On June 4, I fell in the street at a neighborhood garage sale. I did not think it was all that bad. There was a lot of blood and it looked gross, but I figured it was cosmetic damage and just usual klutzy behavior. And because I am the mommy, I totally sucked it up, minimized the pain and got going -even tried to keep shopping the yard sales so my kids would not freak out. No one else does that, do they?
Because my life is all about the timing, I have to point out that I fell the exact same day my husband of 12 years left for a week long business trip that had been planned for over a year.... Yeah, this was going to go well....
Eventually I had to stop the flow of blood and the questions of the people in the community yard sale who were GREATLY concerned about the amount of blood I was leaving behind... I couldn't get the bleeding to stop. As a result, me and my three ducklings headed home for antiseptic, soap and water and massive ice packs....
Turns out, Mama don't know diddly about cuts and scrapes! I did not go to the emergency room or urgent care until the next morning when I couldn't stand up without pain. Went to the Urgent Care where they x-rayed the knee and said all was fine except for some bone bruising, I needed stitches but it was too late to get them, I was not to drive and I needed to be on crutches. Whuck? Did I mention I drove myself to the Urgent Care? Yeah, I got a lecture for that and for refusing pain meds but anyone who knows me knows I don't like them anyway.... and no way in Topeka was I going to take them when I was supposed to be the "responsible one" in the house with hubby all the way on the right coast for a week.... the bleeding did not stop for three weeks....
Well, its now almost 6 weeks later (just two days shy). I have since discovered that bone contusions are gross and beyond painful. When you have cuts that require stitches and you don't get them, odds are good you will get a NASTY infection (yes, I did!). And I have learned that pain killers can be a good thing.... and I have learned I am not a patient person and I am not good at having everyone else take care of me. I must be insufferable right about now! I know I am not enjoying my own company at all... I hate crutches and I hate spending most of every day flat on my back with my leg above my hip.
My 10 year old cooked the entire time my hubby was out of town. It was not five star meals, but it was balanced, cooked properly and truthfully, kept mommy from losing her marbles or living off of delivery pizza. When hubby returned, he commandeered cooking duties with the 10 year old's help and they are a pretty great team. I don't starve, the food is edible and believe it or not, I have lost weight on bedrest. Yeah, I'm pretty shocked out of my bobby socks on that one too....
As much as there is a lot to dislike, there is so much to be grateful for and so much to be overwhelmed by -in the GOOD way. No one knows how much longer I am down for the count, but every day I am so eternally grateful for the little things -that are really so much bigger than the givers realize. Things....
- like the friend who hauls my cookies, wheelchair and all, to hither and yon to get me out of the house. Then turns around for a trip that includes ALL of my kids!
- like the friend who kidnapped my kids for bowling, dinner and a park play date. It gave them a much needed taste of summer, me a couple of hours of not feeling like an invalid and hubby and I date night.
- like the friends who sponsored a 4th of July BBQ and then made amazing concessions to the gimp.
- like the friend who literally gave me her TV. Who cares if you are traveling -most people would not do that.
- like the friend who made us a cake, brought me magazines and sat for a visit even though she is in more pain than me.
- like the friends who work at a certain doctor's office who told me how I could expedite insurance and doctors and digital imaging and helped me not to lose my mind waiting for all of the red tape.
There are so many more... the phone calls, the books, tons of things people have done to make me feel like I am still a part of the world outside my bedroom walls. And all of the prayers.... That in itself is amazing to me....
Tomorrow is a big day for our house. We go see the orthopedist -a knee specialist. The MRI shows a fissure (a crack) in the knee cap. May not be anything but so much of our life right now is a waiting game... So many questions unanswered and so many things we want to know that we are getting cross eyed waiting...
And my kids would like their summer back....
Wow! Cris, I am so sorry to hear what a summer you have been having. Praying for answers and solutions and a total recovery very soon. Your positive attitude is inspirational!
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