the story behind the ankle

I figured I'd post the story of exactly what happened when I sprained my ankle last week, because i wanted to be able to remember it so i don't freakin do it again!!!

Two years ago, when Katie was only 3 or 4 months old, i was carrying her and fell down the two steps in our garage, i majorly sprained my right ankle. Thankfully, though, i landed on a big fluffy dog bed so the ankle was the only injury and Katie just smiled while i cried.

Flash forward to last thursday. I had taken Elaine to school and Katie wanted to go with me, I left Catcher napping at home (Adam was also sleeping) and Maggie was watching a movie at home also. So after dropping off Elaine, i decided i would go to SaveMart to buy some flour so i could bake some muffins. I parked in a very close spot at the store, it was right near the cart return....which at SaveMart, the cart return is made out of cement, like two curbs with a space in between, just wide enough for shopping carts. When i got Katie out of the car i decided to carry her over those two curbs, then let her walk after that. As i picked her up, i thought to myself, "dang you're heavy," i hardly ever pick her up anymore because she is so big, but it was only going to be for two or three steps. Just as i was stepping down from the last curb, i landed wrong with my foot and rolled my ankle. I have to say everytime i rethink this it hurts all over again, that agonizing pain of rolling your ankle that hard on asphalt too. Although the fall happened insanely fast, and i knew the instant i did it that i had at least sprained my ankle, if nothing worse, i had enough time to clearly think to myself to roll and land on my back instead of my front, which was the direction i was originally falling. I was carrying Katie and if i fell to the front, she would have landed quite hard on the asphalt and i on top of her. So by rolling mid air, i landed first and she stayed safely on top of me.

There was an elderly couple walking out from the store (and this happened directly in front of the store exit) they must have seen the whole thing because i remember hearing the lady scream and man yelled out to me. A car was passing right at that moment and i think the lady was worried it would hit me, thankfully that driver was aware enough and swerved to miss my splayed out body as i tried my hardest not to cry out in pain. Immediately after the car passed, several people came running over. The memory of this part is tainted by the immense pain i was feeling at the time so it's mostly bits and pieces. I remember someone asking if they should call 911...to which i promptly replied "NO," i didn't live that far away and surely Adam could come and take me to the ER or something....i knew i needed to go to the ER, but not by ambulance, and not with poor little Katie in tow. A man helped Katie to sit on the curb, as before that she had been laying on me crying because i was crying. She wasn't hurt at all but she was quite upset. This same man offered her a package of cookies, i think there were 6 cookies in there and as soon as she bit into the first one all tears vanished and she was all smiles from that moment on. I am thankful to that man for those cookies. He then went into the store to complete his shopping as the elderly couple decided to stay with me until my help arrived.

I called home, however Adam was sleeping as he had only gotten home from work at around 4am. The phone went to the answering machine, and as soon as it picked up i began to say over and over "Adam wake up....Adam wake up!" but then i switched gears and thought of the fact that Maggie (watching a movie in the living room) might also be hearing my voice on the phone...so i started saying "Maggie, if you can hear me, take the phone to daddy!!" I said that two or three times and Adam answered. Maggie had indeed heard my request and brought the phone to daddy....way to go girl!!

Because I had the minivan, Adam wasn't going to be able to bring the kids to come and get me (their car seats are in the minivan) so he called my dad to come and get me....thankfully Dad was able to drop everything and come to my rescue...thanks dad :)

After getting home, and putting Katie down for a nap, Adam and took me to the ER, we brought Catcher with us so i could feed him. We already had crutches from the incident two years ago, so that was helpful. After an x-ray, it was confirmed that i once again "just"sprained my ankle. I hate when they say "just" because it doesn't feel like "just" it feels like the worst pain ever. Although when i really stopped to consider the pain, it was NOT the worst pain ever, terrible yes, and probably an 8 or 9 on a scale of 1 to 10, but i've had pain that is a 10 (kidney stone...ouch) and this was NOT a 10, and i was also able to tell that it was NOT as bad as the sprain two years ago, either that i was just remembering what it felt like and it was starting to feel common place...which would be sad lol. Anyway, it wasn't broken, so they gave me a brace and sent me home, probably the shortest ER visit in history.

I spent the next two days with my foot up and on ice, using crutches whenever i needed to get to the bathroom and had wonderful family and friends helpout with everything else. However on Saturday i had obligations....Elaine had ballet pictures in the park and a rehearsal, to make matters worse i had told several moms i would be at the park early to do hair....and i couldn't let them down. So Saturday morning i laced up the brace and put on good sturdy shoes over it, and used a cane instead of crutches so i could have a hand free to carry my hair bag. At first it hurt...but by pushing thru the pain i actually found it started to feel slightly better. I did about 8 or 10 heads of hair that day, much more than i usually do because i was bound to my seat, thanks to the ankle. I didn't realize how many other moms needed help with doing a ballet bun for their little girls. So i suppose i would say, i'm glad i had a reason to sit things out on the bench while Elaine practiced her performance and got pictures done, i was able to help many little girls look like the perfect little ballerina on their picture day....smiles all around :)

On a side note, i sprained my left ankle this time...and i am very grateful for that, i can still drive! lol