There are two things I am not good at: typing and multitasking. Both of these make it less than ideal for blogging.
PART I
I am going to Facial and Vestibular Therapy again Tue Jan 21. I went in Dec. and Janine measured my face a lot, took pictures and looked to see where I was at. at one point I wore a new gadget she had as well. Ski goggles that also had a cover for the lens. The cool thing was that the lens was actually a camera that recorded my eyes. We did several tests without and with the cover and I was able to watch the computer after and see my reaction. She gave me several facial exercises as well as treadmill work and I enjoyed the therapist as a person.
She also gave me a copy of an article written by her mentor that explained the rehab for the face.
And a copy of an article written by an AN patient. The story and pictures of the patient were very familiar.
The fact that Dunkin Donuts is only a couple blocks away didn't hurt my mood. ;)
I also started a weekly hippo (horse) therapy. My mom found it and we visited to get the 4-1-1. (does that date me?) I asked Dr. Shelton about it and he asked what the benefits were and I was less than clear or helpful because I didn't know. He then asked if I like riding?
"I love it."
"Then do it - but don't spend a lot of money" he said with a smile.
My facial therapist said she loved Hippo therapy (she knew all about it) and thought it would be wonderful for me. So I tried it.
The first day I talked with the Hippo Therapist there and told her my goals: to be a normal mom, not being tired all the time, strength to carry my babies up the stairs when they fall asleep, and anything else the horses could provide. She gave me a couple things to work on unrelated to the horse that I hadn't heard. (Standing on my right leg only, like a pelican, at set times, like the grocery line or commercials on a show, and sashaying several feet then changing the lead foot.) She asked about my horse history- western on Arabians- so she ordered a white Arabian in his 20's named TJ. The horse had a person on the left as well as the right and someone to lead. Having all of them there felt weird. When I climbed on the horse from a ramp I couldn't believe my fear. What used to be natural was not easy. The horse walked and my "seat" was not even. I felt like I was going to fall off for 10 minutes at least. Now I could see why there were so many people and was glad to have them there. I had little more than a blanket for a saddle and tried to get even so I wouldn't fall. I would think I had it until the horse started walking again and I would start to fall again. I used my legs to hold on instead of letting them hang. I realized that equal does not feel the same on both sides. What felt like equal was actually pulling left quite a bit. I learned what was equal even though it didn't feel "right" and was able to mimic the feeling walking after, so I immediately starting walking better. I think one could see the difference and I could surely feel it.
I also did a few exercises to help with balance and limber me up. I put my arms out like a plane and slowly turned my torso with my head till I was parallel with the horse. Then I slowly rotated to the other side. It sounds simple but it took all of my concentration and I was so tight on the right that I was sore. I did a leg lift thing that made me sore, too. But I loved it.
As I was telling the therapist last week, I love being on the horse but I also like being able to talk about my "challenges." It feels like it is feedback here instead of complaining and it is ok that it is one sided.
