I had a little “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” moment yesterday. Now, temporarily at least, I’m an invalid.
(For those who are dying to know, I misstepped going out to our back deck — to look at a damn woodpecker, pecking on our house! — and t-w-i-s-t went my ankle. Now it’s sprained, swollen and a major pain.)
The doc told me this morning that I’d need crutches for a week, maybe more. What?!? Maybe he didn’t realize that I simply CAN’T be on crutches and rest my ankle till it heals. Hello, I have a 15-month-old! And a 4-year-old! A house to keep clean! Laundry to schlep! And the list goes on…
I only wallowed for a moment. Getting back to life, back to reality. I got the crutches and have started trying to hobble my way around the house with them. Of course, I can’t carry anything when I’m using them (such as a wiggly toddler). I can only get myself places, like to the bathroom and back to the couch. Also, did I mention it’s my right ankle, making driving impossible for the time being? Grrr.
This is the first time in my life when I haven’t been fully mobile. It’s a weird, helpless, frustrating feeling. So glad this is ONLY for a week or so. I can’t imagine having to deal with this for any long-term basis, but I know many people have it so much worse. I remain grateful (though not to the damn woodpecker) that I merely suffered a sprain.
I’m finding the hardest part not being able to jump up and take care of the kids. When the baby needs a diaper change or kisses for his boo-boo, Daddy has to intervene while I sit and soothe from afar. It’s only when you physically can’t do something that you truly appreciate being able to do it. So I’m trying to do a lot of appreciating, chair-dancing, cuddles in the lap and asking nicely for lots of help. Oh, and I’m definitely going to be all caught up on my DVR!