Journey back to Tacoma

I judged a skating test session yesterday, which is significant in many ways. It required a 5-hour car trip (I did not drive, although I did drive to and from my ride's house, about 10 miles total, with no problems). It required me to crutch around an ice rink, which is not exactly even footing. And, it required me to sit in the cold in an uncomfortable chair for 2 hours. Ironically the skating took place in Tacoma, which is where I had my PAO surgery just 5 and a half weeks ago. Those 5 and a half weeks feel like a lifetime!

I was a little nervous about this expedition, but I know that finding judges, especially dance judges, who aren't on vacation or at a competition and are willing to travel to Tacoma in mid-August is not an easy task. Of course I agreed to do it for the free food. (Just kidding, although the chocolate dipped strawberries were wonderful.)

Everything went just fine. I was a bit tired when I got home, and a tiny bit sore, but all in all I'm none the worse for wear. This was a good trial run since I have a lot of judging gigs coming up: a local test session August 30; refereeing a competition in Utah in mid-September (which will include my first plane ride post PAO); and judging Southwest Pacific Regionals, Pacific Coast Sectionals, and Junior Nationals (in October, November and December respectively, and all requiring plane travel).

I am now confident that my hip can handle all of this travel and judging, and I hope to do most of it without crutches or cane. Then at the end of the qualifying competition season it will be time for PAO number two (right now I am thinking early February, after Nationals). I hope to be recovered enough from that to judge Adult Nationals in April.

Driving under the radar

Well, I couldn't help myself. I was in my parents' suburban neighborhood. The streets are wide, people drive slowly, and there were no other cars on the road. The worst that could happen -- I could hit a mailbox, or maybe a trash can. So I drove around the block, and it was just fine.

I am not supposed to drive for two more weeks, but I had no problem moving my operated right leg from the gas to the brake and back again. I even drove several miles home from my parents' neighborhood in traffic, and all was well. I even had to slam on the brakes to avoid an idiot driver, and was able to do so.

I will be a good patient and promise not to drive long distances or on the freeway for two more weeks, because I could tell my thigh muscles were getting tired by the time I got home. But now I know it's safe for me to go to the grocery store, the post office, the coffee shop, or even the office, which I've promised my co-workers to do part-time starting next week (I was going to carpool with my Dad). Just knowing I can go places on my own feels so liberating!

Farewell to Fragmin

Today was my last Fragmin (anti-coagulant) injection. To say that I am happy about this is a gross understatement. The injections weren't really all that bad, and didn't really hurt (just a bit of a sting), but I just never quite got used to giving myself a shot in the abdomen each morning. I dreaded it each day.

And a cheery adios to my elastic TED stockings as well. I actually ditched them yesterday since my legs are not swollen and we are experiencing a heat wave here. Plus they were pretty stretched out and I don't think they were compressing anything.

I've been looking forward to these milestones. Next milestone? I can stop taking iron supplements (they do yucky things to my digestion) in just over a week. After that? I get to drive and go to the pool in 3 weeks and 2 days! At that point I will also go back to the office part-time.