Four, Three, Two, One...

The count down is on.  Next Wednesday is the day I will return to work. Teaching Kindergarten is not just work, it's a like being a mom to 20 little kids! From the minute I came out of surgery, I've been scared to death that I would never be ok to return. I woke up this morning with the same tears I went to sleep with...afraid that I'll never walk again! After starting my day with my stretches, I went to my physical therapy appointment. I quickly let my PT know that I did not want to repeat the stretches because I had already done them. I explained that I have only days before I return to school. I begged her to help me move forward for the full hour. Today was my first official day to begin partial weight bearing. We started that over a week ago, so she let me move on with some total weight work. I was able to balance back and forth, walk up and down a few steps, and crutch across the room (all without a boot). It hurt but it was acceptable pain. After icing my foot to get the swelling under control, Steve took me to the gym. Armed with the ability to put my foot on the floor to get up and down the pool steps, I was actually able to get in and out of the pool without all of my fan club! I started with lunges and toe raises and then tried to use the kicker board to move down my lane. I'm not sure if my leg is just weak from the cast or if all of my muscle has turned to fat, but I didn't even move! Finally, I gave up and tried swimming again. It worked! I was able to do 2 laps each of breast stroke, side stroke, and back stroke. I'm not sure if anyone else would know that's what I was doing but who cares! I navigated the steps one more time to get in the hot tub. It was such a treat to put my foot next to a jet even if the heat made my foot swell so big I could barely get back out! Now I'm home with ice on my foot again. Steve keeps telling me it's going to get better but I've been having a hard time believing him. What a difference a day makes. I finally know I'm going to be able to walk again and I'm going to be ready to go back to my kids next week!