Aaaaahhhh FREAK OUT!

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Le freak isn’t C’est chic either.

A month or so ago I asked Hubs about the possibility of us moving back to Wangaratta earlier than July (when he was due back there) as he was having to spend so much time there anyway, and I have a lot of friends there that I really miss. There is much more to that story, but in the end he agreed that we could let the real estate agent know that the house would be available after Easter if anyone was interested in taking over the lease. We felt this was unlikely, but it was worth a go.

In the last few weeks, since my accident, I have stayed in MB the whole time, Chanbe has a great sleeping routine happening, and I’ve just been enjoying myself here. (Possibly because I haven’t had to lift a finger, and I’ve had Mum’s company.) Last week we had a potential tenant come through, but they decided on another house. Today we had someone else come through, and, you guessed it! They decided they wanted it on the spot and they want to move in over the Easter weekend.

I am so full of mixed emotions right now. I’m SO excited that we get to move back to Wangaratta; I’m terrified of the amount of packing we have to do and the fact that I’m not going to be able to help with it much; I’m curious as to what house we will find (we will have a look at a few next week and hopefully decide on one); I am sad about leaving the friends we have made here, but I’m also keen to come back on some weekends to visit; I’m excited that I’ll be able to attend mothers group again, and get back into the gym once the cast comes off.

The happy thoughts definitely outweigh the freaking-out, and I’ll feel even better once we find a place to move to in Wang. Now, where’s that packing tape?

Crafty

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Hubs’ Dad and Nanna have been visiting here the last few days, so while the boys have gone gliding, Nanna and I have been making cards.

It has been SO long since I’ve sat down and let my creative juices flow – it’s been so lovely! Here are a few of my creations:

I’m hoping to do some more crafting, and maybe even some sewing in the next few weeks while I’m still off my feet. Getting back to reality after this time may be more challenging than I realise! I might just forget about that for now, and enjoy this treat.

Intrigued by Cash

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No, I’m not talking about cold, hard cash. I’m talking about J.R. Cash. Ever since I saw the movie Walk the Line I have been fascinated both by his personal and his professional life. I have read a lot of things about him, and just today I purchased (online) his autobiography, as well as his first wife’s story. I’m really looking forward to delving into the facts of his life, and not relying just on Hollywood and Wiki and related articles for his story.

I don’t know what it is that has me so captivated – maybe it’s the love story between Cash and June Carter. As tumultuous as their relationship began, and as hurtful as it must have been for Cash’t first wife, theirs seem to be a deep, true, all-encompasing love that is generally saved for Hollywood. But I believe it was real. It was deep and it was raw. So much so that John and June died within 4 months of each other.

I can’t decide which book to read first. Maybe I should read them side-by-side? But that might get confusing. I can’t wait til they arrived!!!

4th time lucky??

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I’m hoping this will be the last post I do about my cast/s. I had to go back to the doctor today to get my cast looked at, as it was quite loose and I could move my foot around a lot. I figured it wasn’t really serving its purpose and I was right. So I had to have that one taken off, and a new, fibreglass one put on. I’ve gotta say, I imagine the “saw” they use to remove casts would be quite scary for kids. I’m not afraid to admit that I was a little intimidated by it!

So this is my forth, and I’m hoping my last, cast. (well, there were 2 back slabs and 2 casts.) I wasn’t offered any colours as they only had the clear fibreglass at the clinic 🙁 (Incidentally, I would have chosen purple.)

I’m hoping I’ll have more to write about in the coming weeks as we have Hubs’ Dad and Nanna coming to visit this weekend, my Aunty is coming down Sunday week, and Hubs and I are going away to Melbourne, just the 2 of us in a couple of weeks. You know, to sit on a different couch for a few days…

And then came the cast

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I spent 4 hours at the Wang fracture clinic on Friday, and the end result? A full cast.

I asked if I could have one of those boots instead and the ortho looked at me and said “I don’t trust you. If I give you a boot, you’ll walk on your foot and I don’t want you walking on it for 4 weeks. Then you’ll need to wear a boot for 2-3 weeks after that.” I failed to mention to him that I had, In fact been walking on it that morning. I know I know. But you try just sitting around while your Mum waits on you and your Hubs does whatever you ask him to do and your toddler happily plays around you only stopping occasionally to give you a cuddle and show you his belly!

Um okay. That actually sounds pretty sweet.

Maybe I should stop complaining. Actually I realised last night that the reason I WAS complaining so much was so that Hubs and Mum both know that I’m not happy with the situation – as if my happiness somehow meant that I was enjoying the fact that they have to do everything and I get to laze around like a slacker doing nothing. When in actuality, I just came across as a whingey-bum. So as of today, no more complaining, even if, subconsciously, it was well-intended.
I actually had quite a productive day today; going to church, doing a bit of sewing, and working on the 2 weddings I have coming up in the next 3 weeks. I actually kidded myself into thinking I’d be right to walk for the one I have in Melbourne on the 24th of March. But look at the bright side! I get to buy a new long (very long) dress! Hello eBay!

This is my cast, covered by a Brisbane Broncos sock! Let’s go!

Correction

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In fact, I broke 3 bones in my foot. I went to the doctor in Mt Beauty yesterday to get my cast “upgraded”, so they took off my intermediate cast, and this is what my foot looked like:

What? Doesn’t it look bad enough? How about from this angle?
Still not convinced? Well check THIS out!!? Hellooooooo cankle!!

After having a look at the CT Report, the doctors thought it best that I actually go back to Wangaratta and attend their fracture clinic this Friday so an Orthopod can check it out and decide on a “game plan”.

Why, you ask? (or maybe you didn’t…)

Well, I’ve always been a little contrary. I’ve never done things the normal way. My life doesn’t really “follow the rules”. So when I break bones, I break them good. And as the doctor yesterday stated, I have broken “an unusual combination of bones.” From what I can remember, I’ve broken the 2nd Metatarsal, the 2nd/Medial Cuneiform, and the Cuboid. (See here.) (Hubs is going to correct me I’m sure.)

So yeah, the fun continues! Mum has been an absolute God send these last few days while Hubs has been at work. I’ve just been sitting around, contemplating my navel laptop. And Mum just made us chicken stir fry for dinner. Hubs isn’t a big fan of stir fry but it’s one of my favourite meals so I’m going to be enjoying it with Mum quite a bit while Hubs is in Wang! Yum!

Feeling utterly useless

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We’re home! And that makes me happy.
Chanbe slept all through the night and didn’t wake up until 7:15 this morning. That makes me happy too.
Mum is here to help me around the house while my foot is broken. That makes me happy and grateful.

I can’t do anything useful that doesn’t involve sitting down. That makes me sad. And frustrated.

I like to be doing things. Not all day – I do love my downtime – but to not be able to do my own shopping or washing or cleaning or picking Chanbe up is really hard for me. I know Mum is more than happy to be here to help out, and Hubs has just been a superstar even more so than usual, but it’s so hard not being able to do what I want, when I want. I know this is temporary, and I know there are a lot of people in worse situations that are permanent, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t hard and that I’m not allowed a bit of a whine.

I’m still learning the art of asking for, and accepting help. I’m usually the one wanting to help others. I’m really trying to find the lessons to learn out of this situation. I get my “real” cast on tomorrow which I’m sure will be fun.

My goals for the next 4-6 weeks are:
– to not get lost in self pity
– to enjoy this forced break and make the most of the help that is being generously offered
– to give myself time to heal so as not to tempt a repeat incident
– to catch up on “paperwork”
– to work on my new blog
– to realise that even though things won’t get done the same way I would do them, that’s okay
– to read books, not just things on the internet

Wish me luck!

Broken in 2…

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…places. So you know how I’ve been struggling a little lately with our current lifestyle? Well apparently God thinks I can handle more.

Let me set the scene for you. I was walking around KMart, shopping for various items, and was on my way to look for some magnets for Chanbe to play with on the fridge, when somehow I twisted my foot, tried to correct it, and fell on top of it. I heard a crack and the pain hit me straight away.

So as I was lying on the floor in KMart, politely asking (yelling/crying) for help, Chanbe was sitting in the trolley wondering what on earth was going on. Some staff rushed to my aid and an ambulance was called. I was mortified! But what can you do? I rang Hubs who came down to pick up Chance and the car and they met me at the hospital.

In the ambulance I was given this green tube thing to suck on for pain relief. It. Was. Awesome! I don’t know if it was because Hubs works at the hospital, or if their care is always that great,  but I seemed to get extra fantastic treatment, getting x-rays, CT scan, diagnosis (2 fractures) and temporary cast in under 3 hours.

Last night I was feeling completely deflated, but am feeling slightly better today. We are currently in Wang and staying with one of the mums from my mothers group who is being amazing, helping to look after Chance, and I’ve had lots of offers of help that I will have to learn to accept.

Mum is coming down on Sunday to help which will be much needed. I still keep wondering how on earth this happened, but I guess I just have to get on with it. If you believe in prayer, I’d appreciate the support. I know it could be much worse, but I just really didn’t need this right now.