[ElaineM]

Scrapbooking is a good productive way to pass the time while you are recuperating.
You don't seem to be confident that you can do your job fully due to your health problems. Let me as you some blunt questions.
1. What would your family value more? Having you alive and well or the money you might be able to earn in 2012?
2. If decide not to return to work would your school continue to exist and serve the needs of the students and teachers?
3. Could you find another position if you stop working now and feel well enough to go back to work later?
4. Can you with your doctor's or employer's help apply for some kind of temporary or permanent disability payments?
I was a teacher who thought if she quit for health reasons the school and the students would suffer.
That didn't happen. The school, office staff, principals, teachers and students continued to thrive. Everyone else moved on and so did I. I developed new interests after I started to feel better and I am now enjoying my "retirement". One could say I changed careers. It was very hard financially at first, but things are getting a little better in that area. I am currently thinking about taking some college classes or adult education classes online. If I decide to go back to work I want to do something in the medical field. That will be my third professional career.
Take good care of yourself and have a serious talk with your doc this week. Ask for suggestions and guidance. Then go home and discuss the situation with your family. You may not have to decide until shortly before you are due to return to work.
Good luck.