Just try to keep up, Dad

Dec. 11, 2011

A few months back I bought a “game” for the Wii called Active2. It’s a workout disk incorporating a resistance band and optional 2 lb. wrist/ankle weights to increase the intensity. It offers a three or nine week circuits, asking the user/player to designate four days for working out and three days of rest.

After analyzing my schedule I wanted to use the time in between when I took Nathan to school and the time I needed to pick him up. Each workout lasts between 19-28 minutes, allowing me to drop him off check my e-mail, grab a bottle of water, workout, shower, and then head back for pickup.

Day one worked out great, I felt accomplished, working up a good sweat only doing basic exercises: squats, jumps, lunges, seated rows, stretches, hot feet, etc. I used the resistance band but not the weights. I’d see how things went and decide when to add those in the routine. By the time I arrived at school, my breath was under control, my muscles cooled down, and ready to face the rest of the day.

Nathan didn’t see any difference, I was still able to accommodate all of his activities, therapies, and do something good for me. Day two rolled around, I was a little sore, but that was a sign I had worked hard. I completed my workout, made it back in plenty of time and again felt good about being active again.

Day three, I woke up and my body hurt. Nathan was off at school, I got home, and decided it was okay to take a day off, or at least wait to do may workout at night, before heading to bed.

Day four, and it was evident even delaying the inevitable would no longer work. I felt every muscle in my body work, in every little task I tried to accomplish. I threw in the towel for the day/week, but I’d come back strong the next week.

I made the effort the first day of week 2, and found a way to fit in the second day, but then I was done. I threw in the towel, and haven’t really thought about it again until this week.

For Annette and Nathan, this was week one of intensive therapy at Leap Beyond Therapy. It’s Nathan’s third three week session with the daily 2-hour drives down, 3-hours of work and another 2-hour drive back. The routine was as expected, muscle warm-up and rub down, weight work in the cage, muscle work, (isolating specific muscle groups, defining goals and working to accomplish them,) working in the Therasuit and finding “real-world” use of the tasks they were trying to accomplish (riding the bike, working in the walker, creeping/crawling on the mat, etc.)

My workouts only lasted at most 28 minutes, his last 3 hours long. I chose not to add the weights, he works with them everyday. I decided after three days I would take a day off. Nathan had to work all five days in a row. (And we start it all over again tomorrow.) The first day over the summer, Nathan remembered the cage and almost started crying before he even began. This time, barely a peep. He’s worked hard all five days and even after coming home, he’s ready to go again.

What’s just as exciting for me, (since I’m not able to go down for the therapies and only see him at home each night,) is that he seems to be putting his new strength to use while playing. On Tuesday night, he moved himself probably close to 12 feet across the carpet, and into the dining area. He was trying to move himself over to the basement door, (where I was sitting) as I had previously been going up and down working on laundry.

(Note: After the stair incident over the summer, I stopped him about 5 feet from the door. I didn’t want to discourage him getting himself around, but I also didn’t want to encourage him to try to challenge the stairs any time soon.)

Wednesday night, he would play with his toys on the floor and appear to intentionally push them around until they were out of his reach. He then would pull his elbows underneath him and pull himself forward to reach them again. The thought that he’s creating his own problems with the ability to solve/overcome them shows planning, confidence and accomplishment.

I’d love to have the sprit of my youth back. The desire is still there, to play one more game, lift one more rep of weights, run one more lap, but the stamina just isn’t. Time is even more of a rare commodity today. As long as Nathan is still willing and able to work hard, the future looks very bright for him. It’s another way that the son can be a role model for the father. If I can work as hard as he does, it will make all the miles worth the effort, and it will make for an even more exciting 2012.

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