A Contact Sport?

Proving that I am really behind the times, I received a call from the school health assistant this afternoon. Apparently Ian was involved in a playground "altercation" (to which he was not the aggressor). He fell down and hit his head and has a slight bump. I was glad the school called to inform me and Ms. A felt that he was acting fine and was back at class.

When Ian came home, I asked him what happened and he told me he got knocked down getting someone "out" in a game but he was feeling better. I figured it was dodgeball or something like that. No, further proving how "old fashioned" I am, apparently these days, four-square is a contact sport! Lord, please help me!

Grace of the wrong sort

Borrowing a page from dear Ms. M, I must tell you all of my latest episode. Before I begin, I must say: DON'T WORRY, MOM, I AM OK! (my mom reads my blog and I know this post is going to warrant a phone call (not that I mind said phone call, but I just don't want good ol' Pokey to get herself all worried over nothing) - Love ya', Mom!)

Where to begin this tale? I got up this morning with the full intention of running along the lakeshore. Of course, once I got down there, I realized that 35 degrees into the wind wasn't exactly my cup of tea for the morning so I headed into the Y to run around the track.

Everything was going well and the run was good (despite the lack of better scenery) when the maintenance guy at the Y decided it would be a good idea to set up scaffolding in the middle of the back stretch of the track. Honestly, whatever possessed him to do this while someone was running around the track, I will never know. Alas, I had to jump over one of the legs and round the corner. Obviously, the jumped knocked me out of focus and before I knew it, I had ran smack into one of the outside beams of the track and was knocked on my ample backside. I think what irked me the most was that the maintenance guy didn't even notice that I was sitting there stunned for a few minutes. I managed to get myself up and tell the front desk what happened. After filling out an accident report, I drove home (which, in retrospect, probably wasn't the wisest of ideas, but then again . . . ) As soon as I got in, I went and got Rich and told him I needed to go to the doctor.

The Lord was really working for me this morning as Rich and the two kids were assembled in no time flat with minimal whining (Kyra was still sleeping when I got home and wasn't particuarly fond of being awakened from her beauty sleep). Then it was off to the ER where, to my amazement, there was NO waiting! The kids were extremely well behaved and the nurses took pity on them and showered them with juice and chocolate milk. I had my head examined (literally) with a CT scan and they discovered that I do, indeed, have a brain! Seriously, there were no abnormal findings but I just have a severe headache and I need to avoid football, wrestling, skateboarding and other contact sports that may result in a head injury for the next week. So, I guess my skydiving adventure planned for this week is out.

So, praise to God for being in control and keeping me safe. I guess this proves that I am really hard-headed after all!

That's some mighty expensive playdough!

As you may recall, Rich broke his finger back in April. After being in a splint for about four weeks, he began occupational therapy. I mean, seriously, he goes to his therapy sessions three times a week for 45 minutes each visit for ONE finger!!! The good news is that it's working and the swelling in the joint has greatly reduced. Of course, yesterday he came home with three baggies full of yellow playdough for his "exercises". And to think, I could have bought him a pack at Wal-Mart for a couple of dollars. I wonder how much the clinic charges for playdough these days!

I'll see your finger splint and raise you . . .

Last week, the bad year for our family's hands ran on when Rich broke his finger on the lazy river (yeah, I'm still not going to let him live that one down). But having met the family deductible for our insurance this year already, I couldn't let him one-up me.

Yesterday my thumb that I cut in my prior accident began to hurt in the afternoon. By the time Rich got home from his trip, it was swollen, red and hot to the touch. Rich passed me the walk-in clinic frequent flyer card and I was diagnosed with cellulitis and given some antibiotics but was also told to return if it got worse.

Fast-forward to this morning when I can barely lift my arm above my head. A return visit to the walk-in clinic ensued where I received an IV infusion of some stronger antibiotics, an IV catheter for my return trip to the walk-in clinic for another antibiotic infusion and an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon for Monday.

Now, I just have to make sure that Rich steers clear of all power tools so he doesn't try to outdo me on this one!

It's been a bad week for thumbs

You have heard already about my recent injury (which is actually healing quite well), so I will spare you any further details. Unfortunately, Ian "decided" that he wanted a matching thumb. Yesterday we were getting ready to run into Wal-Mart and while I was getting Kyra out of her carseat, Ian slammed his right thumb in the door of the Subaru. I have to say I was quite impressed because I think I would have been howling in pain. I think he was so in pain and shock he didn't know what to do at first. He was very brave though! We got it cleaned and bandaged. Thankfully, he didn't need stitches, but he's going to lose his thumbnail (for the second time in a year!) The only complaints we have had other than some minor pain is that it has affected his Wii playing ability!

Ouch!

Ok, this might not be for those who are a tad squeamish as myself, but here's my latest . . .

Last night, I came home from coaching Ian's DI practice with 2 hungry boys (Ian and his friend, A) as well as a somewhat clingy Kyra. BUT - I had the foresight to know that Tuesdays are hectic and had already planned in advance and had 40 Clove Garlic Chicken ready for dinner in the crock-pot. I decided to make Rich's and mine into wraps with some roasted peppers, spinach and lettuce. So, Rich comes in as I am in the course of chopping up the chicken and of course, I managed to dice my left thumb courtesy of my new Pampered Chef utility knife. Despite my best efforts to get it bandaged up, I decided it might be best to take a trip to the walk-in clinic since we wre going trhough the bandages at a rapid pace. So now, I have two stitches and a heavily bandaged thumb. The doctor said it was a doozy of a cut, but he was impressed with the clean cut of the Pampered Chef knife. Maybe I should go see him the next time I have a catalog show.

For your infomation . . .

Last night, Ian suffered a baseball "injury." Basically, during his first at-bat he hit a ball but instead of using the bat, the ball hit his right thumb - OUCH! Actually, he was a brave little guy, shook it off and finished his at-bat. It wasn't until he was off the field that he broke down. By then, the nail bed was a lovely shade of blue-violet, so since he conveniently injured himself before the walk-in clinic closed, I took him over there. After x-rays, it was determined there were no broken bones, but the nail did need to be "drained." Ian wasn't thrilled about the idea but we convinced him it would be better for his videogame playing. However, he informed the doctor "For your information, I do not like to see blood." I guess you had to be there, but it was the most hysterical thing I have ever heard!

He survived skateboard camp . . .

. . . but the skooter did him in!

Ian had a 3-day skateboard camp this past week. I was really nervous about it, but I figured I would rather him learn from someone that knows what they are doing. It took place at the skateboarding park here in town. There was a park nearby so Kyra and I spent some time there after we finished running our errands. Once I got over the cringing every time he crashed (and believe me, there were quite a few of those), I was fine. He actually does pretty well for not having skateboarded a whole lot.

Anyhow, the whole point of this missive is that yesterday we went out on our evening walk. Ian likes to ride his skooter around the block and have us time him. Anyhow, it got to be a long time and he didn't come back around so Rich headed one diretion and I continued in the other when I heard it - I knew it was him from around the block. He had a nasty spill and had skinned up his knee pretty badly. By the time I got around with Kyra, the neighbor across the street had already sat him down and put ice and a bandage on it.

It just figures that he can go up and down quarter pipes with nary a scratch, but a bump in the sidewalk will do him in!