Today I finally was able to get in a significant amount of stretching and take some progress pictures. I did both upper and lower body stretches. I had major progress with the splits and actually quite a bit with the needles as well, but in a different way (focused more on my back bending enough to allow me to catch my right foot with both hands).
I also had a massage on Friday and had them focus on my IT bands, quads, and hams, this probably contributed to my split success today.
I really need to focus on shoulder mobility and flexibility. That will be some of my alternate goals.