Sorry my friends but I am Jury Reject.

Its been a while since I updated so I hope you are still around to read. Guess what friends? Yes that is right it is only 1 month until I have my other hip operated on. So remember my friends, to mark your calendar to pray for me on JUNE 2nd. I am going to a different hospital this time but will have the same wonderful doctor as last time. He actually prefers to do surgery at this hospital but I am not looking forward to breaking in a whole new group of nurses and aides and physical therapists. I just have to remember to be a good patient and they just have to remember to be there every 4 hours with the pain medication and we will be fine.

In other news in my life. I mailed my national board box and will find out my fate in November. Last time I found out when I was in the hospital so it will be nice to get the news when I am not hyped up on pain pills and only about 8 hours out of surgery. My kiddos take their state test on Thursday. They are feeling pretty good. I am feeling pretty good but I am scared because they get a prilimary score when they log off the computer. I just hope they do well. We have all worked way to hard for them to not do well.

Well since the last time I blogged I have reported to Jury Duty. I got there about 8:15 and they quickly shuffled all of us to the court room where the judge explained she didn't let her mother in law off of Jury Duty and she wasn't letting us off unless we fit one of the categories and even then it was tough. One of the guys there was a police officier and it says if you are law enforcement you can get off but this judge said only if you were called to criminal case. Anyway so me and 200 of my closest friends were in the court room waiting our fate. Then they separated us into groups I was put on a civil case for a car wreck settlement with 30 others. We reported to our court room and they explained all this stuff to us then seated 18 people in the jury box for questioning. I was not picked which meant for the next 5 hours of my life I had to sit in a court rooma and listen to all questions in case one of the 18 was deemed unfit and I had to replace them. That happened several times and I didn't make the cut. I was pretty convinced that I was going to be let go until they decided on the 12 person Jury. They then decided they needed an alternate juror so me and 2 others were put to the test and they decided they didn't want me. At that point I became a jury reject. I was actually glad. I learned a lot but it was a really long day.

Sorry this is so long remember June 2nd and regular updates are coming soon. That's right the actual reason for this blog is about to come into play again.

"Just put that in your calculator and graph it"

So I know this is dedicated to my journey through hip replacement but I have no real hip news right now. I am waiting for my next hip to be operated on in June. That is June 2nd if you haven't marked your prayer calendar yet. My ceramic hip is great. It never ceases to amaze me how much this whole journey is going to improve my life. I can't wait.

In other life news, on Wednesday I mail off my National Board box for attempt 2. I hope I pass this time. You can add that to your prayers too(I won't find out until November). We are in the middle of my favorite time of the year at school, ok so maybe that is a slight exaggeration, do you know what that is? That right state testing time. It is the time of the year where I get to say one million five hundred and fifty-two times why don't you put it in your graphing calculator, you know we can check our answer in our graphing calculator, or how about if we use the graphing calculator on this one. In fact one of my kiddos said today "Just put that in your calculator, and graph it" you know like "put it that in your pipe and smoke it" I am using my inner cheerleader skill this month (yes that is right GO MATH!). As I explained to my kiddos today this test is very important to me and should be very important to them as well. So prayer request 3 pray my kiddos are attentive during review and are confident for the test on May 7th. If that isn't enough stress I called to jury duty on April 27th. That's right take me out of my classroom during the most stressful time of the year. My friends at school just laugh at me when I mention it. Don't you think they should be sympathic. I just told them I was going to put their names in the suggested juror box when I went in. Oh well it is my civic duty right and I get paid $20 a day plus mileage. Well I hope you have a great day and I will blog again soon. Just remember you can "Put that in your calculator and graph it" (I think it might be my new theme.)

Time Flies....

Today is the last day of Spring Break and before you get mad that I actually get a spring break let's consider what I do day in and day out. I go to school to teach the kiddos of Moore, Ok math and somehow convince them that math is not that bad and even though they don't have the "math gene" they can handle it. Somedays I have to find my inner cheerleader and cheer the kids on. (I am always saying, you can do it, we can handle it, you know the basically GO MATH!!) Yes I do love math that much. It takes it toll emotionally, mentally, and physically. I give all day long. Now I am not saying that you too don't deserve a Spring Break but it is basically my time to get some rest and get recharged for the next 9 weeks which is the big one. That's right it is the time of year where we prepare our kiddos for the state test. We spend many days just building confidence. Anyway probably more than you wanted to know. So to fit the title my Spring Break has flown by, which leads directly to my next point. I came to the realization in the past few days that it is about 10 weeks, yes that is right 10 weeks until my left hip surgery. Now you are probably thinking that is quite a while. Not really my friends. I am not excited about the first like 3 weeks after surgery but after that I should start feeling ok and improving everyday. The date of that surgery is June 2nd. Mark your calendars and pray for me that day.

I continue to love my right hip and I can't even tell you how much better I feel. It is amazing to me that after diagnosing the problem and getting my hips replaced that I am going to be almost as good as new again. Now one of the most asked questions (ranking a close 2nd to will you buzz when you go through airport security? the answer is unfortunately yes) is "Will hip replacement cure your arthritis?" The answer is unfortunately no. You see Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease caused by a malfunctioning immune system and barring a new miracle treatment I will have the disease for the rest of my life. Although with new medications once I get my hip fixed I probably won't feel the effects of it much unless I have a major flare up. Ok enough of the downer stuff. On an up note. The past week I have become comfortable with sleeping on my side again. Now I haven't slept on my right side but yes I am sleeping on my left side. Lest you think that is not a major deal, I had to sleep on my back for 3 months. So yes it is a major deal, one day if you ever have a hip replacement which I hope you don't have to you too will understand. Have a great week and maybe this week I can get the feel good blog of the week award. I mean we laughed, we cried (or at least got serious for a few sentences) does that qualify us for the award?

Yes you read that right.

So if you have ever read the description of my blog it used to read "My name is Courtney and I am 29 years old" I am no longer 29. As of today March 13th I am 30. I Had to change the wording in my blog. 30 is treating me great so far. It all started with my mom and dad surprising me at school yesterday with Cupcakes. It was so funny. I was sitting in my friend's room where we always eat lunch and I was talking which I do quite frequently at lunch. I was facing the other direction and everyone was looking at someone behind me. I remember saying is it someone here for me because yes the kiddos do know where I eat lunch. I turned around to see who it was and it was my Mom and Dad standing there with cupcakes. It was such a fun surprise. They spent the night and we went to lunch today after parent teacher conferences. Then we went to the A t & t store to get new phones. If you want to know about my new phone comment and maybe I will blog about it. I am officially on spring break which is amazing. I am going to work on my National Board certification and get finished. Nothing really new in the hippy world. I still am looking forward to having the other one done. Then watch out world. Just thought you guys might be interested to know I have joined the 30 club. Have a great day.

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.