No cast!

Yay! My orthopedic specialist appointment didn't end with me having a cast applied to my broken elbow! *happy dance*  Instead I am only doomed to the sling for the next 8 weeks and possibly some physical therapy later.  Not so bad considering the alternative.  I got me some more drugs too, that always helps.

So in the last 5 days I have learned to do many things one handed - some of which take great talent.  I can now get dressed, button and unbutton my pants, open mail, type pretty good, take a shower and wash/dry my hair, apply make-up, drive my truck, put on my sling and feed my fish, to name a few.  What I can not do is connect my bra (sports bras for the next 2 months), open tightly closed bottles, hold objects heavier than a sheet of paper in my left hand, fold laundry (yay!) or operate my camera (boo!).

I have found that after a day in a sling my fingers resemble albino sausages, my shoulder blades ache and my entire left arm spasms intermittently.  I have also found that showers become a bother, bedtime is dreaded and driving is done cautiously.  Hopefully all will be back to normal in a couple of months.

No cast!

Yay! My orthopedic specialist appointment didn't end with me having a cast applied to my broken elbow! *happy dance*  Instead I am only doomed to the sling for the next 8 weeks and possibly some physical therapy later.  Not so bad considering the alternative.  I got me some more drugs too, that always helps.  

So in the last 5 days I have learned to do many things one handed - some of which take great talent.  I can now get dressed, button and unbutton my pants, open mail, type pretty good, take a shower and wash/dry my hair, apply make-up, drive my truck, put on my sling and feed my fish, to name a few.  What I can not do is connect my bra (sports bras for the next 2 months), open tightly closed bottles, hold objects heavier than a sheet of paper in my left hand, fold laundry (yay!) or operate my camera (boo!).

I have found that after a day in a sling my fingers resemble albino sausages, my shoulder blades ache and my entire left arm spasms intermittently.  I have also found that showers become a bother, bedtime is dreaded and driving is done cautiously.  Hopefully all will be back to normal in a couple of months.

Exciting Event of the Week

It was Thursday morning, 7:00am and I was running late for work, as usual. Since a storm and cold front came in the night before I needed to start my truck and let it warm up before cruising in to work. I went back into the house to get some coffee for the road, not stopping to properly wipe my wet dress shoes on the rug. Upon entering the kitchen my right heel slipped on the hardwood floor. Before I knew what happened I was falling and heard a sound like velcro strips being ripped apart very fast. When I tried to pick myself up off the floor I realized that sound had emitted from my left arm as I tried to break my fall. Unfortunately instead of breaking my fall I broke my left arm - more specifically the radial something-or-other in my left elbow joint area. I've never before experienced such pain so bad that I felt dizzy and nauseous instantaneously.

After confirming the break at Prompt Care, getting a stylish navy blue sling and some good pain meds I headed home to start learning to type efficiently with one hand. My left hand isn't allowed to type for at least 3 weeks (not that it is functional to do so now anyway), which really throws a monkey wrench into my normal routine sine both of my jobs and much of my personal entertainment requires lots of typing. Go figure. Next week I have to see an orthopedic specialist to make sure there is nothing else wrong and to ensure that it will heal properly. They will determine if it needs a cast or if the sling will immobilize my arm enough for it to heal. I'm praying I don't need a cast.

In the meantime I'm pecking along with one hand and trying to get along with everyday normal things. You never really think about how important two hands are for the simplest tasks, such as: unbuttoning and buttoning pants, opening child-proof pain pill bottles, putting on a bra, setting an alarm clock, opening mail, etc. It's mind boggling! Driving to work Monday should be interesting...

Exciting Event of the Week

It was Thursday morning, 7:00am and I was running late for work, as usual. Since a storm and cold front came in the night before I needed to start my truck and let it warm up before cruising in to work. I went back into the house to get some coffee for the road, not stopping to properly wipe my wet dress shoes on the rug. Upon entering the kitchen my right heel slipped on the hardwood floor. Before I knew what happened I was falling and heard a sound like velcro strips being ripped apart very fast. When I tried to pick myself up off the floor I realized that sound had emitted from my left arm as I tried to break my fall. Unfortunately instead of breaking my fall I broke my left arm - more specifically the radial something-or-other in my left elbow joint area. I've never before experienced such pain so bad that I felt dizzy and nauseous instantaneously.

After confirming the break at Prompt Care, getting a stylish navy blue sling and some good pain meds I headed home to start learning to type efficiently with one hand. My left hand isn't allowed to type for at least 3 weeks (not that it is functional to do so now anyway), which really throws a monkey wrench into my normal routine sine both of my jobs and much of my personal entertainment requires lots of typing. Go figure. Next week I have to see an orthopedic specialist to make sure there is nothing else wrong and to ensure that it will heal properly. They will determine if it needs a cast or if the sling will immobilize my arm enough for it to heal. I'm praying I don't need a cast.

In the meantime I'm pecking along with one hand and trying to get along with everyday normal things. You never really think about how important two hands are for the simplest tasks, such as: unbuttoning and buttoning pants, opening child-proof pain pill bottles, putting on a bra, setting an alarm clock, opening mail, etc. It's mind boggling! Driving to work Monday should be interesting...

Winter Sucks

I hate winter. I really, really hate winter. I hate winter in Kentucky specifically. It's cold, it's gloomy and depressing. The ground is always mushy, which results in three sets of dirty dog prints throughout the house for three months straight and an irrate cat that tries to sneak into the house any chance he gets. One day it's sunny and 50 degrees and the next it's dreary, windy, cold and in the midst of an ice storm. Not to mention the tornados we had 6 miles from my house on Tuesday night. I mean really, tornados in January? What the heck is going on around here anyway?

So here I am on a Thursday afternoon, getting out of work in less than an hour. I was supposed to meet my friend Jenn for an evening out, to get away from it all for a few hours (which very rarely happens). But no, now we're waiting for 1/4" of ice and sleet and an inch of snow tonight. If it was just snow, meh, fine, I have 4 x 4. But ice - nope, not gonna risk it. I, being the weenie that I am, do not want to be stuck out on the slick roads in my new truck for just any moron to come flying by and hit me or push me into a ditch. Of course now that I have cancelled my plans the weather will "take a sudden turn" and do nothing but spit a little rain and move along - it never fails.

Luckily tomorrow is Friday and the work week has flown by. Thank goodness for the little things.

Winter Sucks

I hate winter. I really, really hate winter. I hate winter in Kentucky specifically. It's cold, it's gloomy and depressing. The ground is always mushy, which results in three sets of dirty dog prints throughout the house for three months straight and an irrate cat that tries to sneak into the house any chance he gets. One day it's sunny and 50 degrees and the next it's dreary, windy, cold and in the midst of an ice storm. Not to mention the tornados we had 6 miles from my house on Tuesday night. I mean really, tornados in January? What the heck is going on around here anyway?

So here I am on a Thursday afternoon, getting out of work in less than an hour. I was supposed to meet my friend Jenn for an evening out, to get away from it all for a few hours (which very rarely happens). But no, now we're waiting for 1/4" of ice and sleet and an inch of snow tonight. If it was just snow, meh, fine, I have 4 x 4. But ice - nope, not gonna risk it. I, being the weenie that I am, do not want to be stuck out on the slick roads in my new truck for just any moron to come flying by and hit me or push me into a ditch. Of course now that I have cancelled my plans the weather will "take a sudden turn" and do nothing but spit a little rain and move along - it never fails.

Luckily tomorrow is Friday and the work week has flown by. Thank goodness for the little things.

Resolutions and the Angst of Teens

Week two into the resolutions and doing good! We've been getting up at 5:15 each morning to get an hour of stretching and cardio in before work. Next week when we're better aquainted with awakening at the crack of dawn we'll add in strength training. We've been eating well and have cut out all alcohol *gasp* for the time being. I do miss my beer, but it hasn't been too bad. Luckily we stay busy with our jobs, work at home and the ever-busy schedule of a teenager in the house.

Speaking of teens, it will be a miracle if I make it to my 32nd birthday without my head imploding. Why must everything be so difficult, contain such drama and cause so much stress?! Apparently rules are made to be broken, chores are for days with nothing better to do and homework is an unimportant waste of time. Apparently the only thing that is important is boys, boys and, hmmm, oh yeah, boys. You can only spend so much time lecturing, calmly checking your temper and trying to rationally explain the "why" of it all before feeling like an utter failure or just giving up. As always things will work out in the end, but hoo-boy how interesting these next 3 years will be. For anyone else with teen girls, you have my sympathy and understanding. Those of you that don't, just pray for me!