So maybe I chose the wrong profession.....

No people I am not unhappy with my job. I actually as I have posted before love my job spreading the joy of mathematics to the kids of america or at least the kids of moore, ok. But judging by the bills I got from my hip replacement this week I may have chosen the wrong career if I ever dreamed of making more than like $2 an hour. (OK so maybe my salary averages out a little higher than that but you get the point). I am telling you if you are still looking for a career or would like a career change you might consider being an orthopedic specialist or an anesthesiologist. Now granted you either have to really enjoy replacing joints and all the fun that goes with that or enjoy putting people to sleep and keeping them alive during surgery(no pressure there) they make a ton of money. I was in total and complete shock when I saw how much they charged for hip replacement and almost had a heart attack. Then I would have needed a cariodologist and then more crazy medical bills and then a never ending cycle. At that point I was more than grateful for my job which has good insurance and pays my insurance. Let me tell you it makes facing the kiddos everyday during spring fever season a lot easier.

In other news, my hip continues to feel so great. I know this sounds funny but I look forward to having the other one done on June 2nd. I can't wait to walk without a limp and have 2 legs the same length again. I hope you have a great day and remember if you are looking for a high paying job think anesthesiologist.

Hip Precaution Transition Day

So I learned yesterday that more people follow my blog than I ever imagined. If you are a faithful reader thanks for reading. If you are new I hope you enjoy and welcome.

Hip Replacement News
Tomorrow is officially 3 months after surgery. You know what that means. It is the official day when I can throw my hip precautions out the window. Don't get me wrong I still have to be careful but supposedly according to the doctor 3 months is the magic healing time. I kind of feel like Digital TV transition. I am transitioning to a new phase in my life. Don't worry I am not going crazy but yes I might bend over a little farther or not stress as much when I accidently cross the midline. In other health news I went to see Dr. J yesterday and I had some fluid build up in my legs. She said perhaps caused by recently having surgery or from medication. Anyway she told me to stop taking celebrex and wait a week. Then if I needed some anti inflammatory to go back to naprosyn. I made her go through those instructions twice because yes for 10 years of my life I have taken an anti-inflammatory 2 times a day. I feel good today. She basically told me besides one bad hip the rest of my joints looked really good. Crazy huh?

Other News
Nothing really exciting just going to school with the kiddos. I love them and this semester we are getting ready for our big end of course exam. My goal is for a 100% pass rate. Last year my pass rate was 80% and I want more. I am currently finishing my national board certification. Like 67% of those who attempt I am taking a second year. I didn't certify by 15 points. Oh well it is a growing process and next year I will actually be in good shape to walk across the stage in the certification ceremony. Spring break and my 30th birthday are coming soon.

I hope you are having a great week. Welcome if you are new and thanks for reading if you are a faithful. Feel free to comment. (Hint:Comments make blog writers happy and more motivated to update.)

High Five Friday!

Ok so not a lot is going on with my hip. I don't think I can honestly describe to anyone who has not had hip trouble how much better it feels and I feel in general. It was totally worth the 3 days in the hospital, one being the sickest day of my life, 6 weeks of recovery, using a walker and wondering if I was ever going to walk again, and the scar down my right side, not being able to sleep on my side without a pillow between my legs, adapting to life without bending down for 3 months. If you have hip trouble and are contemplating hip replacement. Go for it. It is going to be real real real rough for several weeks but it is totally worth it and I can't wait until June 2nd until I get to have the other one done. Life is going to be so good.

Ok on other notes, I told my kiddos in 6th hour a story about how one of the teachers I observed in college always had High Five Friday. So last Friday we were High Fiving all over the place, Only after we learned lots and lots of math. Today we were in class and were talking about something and one of the kiddos said "I am looking forward to high five Friday." It amazes me sometimes how excited High schoolers get about little things. I love my kiddos. So sad for me that I am going to be at a conference this friday and have to miss out.

I hope things are going well in your world. Hip replacement world is great. Next week I get to go see Dr. James who kicked off this whole adventure and tell her she was so right to convince me to have this done. I am so active any more I just don't have a lot of time to update.

Mini Vaca is over!

Well everyone after being out of school for 3 days I am afraid my mini vacation is quickly coming to an end. I was just on the Moore schools website and it stated that we WILL have school tomorrow. I could get used to this only working 2 days a week thing. You see this week we worked on Monday then took 3 days off then we are working tomorrow then it is weekend. Works for me. So my hip continues to feel better and get stronger everyday. I really didn't believe PA Rob when he told me that the day I got my staples out but it is so so true that I see improvements everyday. This weather has kind of put a damper on the walking program but I will get back on the trail tomorrow.
Tomorrow is 10 weeks since I had surgery. I am about to reach the magic 3 month mark on my hip precautions. So even though I am still using my hip precautions, after being stuck in my house for several days I decided to venture out last night. It was all going great until I tried to reenter my driveway. My car has front wheel drive which is wonderful until you try to get into your snow/sleet/ice packed driveway. So I get here and get almost in my driveway and my tires are spinning spinning spinning. So I back out like 20 times and try again but nothing so then I panic and called my dad. He told me to go around the block and as I turned the corner to speed up and then enter my driveway and be ready to hit my breaks immediately when I get to the top of hill. It was one of those you want me to do what moments but I trusted in the dad's ice driving wisdom and went with the plan.On the way around the block I drove down suburbia lane and it had 2 ruts to drive in. Well I had to pass a car who decided it was his turn and not mine and I had to get scoot out of the ruts. I got stuck there too. My tires spinning. Not a fun experience. After making it around the block the plan worked and it wasn't until after the fact that I realized he was asking me to pick up speed on an icy road. I decided not to leave again until my driveway was sufficiently melted. I know not a hip replacement story but it was pretty funny especially if you were there.
I can walk a lot father than before so we are slowly working up to that magic mile. Have a great day and be careful it is still a little slick out.

You want me to do what...

So today I got to go see Dr. Tkach for my 6 week follow up which happened to be scheduled 8 after surgery but whatever. My appointment was at 11:30 so we get to the office at 11:00 thinking we can get the x-ray out of the way and get on with the appointment. Not so my friends. I think they scheduled 15 people at 11:30. Oh well. We finally got to see Dr. Tkach at 1:00. He showed me the x-ray of my new hip. It looks amazing. I love the guy. He then told me several things. 1) you can get rid of the cane whenever you want. He said my left hip is really bad and I could keep the cane as long as I wanted but I am free to get rid of it. 2) Continue to use your hip precautions for 1 more month. You know sleep with a pillow between your legs although he did tell me I could sleep on either side as long as I had the pillow between my legs. 3) keep up the physical therapy. He demoed the physical therapy and he is really good at those leg lifts. 4) I want you to walk a mile a day. WHAT!!!! He generously said I could work up to walking that far but to keep my new hip health I need to start on the walking trail. 5) I can sit in my recliner again. YES!!!!. 6) Random fact about Dr. Tkach is that he hunts bears in may. OK and he didn't have a good hunting adventure after he operated on me. He said it wasn't a good deer season for him. I told him as long as it was a good hip replacement season I was good. That's about the run down of the appointment. Then we went to schedule hip replacement 2. June 2nd at Bone and joint hospital. How fun. A new hospital. It will be great. Have a great day and I will keep you updated on that walking thing.

A day off and the moment has arrived.

Yes that is right we have been in school for 2 weeks and we get the day off. You would think since I had a 6 week Christmas Vacation that I wouldn't need a day off already but I do. I am really excited. I said in an earlier post that I would post again when I was ready to say the infamous line. So here it goes "I am so glad I had hip replacement and can't believe I didn't have this done sooner." That is really true. I can tell such a difference in how my right hip works and feels as opposed to the left one which is still bone on bone. I can't wait until about august when they are both fixed and I am about 8 weeks post surgery. It is going to be so great. On a side note I go in for my 6 week follow up this week (8 weeks after surgery, oh well). I finally get to see Dr. Tkach because he went on a hunting vacation right after he operated on me and I haven't seen him since. I saw his PA to get my staples out.

My mom went home on Tuesday of this past week and so now I am adjusting to life with hip precautions because I still have to use those for about 4 more weeks. The precautions are don't cross over the midline, don't turn your toes and leg inward and don't bend past a 90 degree angle. It has been fun times putting on pants. When you get dressed next consider how you do it and what you would do if you couldn't bend past 90 degrees. Not so easy now is it. My mom and dad fully equipped me with tools to accomplish any task including a heavy duty grabber called the nifty nabber. I have owned a grabber for a while because the pure and simple facts are with two bad hips I wasn't able to bend down and pick up things off the floor anyway. This one is really heavy duty though and I love it. I also have a long handled shoe horn. Who knew there was a whole website dedicated to selling long handle shoe horns. The things you learn when you need something like that.

Well have a great week and feel free to ask any questions about life with hip precautions or the cool tools that make life possible for me. Don't forget to think about putting your pants on without bending over.

A visit to School and Beyond

So did you notice a theme in the last 3 posts. First we had a visit from Santa, then from Mickey and now that's right I am back to work. So for you guys out there who have been waiting on an update here it is. My mom and I toasted in the new year with grape juice and by playing cards. It was good. Then I spent the rest of the week dreading the return to work. It wasn't as bad as I thought. I went back last monday January 5th and it was great. We didn't have kids there and my friends at school are so glad to have me back. I am really glad to be back and I love my co-workers and kiddos more than ever before. The kiddos have been really great. They all were so glad to see me. So I will update but not as much as before. Keep checking. My next hip appointment is on Jan 21st. I will try to update you after that. So we will close this post with some of the fun comments my kids have made since I have been back.

"Miss McClain, now you can ride those scooters at walmart"

Kiddo-"Miss McClain, did you keep the bone they sawed off?"
Me-"No I sent it off for research purposes"
Kiddo-"Oh I would have keep it to show all my friends and bring to school."

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND I WILL UPDATED SOON.