Change of Scenery

This week I am staying at my sister's place two provinces away. I wanted to get in a visit before I return to work and this seemed like the perfect time.  The change of scenery is nice. Literally because there are mountains here! Not like in the prairies! My sister's neighbourhood is fairly new and not only do the houses all look similar, the streets all have the same first name but different endings... Place, street, common, gate, heights, circle.... You get the idea. 

I only got lost once on a walk yesterday. As a result, my walk was longer than usual. That's quite alright because I can actually do that now! Today I walked even further, just because I could. It was an awesome feeling! My hip and the surrounding muscles felt a little tired and achy, but a god achy. Definitely not the old 'holy shit that creaking hurts I have to go lie down' achy.  

It's kind of funny but I feel like I climbed a mountain today. Ok, it was a hill, but still. While I was walking, I saw a hill in the distance with benches at the top, a sure sign there's a path to the top! The neighbourhoods here all have ponds and recreation areas with groomed paths around them. It is quite nice. The warm weather brings around more ice than back home but I brought my spikes with me and they are working well. 

Look at that hill! I got this!

Ta da!  Go me!

The view of the mountains was well worth the effort!

Of course the walk need ended with a stop at Tim Horton's for a tea....it is on the way home....

All in all, I think this was a great walk!

I definitely could not do that before the hip replacement! Of course all the stairs at my sister's place ,it's be helping my leg strength.... This house is 3 levels and there are stairs a plenty!

The rest of my time I spend helping my sister wrangle this cutie...

He loves to stand on a chair in the kitchen and help. Here he is helping eat the sushi....

He also likes to listen to music on my phone...

And get his free cookie from the bakery....

I'm still a little apprehensive about taking care of him on my own.  I still fatigue quickly and i am worried about keeping up physically with him. He is a busy guy. I think I might keep him home on Thursday from day care and have a hang out day! 

Until next time, stay warm and keep moving! 

What's Next?

Lately I've been working on doing more during the day. I get out of bed early (well, earlier than 10am... Ok, I aim for before 9....don't judge me). I get my walk in, stretch, eat, shower, clean up, invent errands to get me out of the house and try to keep going.  I aim to walk at the gym on the tread mill 3 times a week to vary up my routine and work different muscles.  Why they heck would I try to keep myself busy like that? 

Apparently they want me to go back to work! What? Yes. It is true. I am aiming to get back to work mid February. I know that will be tiring so I'm working up my stamina. Still working on balance, strength, endurance and that but hey, I had a freaking hip replacement. 

 I am very fortunate to have a mediator or case worker through work who is working on a return to work plan with me and work. He is awesome. Final decisions won't be made for a couple of weeks about specific details but the guy is helping to take all the worry out of my return to work. He can arrange half time, ensure my duties are acceptable and appropriate for me in regards to my current abilities and limitations.  

I am most definitely nervous about returning to work. I've been away since The beginning of September. I hope it isn't too exhausting. I hope I can keep up. In the mean time, I'm off to Calgary to visit my sister and little nephew for a week! Let's hope the 2 year old doesn't tire me out!!

I will bring my cane just so he has something to play with!

Until next time, stay warm and keep moving!

Brrrrrrrr Cold Rewards

Sometimes, when you brave the cold weather, you get rewarded with sun dogs!

 Cute little rainbows on either side of true sun! 

Ice crystals are perfect for sun dogs!

You also get rewarded with frostiness!

Even on your eyelashes!!!

Wear enough layers and you hardly feel it. Move enough and you even break a sweat!!

Stay warm and keep moving!

Everyone Needs a Boost

Yesterday I got one of the biggest compliments ever.  I was making the treadmill my bitch, I mean walking on the treadmill, and my athletic therapist comes over to check in and introduce me to the student AT working with him. He says "I know you can't tell from looking at her now, but Lori has just had a hip replacement."   She looked impressed!! Yup. That happened!!

This is week 14 since new hip day and I somehow really needed to hear someone say that.  My leg muscles had been feeling tight and not stretching well.  I was feeling down a bit about still using a cane and still not being able to do a leg lift with that new hip... Blah, blah, blah....pity party ensued...

You know what? It has only been 14 freaking weeks! Time to check my unrealistic expectations at the door and look at the facts and the accomplishments!

1) I have a new hip. That means a surgeon has cut through my muscles, sawed out a piece of my bone, hammered in a titanium replacement, drilled into other bone to make an acetabulum, lined it, used 2 giagantic screws to hold it in place and sewed and stapled me back together. I think it is just fine to be where I am right now. There will be days the muscles are angry and feel weird.  There will be days I want to be able to do more and not get tired doing. Calm down! It will get better. (Turns out walking in the softer snowy surfaces causes shorter stride lengths which most likely contributed to the tightness I was feeling.  I will have to get on the treadmill a little more often to keep my stride length longer) 

2) I am able to walk over 2 km every day, and I do! Just. Because. I. Can. Sure, I'm using a cane outside or the rails on the treadmill, but I can walk! Today I posted my fastest km in ages while walking outside! The second split time is 12:55!

3) I can stretch and move in ways I haven't been able to for years and it feels awesome. Seriously. To get a hamstring stretch, or bring my knee up to my chest (getting closer)..... AMAZING! Yesterday, I put a sock on my left foot, without help or using the sock aid! WHAT? (Before the sock aide, I would have gone sockless if Hubby or the Boy weren't home....)

Look what I can do!

4) I still sleep lots. Lots. Fit bit told me I slept 9 hours and 41 minutes last night.... I still nap too... But hey, recovery! Sleep means healing....or so I'm told.

5) I am trying to get back into the kitchen more. Today I made soup! It was a tasty chicken and wild rice soup.... So good. 

6) I have some of the nerdiest drinks around, thanks to some AT AT ice cubes!

Feeling pretty good today! 

Sometimes we need to be reminded how amazing we are!

Until next time, stay warm and keep moving!