Saturday, November 5, 2011

Voodoo, Gypsy curses, or just bad luck??

Check out the awesome look I will be sporting for the next 4-6 weeks.  I like to call it orthopedic chic.
Nothing says sexy quite like a post-op shoe
In case you are new to this blog, I hurt this foot during the Rock n Roll half marathon on Oct. 9th.  But that is not why I am wearing the post-op shoe.

Two weeks ago I was shopping at Target with my two children.  We were in one of these carts:

They are roughtly the size of an ocean liner and just as maneuverable.  I was attempting to turn around in the aisle, which mind you is no easy feat.  As I am struggling with the fully loaded beast, I accidentally run completely over my pinky toe (on my already hurt foot).  It was bruised and pretty painful.  But that is not why I am wearing the post-op shoe.

Yesterday I went for my first run in almost a month!  It was glorious even though I only went a mile.  It was a fantastic mile.  I wanted to keep going but I thought I should take it easy so I wouldn't re-injure my foot.  After the run I assessed how my foot was feeling.  Great!  So obviously that is not why I am wearing this post-op shoe.

After the run I picked up my daughter from preschool.  Not long after we got home she said, "I have to go potty!"  If you have ever potty trained a child then you know that if you hear this, and you don't act fast, you will pay for it   I picked her up and started running (since I could do that again!).  My big toe caught on something, bent in half, and I put full weight (hers and mine) on my bent toe.  Blinding pain!  I screamed, "Hoochie Mamma!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  My daughter asked, "Mom, what is hoochie mamma?"  I was glad at that moment that she was asking me that and not "Mom, what does #@$% mean."  I am pretty proud that I kept it relatively clean.

I finally stopped screaming and looked at my toe.  It was already gross.  Today, I went to get an x-ray and it was confirmed that I broke my first distal phalanx right in half.  It was a clean break, not on the joint, and would only require the oh so attractive post-op shoe for about 6 weeks.

So in the past month my poor left foot has had a strain, a smashed pinky toe, and a broken big toe.  What the heck?!  I am beginning to think someone made a voodoo doll of my foot.  Or maybe that foot accidentally kicked a Gypsy and she cursed it?  Or maybe it broke a mirror?  I don't know, but I am seriously considering amputation.  Maybe I should have gone to the witch doctor after the medical doctor.

Whatever the cause, it is definitely some bad luck.  After 4 weeks of limited activity I was given these instruction for the next six weeks:


What's left?  Am I going to have to take up this:
Chair aerobics, here I come!!!!!

They should have just given me one of these along with the ugly orthopedic shoe: 

4+6 is 10.  10 weeks of no running!!!  Am I bummed and sad and mopey?  Yeah, a little bit.  Is it the end of the world?  No.

November is a month to really reflect on our blessings and all we have to be thankful for.  My toe might be broken, but not my spirit.  It is just a little bone and it will heal and I will be able to run again.  For that I am so grateful!  I am grateful that the rest of my body is healthy.  I am grateful for a sister who watched my kids so I could go to the doctor.  I am grateful for a husband who was working hard so we could pay for that ridiculously expensive weekend doctor's visit.  Life is good....my toe is not...but life is.  God has given me so much to be thankful for and I don't want to forget that!

Although I can hardly believe this happened, and I am upset to say the least, I am choosing to focus on all the good stuff.  And now, if you will excuse me, I am off to locate a copy of Sit and be Fit

How is your weekend going?  Better than mine I hope!

Whose got a broken toe story?  Any advise?