Jumping for Joy

Good news from Dr. Feet today! While the bone is not 100% healed, x-rays show that the break is well aligned and I am officially off crutches!

No more crutches!

No more crutches!

I am still stuck in the hideous boot for another two weeks, but that's nothing, no big deal at all. And now I can drive! Next week I'm going to start back to work but just for half-days. It's a long day on your feet subbing and I don't want to mess things up by going too fast now. I'm also going to pass on jobs in those buildings with stairs probably for another month just to be on the safe side. Can you tell that I'm happy about all of this? This painting just about sums up how I feel!!!

Put one foot in front of the other....

The news from Dr. Feet yesterday was pretty good. While I am still to stay off my foot as much as possible, I am now allowed from time to time to put some weight on my heel. I can also try practicing with only one crutch, which so far had gone terribly, but I won't give up. He said to gradually start using my boo-boo foot more and more, up to tolerance. No problem! But I'm not going to rush this. Technically, I still have another two full weeks off my feet. The last thing I want to do is get too hasty, hurt myself and have to start all over. So I'm sticking with the crutches, but I think I'll do a lot less crawling. Just being able to put my foot down for balance is such a relief!

The days are long around here with the kids gone to school, but I'm finding ways to keep busy still. I sit here at the computer a lot! Thanks to the Weaver, I have a bunch of new blogs to read all of which have been fantastic. And of course, there's always Marco and the cats to keep me entertained.

Marco: "Are we going for a walk yet?!?!?"

Jack: " Please construct a model of me out of Legos next."

Meg: "Did I just hear a chipmunk in the basement?"

Mamacat: "No way you're taking my picture."

Tick Tick Tick

I haven't taken a shower in three weeks.

I haven't been to a store in three weeks.

I have not done one load of laundry (or even been in the basement) in three weeks.

I haven't driven a car, cleaned out a cat box, mowed the lawn, taken out the trash, danced, skipped, ran, tiptoed or even wore matching shoes.

But I have cleaned out many cupboards and drawers. I've spent way too much time at the computer reading other people's blogs. I've watched a lot of movies and TV. And I've been extremely well taken care of by the most wonderful family a girl with a bad wheel could hope for.

Did you guess that today is the three week anniversary of "The little slip that turned into a big thing"? Potentially today is the halfway point of my recovery, but I've got my fingers crossed for an early release from the world of crutches and crawling. I feel really good and my toes are almost back to a normal color, no more zombie feet. I have a huge list of things I could (and some of them should) be doing. So far the list has only resulted in making me feel guilty, so I've misplaced it and it's very difficult for me to search for something, so that's that!

Is this thing cute or what? A turtle timer! It's exactly how I feel!

Still no dancing...or anything

Dr. Feet says I'm still off mine for another two weeks minimum, four more most likely. And yes, I want the bone to set correctly so I will be a very good girl and stick with the crutches and the crawling. But damn, this is the most bummed out I think I've ever felt! Send more happy thoughts! This girl is going stir crazy!

The cats had their one year birthday on Sunday. One year of these little furballs in our lives and honestly, I'm so happy with them. All three of them are so different and funny. I love watching them run around with each other and watching them interact with Marco is gold. He's been the best about them being here.

It's hot and it's sticky and the neighbors seem to be having issues with their pool, which is making my kids have issues. Nothing cools tempers like a dip in the pool around here. Ah well, there's always spraying each other with the hose. No wait a minute, that makes people mad too. Oh no! We're screwed!

All the Gnus

The trip to Dr. Feet today didn't go exactly as I hoped. My hope was this:

"What a miracle! Throw those crutches away and let's go dancing!"

Instead, I got my cast removed, but only on the promise that I would put no weight whatsoever on my foot. Now I'm wrapped up just in the Ace Bandage and still wearing the hideous boot. I am threatened with the immediate replacement of the cast if anything goes wonky in the next week. So because I want this to be over in the minimum amount of time, I will continue with the bruising crutches and let my poor injured limb float along.

My foot is a terrifying sight to behold. My mom asked if it was black and blue just now on the phone. I wish. It's more like green and yellow. The man called it a zombie foot, it's that repulsive. But Dr. Feet is pleased, so I am too. I see him a week from today. I'm hoping the good news train just keeps chugging along.

No time to say goodbye

I've been watching a little TV lately. Okay, a lot of TV. Much more than I'm used to. Shows, movies and lots of commercials. And here's the thing I've noticed: Nobody says goodbye to the person they are talking to on the phone when the conversation is over, especially if they are talking on a cell phone. It doesn't seem to matter if it's an argument or casual chit-chat. One of the parties decides that the conversation has come to an end and flips their phone shut. No "Goodbye" or "See Ya" or "Later!" and definitely never "I love you." Just a snap shut and on they go on with their business, probably involving calling someone else right away. Does the person on the other end keep talking for moment or two? Do they, once they figure out that their friend is gone, just assume with a chuckle that the call was dropped? Maybe they wait a few moments staring at their phone, wondering if they should call back.


In the real world, this is caledl "hanging up on someone" and is considered extremely rude. You hang up on people who have made you so angry or upset that you can't imagine saying another word. You hang up on phone solicitors. You hang up on heavy breathers and kids who ask you if your refrigerator is running. But for the most part, in a civilized world, a simple goodbye is the proper way to end a phone conversation.


I must have missed something along the way. Because it is a rarity to see anyone give any kind of farewell on the phone in TV or movies. The closest you get is "Okay". That seems to be the new "Bye".



A phone chirps some annoying ditty...


"Yo!"


"Hey, if you're coming over bring that box of stuff we talked about before from that place."


" 'K!"


Both parties slap their phones shut with a flip of the wrist.


Maybe the media doesn't want to waste our precious viewing time with antiquated niceties. You can get a lot more story in if you cut out manners. "Please?" Please! "Thank You?" Umm... no thank you! "Excuse Me? Pardon Me? I'm sorry?" Boring!!!


I started noticing this because we were watching "Big Love" and there was this new supremely creepy character that did the most interesting phone sign-off. He got off the phone like he was signing a letter-- "Most Sincerely Yours Hollis Greene". He said that. Not once, but a few times during the episode and every time you sort of squirmed because it was so strange and yet so very polite as well.


It's possible that I'm being over-sensitive here. I am in fragile state and getting cabin fever to boot. Boot! Get it! That's a joke son! Broken foot humor, that is! I keep pitching 'em and you keep missing 'em!

And this little piggy stayed home....

The trip to the podiatrist today went much better. This girl has finally received quality medical attention. Dr. Feet (not his name, of course!) said that I don't have a true Jones Fracture, but some close cousin that's not as big a deal. Still it's a broken bone. I saw the x-rays today. No doubt on that. But it probably won't need surgery to put back to right.

Now I'm in a what is called a soft cast, surrounded by layers and layers of wrapping topped by a big heavy, ugly boot. But all of this has made me feel better; the consistent aching has subsided. I have to wear all this and not get it wet and never put it on the floor until Tuesday when I might-- JUST MIGHT get to start putting weight on it. That means walking without crutches! HURRAY! The bruises on the insides of my arms are just the start of what they'll probably look like by then. Not pretty.

I officially bowed out of being in the play. There's just no way I can do it. It wipes me out just going from the kitchen to the couch. My director was really understanding and cool about it. Maybe next time...

Thanks for all the notes of sympathy. Go ahead and send some words of encouragement to the man and the kids. They're really doing a great job around here taking of things, and me!

I've stepped in it now!

Yesterday, after bowling MY BEST GAME EVER, we meandered over to the arcade. Over in the corner was Dance Dance Revolution so I headed that way to give it a go. As I stepped over the machine to put in the money, I either slipped off the top or tripped, either way I came down sideways on my foot. I didn't fall, but it hurt, so I sat down right away. I thought I had just twisted my ankle, but a few little points and flexes didn't seem to go so bad. Then I tried to stand up. Big mistake. And then the pain got much worse.

So, a little bout of shock where I almost fainted, almost threw up, couldn't hear anybody or focus. A little scene with the firemen who came to my rescue and carted me away. A very long scene in the emergency room where I received most likely the worst medical care possible in a civilized country and Voila! I have what is know as a Jones fracture or a fracture of the 5Th metatarsal of my foot. My first broken bone ever.

Today it was a short trip to my doctor who wouldn't even touch me. Seems I need to go to a specialist for this. Why didn't the hospital tell me that last night? Like I said, worst medical care ever! So tomorrow, I go and see the foot guy who is actually a doctor whom I know and like a bunch, so I'm hoping I'll finally get some medical attention for my boo-boo.

But let me touch on the scene in the emergency room. First off, you know it's going to go badly when you get in as fast as I did. Registered right away and taken into the MedExpress in probably less than 10 minutes. That kind of service has to be balanced out somehow and it was.

We were there for three hours. In that time I got an X-ray which probably took about 10 minutes. Dr. Seuss came to talk to me for about one minute the first time and maybe 5 minutes the second time. A very clueless looking nurse wrapped up my foot in gauze and elastic bandage (less than $10 at Drug Mart), put me in one of those blue shoes ($15) and gave me a short lesson in how to use crutches (How much are crutches at Drug Mart? $30). And oh yeah, I said Dr. Seuss, that was his name and he introduced himself thus. I got to spend the other two and half hours making up funny rhymes to go along with the freak show that moved around us. And Dr. Seuss was wearing Crocs. Matter of fact, most of the hospital staff were. It was so disturbing!

So I'm on crutches here people and I'm very unhappy. I missed a play rehearsal. I'm supposed to go on a leader-only overnight at Camp T tomorrow. The family reunion is on Sunday. We were going to go to Cedar Point on Monday. And I have play performances Wednesday through Sunday next week. All out. All shot to hell with one little slip. Any and all sympathy will be greatly appreciated.