California

        Hey everyone...  Guess who's back from Cali!  I know I said I was going to get a post out on Friday but we drove home the day before and I was still pooped from it.  I could have probably made a little short and sweet post just to say I did it, but I wanted this one to be good.  Today I want to talk about what taking a trip to California looks like with my health, a real honest look at what it was like, the ups and downs.

        Let's talk about the drive, all 12 hours of it.  I've taken the long drive before but I was seven at the time and we were going to Disneyland.  Maybe my brain tried to block it out, because I didn't recall it being that long or rough on my body.  At this point in my life I can sit in my chair for about six hours before it becomes unbearable, before the hip pain becomes the only thing I can think about while my lungs decide to take a vacation and not work as hard.  It was one of those things where it felt like you were getting close to being done but in reality there are still hours to go.  What it comes right down to is I need a new chair, plain and simple.  The one I'm in doesn't fit anymore and almost makes my own body betray me.  What got me through was California was waiting for me, getting there would be worth it.

        That said, drive home was worse, there was nothing waiting for me besides my comfy bed that I so desperately needed by hour seven.  Music was doing a pretty good job at distracting me, at least until hour ten, that was when I hit my wall.  The hip pain rendered me to tears and all I could do was hang on two more hours.  If I'm being honest with you guys, I didn't think I could do it, I wanted to pull over at a motel and just pick it up in the morning, I would have settled for the side of the road if it meant I could get out of the chair that decided to be evil at the time.  Thank goodness for my mom and sister for helping me through it by cheering me on and distracting me.  Just when I thought I couldn't do it, my mom played the song Don't Give Up On Me by Andy Grammar, that gave me the motivation I needed.

        Being there in California was worth everything though.  Being in the nice weather with family is the best no matter what.  I had the opportunity to get to know my step brothers a little bit better and that was definitely a highlight.  They were so good about including me in things and helping me experience new things like GETING IN THE WATER!!!  I wasn't going to do it, I was too scared I would get dropped or hurt in the process but when my step brother Anten offered to take me out there with the assistance of my step dad, something gave me the confidence to agree to that idea.  Boy am I happy I did it, just the bragging rights alone to say that I got in the ocean is awesome.

        I think that's it for this week.  Next week I got some exciting things to talk about so stay turned ;).  Hope everyone has a good rest of the day, I'm signing off!