Hello from the chilly, murky waters of the Stress Pool!
It seems things here must have been chaotic, as I haven't written in a few months. Well, let me tell you what's surfaced here at the pool...
Most of you might know that as an art teacher, being on one's feet all day is par for the course. You need to walk around and see how everyone is doing; some kids might need a supply that isn't out, and so on. Well, after the first week back, my legs and I became arch enemies.
The pain was (and still is) excruciating.
I'm not exaggerating - it's been bad. Both legs. In the past, my former PCP (he has since retired) had sent me for an MRI and it was determined that I had a couple back issues - mainly sciatica and stenosis. "That's what's causing the pain in your legs," he said.
So, when this started, I made an appointment with a back doctor, who had looked at me like I was wasting his time. ""We'll start with an EMG and physical therapy," he said. "Come back in six weeks."
Have you ever had an EMG? Painful, but the doctor who performed it was very calm and talked through the whole thing, so it kept my mind on other things. Toward the end of the test he said, "I think it's your hip. That doesn't explain the numbness, but I think the pain in your right leg is from your hip." When he left the room, he said it had been nice to meet me, and I said "It was a pleasure." He gave me quite a smirk - I meant he had been so kind during the procedure! Oh well.
I went to physical therapy. My therapist, Beth, had me move around, and asked me to get on the bike. I could only pedal backward, at which point she said, "I think it's your hip." She gave me the names of two orthopedists, because the only person I could think of is definitely a year out for surgeries, let alone getting in to see him, and she felt getting an x-ray of the hip sooner than later would be beneficial in knowing what to do. So, I called and made an appointment with one of the orthopedists she recommended, and got in to see him the next week. They took an x-ray, and then he breezed in. I swear, orthopedic doctors are the most chill people I've ever met. He introduced himself, then said, "Your hip is a mess."
I need a new hip. Sometime this spring I'll be going - I have to call 3 months before I'm ready for the surgery. Truthfully, I'm ready for it now, but sick days are the issue. I'm trying to work it so that Easter break falls in the recuperation time. Wish me luck with this!
When I went back for the 6 week check-up, though, the back doctor came in, sat down, and looked at me. "Wow, I really didn't think..."
Didn't think - what? That I actually had pain? That I felt something was wrong? How many people go to doctors when there is nothing wrong? A lot, I guess, for him to make that remark. The leg numbness, by the way, is a subcutaneous nerve - just under the skin. Massaging it helps a little, but it's going to plague me forever, I think. So, he was right - there was nothing stemming from the back - but there is pain. Working on it...
The best thing that happened so far this autumn is getting window treatments. We went with Lachina, a blind and drapery company here in the Burgh. Joanna, wonderful designer (and a third generation Lachina) spent a nice amount of time with us, asking us what we wanted, getting to know our thoughts, looking at fabrics and patterns, and of course, she had suggestions, with which we went for most of them. The installer came in early October to put up the valances (which I love, by the way), so DH moved the stand with all the plants out of the way so the fellow would have room to work. Now comes the funny part of the story.
We have been here for 3 years. That plant stand, including the plants, has been in that spot for 3 years. DH pulls it closer to the dining room table, and Simon (AKA Art Cat) looks and says, "Wait - what's this delightful playground that I've never seen?" When I walked in the door, my baby spider plant was on the floor, dirt everywhere, while Simon looked at me like, "Hi mom - I didn't do anything, but did you know about this?!"
He has tried to kill that spider plant I don't know how many times now - along with the Wandering Jew plant (which has a new, politically correct name now - Inch Plant). A friend gave me a pot with another spider and an Inch Plant, and I had to put them on top of one of the cabinets in the dining room. Imagine - 3 years, and he never noticed them before. Wow.
The Stress Pool isn't all about me - it's also about the family. Morticia has been telling me about her dreams of doing nail art, and I offered to let her do my nails - but we didn't set a date! Her little Sweetie Pie is growing so fast, and she's just so darn cute. Apparently, she doesn't like shoes. Whenever they put them on her, she takes a couple steps, then sits down wherever she is. She'll get used to them - or will wear Birkenstocks for the rest of her life!
Big Brother and DiDi said that the Little Man is doing well in Kindergarten- as only he could. He's kind and the other children really like him. Gym is his favorite subject. Takes a little bit after dad, I think. Mouse - well, she's just as cute as a button. She loves to dance - and only has eyes for PawPaw. She looks at me when we walk in, and then strains to see behind me. "PawPaw?" she asks. "PawPaw?"
"Yes, he's coming", I tell her. Cute, really.
Ms. Business is about to finish paying off her student loans - yay! And Moink finished book one of his series and has started book two - we have a few more revisions for book one, but soon it should be ready to send out to agents. Fingers crossed...
The actual pool is closed for the season, but the Stress Pool is always open, so come on in and dip your toes in the water, if you dare! What have you been up to? Any good stories? And, as always, thanks for visiting, and we'll see you next time here in the Stress Pool.