolate was just what I needed to finish my hour. Again, so grateful for therapists who know me and that I am always trying.

Tuesday was speech therapy and coffee with a friend. Therapy worked as a good warmup for a like 5 hour coffee visit with a dear friend. I was able to eat and drink and laugh and talk without problems. What a wonderful visit it was! Exactly what I needed. Again a few steps to get in her house, but it was so much easier than our last visit.

Coming out of the house, I stopped in the door way looking down. Suddenly I couldn’t remember where the cane went to get down the summit drop of a steps…realizing my pause for what it was both friends jumped into help mode. Encouraging me that I could do this and the step down really was only about 6 inches, and not as scary as it looked. I made it down the summit. We made it home moments before my bestie was “off the clock”. I know that she is more than my health aid, she truly has become family, listening to the mad ramblings of a woman stuck, for now, in a chair.

Wednesday during occupational therapy we did some left hand work while I stood at the kitchen counter. It seemed like hard work at the time, but about 4 hours later my brain sersiouly s-l-o-w-e-d down. I was a pile of mush for the evening.

Thursday was back at physical therapy. I didn’t walk in because well, I was still tired. This is where the name of the post came from. Over the last few weeks I noticed my back and left hip getting stronger. Butt cheeks too. These 3 areas keep me standing when I’m up. I don’t stand or walk without someone near by, just a fact of life now. So, I was kind of taken off guard by those words going through my brain at least 2 times. Both times I was walking and my brain thought I had lost my balance. But, my back, hip, and butt cheeks said “Bro, I got you.”

What this thought really represents to me is the beginning, or really ongoing, learning of muscle memory. My body no longer wants to fall first, second, and third. It struck me as funny the first time and I chalked it up to just what Heather thinks but will never share. Right? But when it happen again during PT, I couldn’t ignor the thought and what it meant.

So, Bro, I got you!

And Friday was a team meeting. Where my therapists get together and share what we have been working on. It feels weird because they often share how much progress I’m making, and how amazed they are with this or that. When it’s being said about you…embarrassing. 😁

This week started off with a big bang in PT again. It was testing day. Which is always interesting because my health insurance requires the testing, but they will never pay for TBI rehab. But, it is a good way to measure increased abilities. I set 3 new personal records which was huge because Monday I had terribly nerve pain.

This week I am trying to stay in the everything changes mode, but for the first time in a long time changing feels good, productive.😉 This week don’t ignor the Bro, I got you moments. Embrace them. Smile at them.

♡TeamGavrilides ♡TBI Survivor ♡Faith to walk in the middle ♡Seed of Hope