Saturday, January 12, 2008

The Reason

So. Hi. I've been... away. I was planning on writing a post at the beginning of January explaining my absence. I was simply going to post this picture:


and then a brief explanation of how during the first few sickly and dark months of pregnancy I am pretty much unable to tolerate being near the computer for any time longer than it takes to check my email. I have thought of many of you often and keep checking in on you. I have wanted to send emails... It just hasn't happened.

And then... last Sunday evening we called some friends to invite them skating with us. It was an absolutely beautiful evening. The skating oval was beautifully aglow with its many lights. I was the last to get on the ice. I was standing next to Miss A and we were just about to begin skating. She started to fall backwards. She had a helmet on and I'm sure she would have been fine but I instinctively reached out to try and break her fall a bit. I lost my balance and my feet slipped out from under me.

Let me stop here and explain that I have been skating all my life. I grew up in a small town where you skated in the winter and you swam in the summer. At thirteen I began teaching beginner's lessons. Shortly after we moved to the city. I didn't take any further lessons due to the cost but I still spent a lot of time on skates during the winter at community center rinks. I haven't skated nearly as much in the past few years but it is not something that you forget how to do. I CAN SKATE.

So my feet slipped out from under me. Nothing out of the ordinary. I couldn't count how many times I have fallen since I first learned to skate. I have never injured myself from a skating fall. Bruised my tailbone - sure. But that's it. I don't know if it was the mild weather, thus causing the ice to be a bit softer. If it was the extremely rough ice that caught my skate, or just no reason at all but once I was solidly on my behind I knew that something was horribly wrong with my ankle. And I calmly told Peter and my friends as much.

"Something is really wrong with my ankle."

They all looked down. And I believe I might have heard someone say "Oh no." My knee was still facing upwards but my foot was at a very strange angle and my toes were pointing more towards the ice than they should have been. My friend K is an Occupational Therapist which doesn't make her a doctor but it means that she is accustomed to seeing and dealing with injuries. We had a sled with us for Miss A so they maneuvered me onto it and pulled me to my friend's vehicle. I impressed several young athletic looking guys who skated along behind the sled in case we needed any help. They kept telling me how they couldn't believe how calm I was - that I wasn't freaking out - that they would be freaking out. I finally told them I was too pissed off to freak out. I couldn't believe that this had happened. I was pregnant. I had a two year old. I was a hairstylist. This couldn't be happening.

But it did happen. To save you the WHOLE terrible tale I will simply say that my ankle was dislocated and badly broken. They gave me some amazing drug which knocked me out for a minute while they popped it back into place and wrapped it until I could have surgery. I had surgery on Monday afternoon and got out of the hospital on Wednesday afternoon. My mother has been a saint. She has looked after Peter and Miss A when I was unable to and as I am still unable to she continues to do so. Miss A has been on 'holiday' since Thursday afternoon. My sister took her out to her place about one hour away. I miss her but I admit to sleeping really well at night and in general feeling less stressed out than I have since this happened. I know she is in the best possible hands, that she is happy and doing well and having a wonderful time. I think she'll be home on Monday.

Our church has already been amazing having meals brought over for what will seem like an indefinite amount of time. At times like this it is comforting to see how amazing people can be. Whenever I get discouraged about the goodness in people I try to remember things like this.

So anyway. This is where I have been. If I continue to be rather absent, this is why. I apologize to those of you who I should have called or emailed but who are finding out this way. My brain hasn't been at it's best. Thank you in advance for all your good wishes and concern.

14 comments:

jen k said...

oh Dawn, I've been thinking about you. is everything alright pregnancy wise?? i sent you a facebook msg...if you need anything..call me 'kay?

Shoeaddict said...

I read your blog everyday and was worried about you. I'm thrilled that you're pregnant. I'm so, so sorry about your fall. I hope the baby is ok and things get better soon.

Anonymous said...

Woo hoo, you're pregnant!!! I'm so excited. When are you due?

So sorry to hear about your ankle. I hope it mends quickly

Lynanne said...

Morning sickness AND a broken ankle? Whoa, you win the prize for the suckiest start to 2008! It only can get better from here, right?

CONGRATS!!!! On the pregnancy that is. I'm SO sorry to hear about your ankle...OUCH!

Take care, we'll still be here when you feel up to blogging again!

bon said...

Fine. This is proof positive that I totally SUCK! I have been planning on writing you an email or twenty seven for the past month. I have not. Me bad! Bad friend!

Dawn, Yay Pregs! Boo ankle. Boo sicky. Wish I lived close to bring you a dinner or three!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the pregnancy! But oh no on the ankle! I don't know what you are supposed to do when you have a toddler and are a hair dresser. I guess you just do what you have to do. I was so worried that something happened with the pregnancy when reading that, but I'm glad things must be ok on that frong. Hope you heal up quick!

Jenn said...

I've been thinking about you so much since I heard last week and wish so much that I was still there to help you out.
I'll call soon.

about plantain: said...

Booooo: ankle
Yaaaaay: bubby

elizasmom said...

OMG!!
And, uh, like bon, I have been meaning to email and find out what's up and, um, not.

sorrygratulations? Is that a word? I am so THRILLED for you that you are pregnant!!! As we have all seen evidence of, you grow beautiful kids, so I am looking forward to seeing the pics of this next addition to your family when s/he comes.
But your ankle catastrophe made me wince in vicarious pain as I read it. You are DIESEL*, woman, for not screaming loud enough that we could hear you down here in Massachusetts.

*In the awesome and strong sense of the word, not the fuel or heroin sense.

mamashine said...

Congratulations! And also, Oh Dear! I hope you are all better soon!

Mall Worker said...

I know I said congrats and sorry on facebook, but I wanted to say it again! Congrats on the up coming new baby! I hope your ankle heals up fast. Call me if you need anything :)

Sugarmama said...

Okay, first off, CONGRATULATIONS! I'm so happy to hear that you're pregnant! Please give us all the obnoxious details as they happen to you. I'm all ears.

And secondly, that sucks about your ankle. Don't you hate it when you hurt yourself via some dumb way? I hope you recover quickly. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to do what you do for a living plus have a 2-year old PLUS a broken ankle. Yikes!

Anonymous said...

OH.My. God. Here I am finally checking blogs for the first time in like months and you are FREAKIN PREGNANT! Clearly I felt the need to set aside time tonight because I knew deep down that you had big news. So congratulations! And I'm so sorry about the ankle. It's even worse than when I broke my toe while pregnant. That picture of you does bring back some memories though...

Unknown said...

Congrats on the pregnancy. I pray that your ankle heals quickly. But at least for now you can get as much rest as your hormones are demanding from you!