Ok friends and faithful readers (if I still have any readers at all). It has been 3 months since I blogged and a crazy 3 months indeed. I will try to sum up the last 3 months in a few bullet points.
- I lost 29 pounds on the biggest loser at school. My team came in 6th place and I came in 8th on individual percentage of weight lost. We went on the maintenance plan for the holidays and I have lost at least 3 more pounds. I feel so good. In fact I am now walking 2 miles per hour on my treadmill and just completed a 45 minute walk.
-I went home for Thanksgiving and it was such a blessing. You see last year at thanksgiving I was just a week out of hip replacement on my right hip and was wondering if I would ever walk again. Then we went shopping on black friday. I was able to keep up with the rest of the crew and it was pretty amazing because it has been at least 3 years since that has happened.
-The friday before thanksgiving I found out I passed my National Board Certification. It is so much better to see the words congratulations on the score screen than better luck next year. I now get to include 4 letters after my name when i type professional emails. You know Courtney McClain, NBCT.
-This past week I went back to see Dr. T for my 6th month follow up on my left hip. He said everything looked perfect and he would see me in 6 months. I love Dr. T not only because he changed my life with new hips but because he is just a super duper doctor and very caring.
-One more week of school and I am headed home for Christmas. After Christmas I will be spending a few days in St. Louis with some friends.
I am enjoying life and love my new hardware. I hope everything is great with you. Maybe it won't take me 3 more months to update this time but lets face the facts, I have some living to do so I may just not have a chance.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
It comes with a bag so we might as well go ahead and get it.
Ok friends it has been a good week for me. I went home for Labor Day weekend because I simply could not miss the annual Ayres(that is my mom's fam) picnic and horsehoe tournament at my parents house. I mean this year we went all out with official trophies and a juniper jump for the little ones. You see in years past we have just given the winners old trophies around our house that we wanted to get rid of but this year they got official trophies. The juniper jump came about quite by accident. We went to wal-mart on sunday afternoon to pick up last minute items such as hot dog buns and sent my dad to look at the beach ball toy that you hook up to your hose and for the kiddos. It was $9. He calls us on my cell phone and asked if we would meet him in the clearance aisle and there it was a juniper jump on clearance. He said Rylan would really enjoy it and we would have him around for a while and it even came with a bag. My mom said it comes with a bag well we might as well get it. So now we are proud owners of a juniper jump and the beach ball. I had to leave the festivities before it ended however because I had professional development on Tuesday. The Tuesday workshop was pretty good and I heard several things I already do, that is always encouraging when you are doing something good. Wednesday the kiddos returned and it was a busy day starting with biggest loser weigh in. I lost....get ready....10 pounds. It was a little shocking but really exciting. I thought I had lost maybe 6 pounds and that my scales here at my house had to be wacky because it said I lost 10. Then I went to see Dr. T's PA Rob for my 3 month follow up on hip 2. Yes that is right it has been 3 months with hip 2 and 10 months with hip 1. I feel amazing. Dr. Rob said I could get rid of all hip precautions and do whatever I wanted. I was so excited. He said my x-rays looked excellent. Back to this feeling good thing. I have been walking on my treadmill almost everyday. You see my biggest loser made a team commitment to work out tuesday, thursday and friday but if you wanted to do more you could. I am currently up to 25 minutes, at the speed I walk that is about .6 of a mile. Last post I could only walk 11 minutes so I am doing really well and feeling extreme good too. I hope you all have a wonderful day.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
I can't believe it has been a month.
Well it has been a whole month since I posted on my blog. Not because I have nothing to say but just because it has been a very busy crazy month. I will try to give you a month in review. (WARNING I HAVE A LOT TO TELL YOU SO THIS IS PROBABLY GO TO BE LONG. GRAB A SNACK AND READ FOR A WHILE).
So when I left you last I had just seen Dr. T for my post surgery follow up. Well the following week my mom and dad came down to help me get my classroom set up. My Dad and my bff from school Nancy painted a couple of walls in my classroom pink. It is a deep berry pink and I love it. It hads some personality and character to the room. Some of the kiddos said they didn't want to look at the pink wall to which I responded, "I teach at the other wall so there is no need for you to stare at the pink one". Speaking of my kiddos. The week after the room set up day we started school. I had 3 days of professional development then the kiddos came on thursday of that week. I have 3 pre-ap algebra 2 classes and 2 algebra 2 classes this year. I think they are great kids and we hit the ground running the first day of school. That's right homework on the first day. I have one class of kiddos that has 35 kids. We set the rules and sometimes it is quieter in that room than in my 6th hour when I only have 22 kiddos. It has been a busy crazy school year to start out. First of all I feel so much better and even have energy to spare at the end of the day. Then we had one of our last minute hired teachers quit after only teaching for one week. He came from the business world and decided he wasn't fit for teaching. I can understand. It is a tough job especially with high stakes state testing. So I ended up teaching his class during my plan for a week. We finally got a new guy on board yesterday. I was glad to have my plan back.
We are doing biggest loser at school until thanksgiving. We are on teams of four and we weigh in every 2 weeks. Our first weigh in was this week. I am looking forward to it because I think it will help with the motivation I need to help me lose some weight. I was actually mad about weigh in. I had a doctor's appointment so I was going to take the morning off and sleep in. Instead I had to be at the school at 7:30 to weigh in. Oh well at least I stayed in routine. I saw my rheumatologist(Dr. J) this week and she said I looked wonderful and that my joints were doing really good. It has been at least 3 years since we have had a great report like that from the rheumatologist. Dr. J is also excited I am on biggest loser because if I can lose a little weight it will keep my knees in better shape longer so hopefully I won't have to have knee replacement for many many many years. I have started walking on my treadmill. In fact I just did 11 minutes before writing this blog. (For some of you that is nothing, but remember I had bad hips for 3 years and just now feel like walking again). I am pretty convinced as my Dr T said it is a miracle only God could perform and it is a miracle that many people have been praying for me for many years. As I told Dr. J if she needs me to I am pretty sure I could convince any of her patients to have hip replacement based on how great I feel. She told me I may have start with her mom and her mom was seeing Dr. T that day. Same applies to my blog readers if you need me to convince you or any of your loved ones how great hip replacement is and how it changed my life let me know.
Well I hope you have a great day. I have to go finish my usual saturday things. Laundry, dishes, pick up my house a little. I try to update sooner rather than later. Keep reading.
So when I left you last I had just seen Dr. T for my post surgery follow up. Well the following week my mom and dad came down to help me get my classroom set up. My Dad and my bff from school Nancy painted a couple of walls in my classroom pink. It is a deep berry pink and I love it. It hads some personality and character to the room. Some of the kiddos said they didn't want to look at the pink wall to which I responded, "I teach at the other wall so there is no need for you to stare at the pink one". Speaking of my kiddos. The week after the room set up day we started school. I had 3 days of professional development then the kiddos came on thursday of that week. I have 3 pre-ap algebra 2 classes and 2 algebra 2 classes this year. I think they are great kids and we hit the ground running the first day of school. That's right homework on the first day. I have one class of kiddos that has 35 kids. We set the rules and sometimes it is quieter in that room than in my 6th hour when I only have 22 kiddos. It has been a busy crazy school year to start out. First of all I feel so much better and even have energy to spare at the end of the day. Then we had one of our last minute hired teachers quit after only teaching for one week. He came from the business world and decided he wasn't fit for teaching. I can understand. It is a tough job especially with high stakes state testing. So I ended up teaching his class during my plan for a week. We finally got a new guy on board yesterday. I was glad to have my plan back.
We are doing biggest loser at school until thanksgiving. We are on teams of four and we weigh in every 2 weeks. Our first weigh in was this week. I am looking forward to it because I think it will help with the motivation I need to help me lose some weight. I was actually mad about weigh in. I had a doctor's appointment so I was going to take the morning off and sleep in. Instead I had to be at the school at 7:30 to weigh in. Oh well at least I stayed in routine. I saw my rheumatologist(Dr. J) this week and she said I looked wonderful and that my joints were doing really good. It has been at least 3 years since we have had a great report like that from the rheumatologist. Dr. J is also excited I am on biggest loser because if I can lose a little weight it will keep my knees in better shape longer so hopefully I won't have to have knee replacement for many many many years. I have started walking on my treadmill. In fact I just did 11 minutes before writing this blog. (For some of you that is nothing, but remember I had bad hips for 3 years and just now feel like walking again). I am pretty convinced as my Dr T said it is a miracle only God could perform and it is a miracle that many people have been praying for me for many years. As I told Dr. J if she needs me to I am pretty sure I could convince any of her patients to have hip replacement based on how great I feel. She told me I may have start with her mom and her mom was seeing Dr. T that day. Same applies to my blog readers if you need me to convince you or any of your loved ones how great hip replacement is and how it changed my life let me know.
Well I hope you have a great day. I have to go finish my usual saturday things. Laundry, dishes, pick up my house a little. I try to update sooner rather than later. Keep reading.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
I'm Back
I guess if you check my blog frequently you have noticed I have not been here. Well I have been busy shopping, shopping, shopping. I went to Vinita for a week with my mom and then we came back. Yesterday I had my post op follow up appointment. I love my orthopedic surgeon more each day. Yesterday he told me my hips looked perfect. I have to follow precautions(don't bend down, sleep with a pillow between your legs, and use a raised toilet seat) for 6 more weeks and go in for another appointment at that time. We talked for a little while longer and as we were leaving we were talking about Miracles. Dr. T said this is a miracle only God could perform. He is so great and I love him. I am supposed to start working up to walking a mile a day. I had my dad set up my tread mill. I will keep you updated on how that goes. Bave a great day.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Major activities
Ok friends so here is a list of some major activities I have accomplished in the past few weeks.
1. Went to church
2. Walked to mailbox (lest you think that is a minor accomplishment I live in a neighborhood that has community mailboxes which means the mailbox is about 2 houses down and across the street from my house. Let's also remember I just had total hip replacement.)
3. Shopping, Shopping, Shopping
4. Trip to Vinita for 4th of July to meet Braxton Cole Harris (my cousin's new baby he is adorable)
5. Graduation from PT. No that does not mean you do not have to do PT anymore it just means that I don't have someone come in to the house to do it with me.
6. Going from the walker to the cane. Yay. It is so much easier for all of us now that we don't have to tote that walker around.
7. Major house declutter project. I am not a hoarder but I am a keeper so my mom has helped me declutter the house.
8. Major closet cleanout project. As I said in #7 I am a keeper and I had clothes I haven't worn in years and will not wear ever again so I have 3 huge bags to give to goodwill.
Things still to come
1. Bedroom and bathroom update. Some of the shopping was to pick up new bed and bath room stuff. I am redoing my bedroom in pink. I have this bedspread with a huge pink peony on it and pink sheets. I am redoing my bathroom in zebra and yellow. It is going to be super duper cute.
2. Trip to V-town to get my hair done, hear my daddo preach, and just hang out for several days.
3. POST OP APPOINTMENT AND RELEASE TO DRIVE.
4. School-that's right I go back on August 10th. that is just about a month from now.
To address the questions from the last blog. I will try to keep blogging after I am fully recovered but no guarantees. I am winning the skipbo and phase 10 tournaments but my mom is winning the cribbage tournament but only by a game or two. Keep reading and feel free to comment with questions.
1. Went to church
2. Walked to mailbox (lest you think that is a minor accomplishment I live in a neighborhood that has community mailboxes which means the mailbox is about 2 houses down and across the street from my house. Let's also remember I just had total hip replacement.)
3. Shopping, Shopping, Shopping
4. Trip to Vinita for 4th of July to meet Braxton Cole Harris (my cousin's new baby he is adorable)
5. Graduation from PT. No that does not mean you do not have to do PT anymore it just means that I don't have someone come in to the house to do it with me.
6. Going from the walker to the cane. Yay. It is so much easier for all of us now that we don't have to tote that walker around.
7. Major house declutter project. I am not a hoarder but I am a keeper so my mom has helped me declutter the house.
8. Major closet cleanout project. As I said in #7 I am a keeper and I had clothes I haven't worn in years and will not wear ever again so I have 3 huge bags to give to goodwill.
Things still to come
1. Bedroom and bathroom update. Some of the shopping was to pick up new bed and bath room stuff. I am redoing my bedroom in pink. I have this bedspread with a huge pink peony on it and pink sheets. I am redoing my bathroom in zebra and yellow. It is going to be super duper cute.
2. Trip to V-town to get my hair done, hear my daddo preach, and just hang out for several days.
3. POST OP APPOINTMENT AND RELEASE TO DRIVE.
4. School-that's right I go back on August 10th. that is just about a month from now.
To address the questions from the last blog. I will try to keep blogging after I am fully recovered but no guarantees. I am winning the skipbo and phase 10 tournaments but my mom is winning the cribbage tournament but only by a game or two. Keep reading and feel free to comment with questions.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Update:
Ok so if you read my blog you are probably waiting for an update. I have been waiting for something really exciting to happen so I could write a story but nothing is really new and exciting. Recovery has been much easier with one good hip and one recovering hip and I think I am about 2 weeks ahead of where I was last time with recovery. Basically my days consist of waking up, breakfast, PT, lunch, cards with mom (we are having a skipbo, phase 10 and cribbage tournament), Dinner, TV and bed. If you have a specific question leave a comment and I will write about it. Otherwise read all the fun from last time and that is pretty much parallel to this journey. Have a great day my friends.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Inside the operating room
Ok my friends a lot has happened in the last week since I posted. Let me begin this post with a another scary surgery story. So at McBride Hospital they put me to sleep way way before they ever wheeled me into the operating room. I couldn't tell you what that room looked like. Not so at the Bone and Joint Hospital. They gave me something to relax me but then they paged that they were ready for DR. T's next surgery. So the surgery nurse and the anthesiologist wheeled me into the operating room. I was wide awake. That's right wide awake. I thought did they forget to put me to sleep. I looked around the room as I transferred to the operating table (a little freaky let me tell you). Then before I knew it I was asleep. Thank goodness. I did see my x-ray on the x-ray light several glass cabinets and what looked like boxes of hip components. I don't ever want to see the inside of an operating room again. I prefer to be put under before they get me there.
In other news, I am hot and heavy into Physical Therapy. On monday the PT supervisor came and evaluated me. Then Wednesday, Friday, and Today I had therapy. (Yes I had therapy on Sunday but because my PTA is moving and I have a Dr. appt tomorrow) Anyway they have me doing few new exercises which I don't know if I approve of. The first one is the straight leg raise. I want all you faithful blog readers to try this. Point your toe toward the ceiling, keep you leg straight (do not bend you knee), and lift straight up. How did that feel? Now imagine doing that when you have sore muscles in your leg from being moved over for surgery and a new hip. I don't like that exercise. Oh well. Then I also so ankle pumps(I am pro at these) and calf raises (again a pro at these). I love my new therapist and the evaluating PT. I think my home health agency has contracted with a new therapy company and I like them.
My mom and I broke out of the house this weekend. On Friday we went to CVS to pick up a prescription and then to Norman for pei wei take out. Here is the fortune I got. "A new passionate romance is going to come into your life when you least expect it" That is as close as I have ever gotten to you will marry a rich man.
Then saturday we went to sonic. Today we went to KFC drive thru and subway (I just sat in the car but I was out of my house). I get my staples out tomorrow which is one of the best days of hip replacement. They will stop pulling and we can get on with the healing. Have a great night and thanks for reading.
In other news, I am hot and heavy into Physical Therapy. On monday the PT supervisor came and evaluated me. Then Wednesday, Friday, and Today I had therapy. (Yes I had therapy on Sunday but because my PTA is moving and I have a Dr. appt tomorrow) Anyway they have me doing few new exercises which I don't know if I approve of. The first one is the straight leg raise. I want all you faithful blog readers to try this. Point your toe toward the ceiling, keep you leg straight (do not bend you knee), and lift straight up. How did that feel? Now imagine doing that when you have sore muscles in your leg from being moved over for surgery and a new hip. I don't like that exercise. Oh well. Then I also so ankle pumps(I am pro at these) and calf raises (again a pro at these). I love my new therapist and the evaluating PT. I think my home health agency has contracted with a new therapy company and I like them.
My mom and I broke out of the house this weekend. On Friday we went to CVS to pick up a prescription and then to Norman for pei wei take out. Here is the fortune I got. "A new passionate romance is going to come into your life when you least expect it" That is as close as I have ever gotten to you will marry a rich man.
Then saturday we went to sonic. Today we went to KFC drive thru and subway (I just sat in the car but I was out of my house). I get my staples out tomorrow which is one of the best days of hip replacement. They will stop pulling and we can get on with the healing. Have a great night and thanks for reading.
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