Mostly about Me this Time!

So this week has been a lot-more-than-normal-about-me.  The girls both got through their first quarter of school quite well academically.  Physically both are currently in PT -- Maggie for a stress injury to her foot.  Abby wore a boot for 3 weeks for a stress injury to her ankle.  I'm thankful they're progressing in recovery and became resigned to missing the bulk of cross-country season.  Both were running strongly and continuing to improve their times when injury hit.  They should be back in the game for track season.

We also enjoyed a visit with Tom's step-mom Kay.  She came over from Houston for a visit and to attend Grandparent's Day at the high school both girls now attend.  It was a good visit.  She ended up "having" to stay an extra day as there were no flights available -- we made the best of it.  We'd planned to go see a movie, but Abby fell ill at school with a headache and nausea so we ended up watching her most of the day.  Kay continued her trip to California where my sister-in-law just welcomed her fourth child -- a boy!  Exciting news and he's both cute and big!  Plans in place to visit with them over Christmas.

Now to about me.  November 5 was my scheduled surgery for hip replacement after about 3 years of steadily increasing pain and an attempt to further delay the replacement with arthroscopic surgery last October.  I had pre-op on October 31 and was able to meet with all the necessary players as required.  Sunday morning the 3rd the girls and I attended the mother-daughter luncheon-fashion show sponsored by their school.  It was quite fun and we all enjoyed it.  Later that evening my mom arrived to help us all out.  She and I had a fun day Monday -- attending my regular yoga class, grocery shopping, and passing on the few instructions that I had.  

So Tuesday morning I was to be at the hospital for 8am.  The girls left for school normal time and Tom, mom and I headed to the hospital for the typical check-in-then-wait-a-long-time.  They took me away around lunch and I saw on the clock that I was wheeled into surgery at 1ish.  Next thing I recall is being rolled to my hospital room with Mom and Tom welcoming me at the end of the hall.  All had gone well, no scary surprises.  Tom went home to get the girls and they came back for a visit.  Great to see my babies!  Mom spent the night with me as Tom had early calls Wednesday morning.

Wednesday didn't start off too well -- the PT folks came and I was extremely dizzy and seeing stars and my blood pressure was horribly low (80/38) even for me who tends to run low.  They were able to get me standing and moved out of bed onto a chair in the morning.  A blood count was taken and I ate, drank, and rested the bulk of the day.  In the afternoon after the second PT session (which went much better!) a couple friends came by for a short visit bearing chocolate.  Mom went home to be with the girls and Tom spent the night.

Thursday was a great day -- I came home!  So nice to be home, even though is was a somewhat rough night with back discomfort and an inability to get comfortable.

Friday was BUSY.  The home-care nurse came in the morning for assessment (basically, I really don't need a regular nurse to come daily as the stitches are all the dissolving kind and I'm pretty mobile all things considered).  In the afternoon the PT gal came for her assessment -- I'm getting around pretty well, she gave me some exercises and showed me how to safely climb the stairs if I have to (my bedroom is downstairs so I don't have to).  PT will come three times a week.  Then the Occupational Therapist came (the girls were home from school by this time and Maggie's comment about there being health care folks in the house was that I was "old").  My main question for her was how to wash my hair as I'm not to shower for 2 weeks (don't worry, I am washing!).  Answer -- carefully lean over the sink with help.  She left her number but again, I'm pretty mobile and she won't come regularly.

Today's been a great day.  I'm swollen and that's uncomfortable but my hip doesn't hurt at all.  Both babies went to a homecoming dance this evening and looked lovely all dressed up.  I was "allowed" to help Abby with straightening her hair and doing her nails -- not a bad job if I say so myself!

Overall, I'm happy with the procedure -- my hip pain (aside from swelling and some around the incision) is lower than it's been in well over a year.  My incision is in the front which is a newer technique and results in a faster recovery and fewer long-term restrictions on movement.  My only "complaint" is the side-effects of the medications and that kind of stuff.  Frustrating but typical.  

And I'm so thrilled my mom is here!  We knew she'd take care of the grocery, cooking, laundry, etc. but she's really stepped up and even washed my hair (though I did have to teach her proper technique for washing long hair).  She's just happy that she can load my dishwasher without me complaining about her (lack of) skill in that area.  Yep, I'm picky about my dishwasher.

In any even, I hope and pray that any surgery you EVER have is as successful on day-4 as mine has been!

Couple pics:

my walker -- the one in the background was temporary as it was marginally too tall for me.  The one I'd borrowed from my aunt was too short.

My leg-wear for the first two weeks -- compression hose.  Sure to impress all the guys!