And now for something totally unexpected......

I am writing this post in a slightly altered state thanks to my new best friend pain-killer, with ice on one elbow, my ankle in a temporary cast and my second elbow in a queue for the ice bag.  Somewhere below me lies the other ice pack, but I am not sure where it went.  I also discovered that one can drink coffee with a straw if you are desperate enough.

I took a little tumble on the road yesterday.  I was innocently taking a little walk so I could get some miles in before the Book Across the Bay on February 14. The obnoxious thing is that I was being actually careful- I was watching the road like a hawk.  I was going from dry pavement to rough roadside to avoid the icey patches, I was over half way done and heading down a small decline and my  foot hit a small chunk of ice.  I twisted it as it kicked out behind me and I landed on my hands.  FORTUNATELY, I did not hit my head or anything like that.  It didn't seem like anything was too wrong, except for the stinging in my ankle.  Sigh.  A nice man saw it happen and he stopped and offered a ride, but of course I didn't take him up..... why??  who ever knows.

I got home pretty well, but I was a little worried about things.  Things being my arms and my ankle, but mostly my arms.  IN particular my elbow area, which started feeling weird.

Cut to 15 minutes later when I contacted the MA via of the cell phone of Bob and asked him to come back from the cabin area and drive me into the ER. When I plunked my ankle up on the coffee table I noticed the enormous amount of swelling and decided that I probably should get it all looked over. 

After a four hour stint in the emergency room I learned a few things: first I learned that my ankle was merely sprained not broken. Next, I learned that my right radius was indeed fractured. And I kept asking him, the ER doc, if he wasn't talking about the left radius which was far worse as far as pain went. But oh no he knew what he was talking about!  And indeed it was very suspicious that the left radius was also broken. I say suspicious because apparently the bleeding that went on inside of the bone and around the bone kept a really good picture from being taken in the x-ray. Isn't life grand?

So I was horrified to see that I was going to have both arms splinted with this stuff that is made out of fiberglass. And then I was all wrapped up with my arms bent at a 90° angle or maybe it was a 45° angle I don't know. So basically until I saw the orthopedic person I was stuck not being able to feed myself or rub my eyebrow or brush the hair out of my face. This was not an ideal way to end a Sunday, to say I was distraught is a bit of an understatement.

 Fortunately a nurse came to my rescue when the doctor suggested that perhaps I need to stay in the hospital overnight because I would be unable to care for myself!  She asked me if I had anyone that could help! So I arranged for a good friend to come over on Monday to stay with me and of course Fred has done tons, too. This makes me chuckle because if you know him at all you will know that he likes to have people (that would be ME) bring him things. Particularly food!! Lol. So it was a little amusing asking him to get me like everything that I needed - literally EVERYTHING!! It's been interesting 24 hours. I got a sub for the week- I have awesome and amazing friends and coworkers and a great boss, at school. They are so supportive 

So this morning I got a phone call from the clinic and I had an appointment with an orthopedic practitioner. I am thrilled to say that the fractures are intact and I do not have to- at least at this point – have a cast on either one of my elbows. That could possibly change next Thursday when I have my x-rays were taken again. I am hoping karma is on my side and everything is just fine. In other news I got a Aircast for my ankle and I have to leave that on there for approximately four weeks. So much for the Book Across the Bay. I get to choose how much I leave the splints on. And it is also looking like I'm going to have to wear the splints at least for another night. It is pretty obnoxious to try to sleep with those things on but it hurts if I just let them dangle too. So another couch night. I hope I can sleep. 

My arms got so pained from typing that I have done most of this post by text to talk!! You might ask why I am doing this then if I am in pain, well it is because there are a lot of people that I don't know what happened yet and frankly I'm a little tired from all the phone calls that I have had to make. I hardly know what I said to anybody on Sunday night (thanks really good painkiller) and then today it feels like I've been repeating myself constantly. Which I guess I have when you think about it. 

I did get some nice flowers from some of the kids so that is a pretty cool thing to happen from all of this. Right at this point it's the only cool thing I can see coming out of this.  But you never know what unexpected surprises come in these sorts of circumstances. 

So there you have it. I never in my life would have guessed I would break both arms/elbows. I've never broken a bone before. I have found myself to be somewhat resourceful- I do not like being fed like a little birdie, so I figured out how to use a shish kebab thingy to spear my bagel and peanut butter and feed myself this morning.  And of course the previously mentioned coffee idea! Yay for me. And I guess this was my joy for the day.

Thanks to all the wonderful people who have texted me and emailed me and called me. I am very grateful for you all.

Meanwhile back at the (sheep) ranch and other Sunday stuff

Sunday proved to be a very productive day.  I woke up coughing like a maniac and was just too lethargic to go to the gym.  If DEBI is not feeling the gym one morning, she is excused from going, because the gym is a pleasure and a joy to attend.  So, I turned my attention to my bedroom and began to clean parts of it.  I delved into areas that have not been disturbed for a while, and while a bit dusty at times, it was a very satisfying thing to do.

Self portrait at the landing: canoe wistful

About 4 I emerged, dust covered (there was a lot of construction fallout lurking about yet) I decided to finish up the huge mess that was in the kitchen and go for a walk.  After actually driving into town for gas and a couple things from the grocery, I stopped by the MA's office and checked to see how he was doing.  He's been pretty upbeat for as many hours as he has put in this year- seems like he was at one of those offices a LOT.  (only one more week)  He needed to chat with our friends (and his relatives)- Paul and Judy- out at the sheep ranch about business stuff, he needed to get out of the inside of a building and of course it is always nice to see the lambies. BONUS TIME!!!  There were puppies!!

First though I had time to walk on down to Smith Lake for a little official exercise. I was feeling better by then, and it was sunny, but cold.  No surprise about the cold thing.  I am not sure that the ice is going to be gone by the time opening of fishing season begins- which is in a mere 3 weeks.  And it almost looks like people have been driving out there recently, maybe I am wrong though.  Could be old tracks.  It was a good walk, as the road is pretty much clear of snow!

Along Omaha Rd

Boat landing

Doesn't look like this campsite will be used anytime soon!

I SO did not walk out there

Clear roads

Shadows as I looked in our yard

When I got home, we drove on out to see the sheep.  There are already a lot of lambs, and then there are those puppies!!  Which will grow up to be the size of small ponies!  I was petting Shep, one of the adult dogs and his massive head comes up to literally my waist.  I just think about all the food and poop that one would have to deal with.  Oy. So, no, no matter how cute they are, I just can't!  Stay strong Debi!

The Llama wonders what the heck I am doing!

Water in the pond

Pretty boys

Curly horns

LOOK at that face

Most of these guys are for sale- they are huge!!  Will be huge!  But are guard dogs for the sheep, they need to be huge.

Quiet night at Beaver Creek Full Curl Sheep Ranch- 

It was a very nice little side-trip.  I am glad I got to go, I woke up to rain and a quite unfortunate snowcast, I mean forecast, for the week.  So the gym it will be!

Until next time, be a JOY GIVER!!