Saturday, November 12, 2011

It's Been a Crazy Ride Lately


It's been almost two weeks since I wrote anything here. That is a record for my five plus years, one I don't particularly like. I am having a really hard time getting thoughts to gel in my head so that I can put them down. I don't like this feeling at all.

I had something in mind when I wrote this title several days ago. There's been a lot of "stuff" lately. I'll try to remember what all I was thinking of.

It kind of started in August when I broke the little toe on my left foot by running into a high chair on the patio. It hurt like crazy, but I taped it to the next toe, as I have done more often before than I like to think of - I seem to be incredibly clumsy with my poor toes. I googled to see if I should see a doc, even though I haven't ever before, and I have LOUSY insurance. I decided not to go, but to go with the taping, and read that it would take about 6 weeksto heal - which it did. It no sooner felt really good and healed than I did something I've done probably 10,000 times since I've lived in this house - headed to the bathroom in the middle of the night. This particular night in September, I apparently was still asleep when I headed back to my bed and missed the turn, heading straight into a door frame, probably separating the second and third toes, cramming into the edge of the frame. I barely remember stumbling back to my bed, but I do remember being in great pain. I once again did the taping method, and settled in for another 6 weeks of difficulty walking, and particularly, exercising. The pain in the toe subsided fairly quickly, but I discovered in the last week or so that there was a major twinge when I stepped down on the ball of that foot - sending an electrical sensation through my foot. I decided that there must be some nerve involvement and I'd better bite the bullet and get to the podiatrist. Which I did. And found out that it is a tendon problem. He taped it up majorly for a week and had me back in. It felt some better, so he created an orthotic for my shoes , and now I can't wear any dress shoes for who knows how long (my insurance only helps with custom orthotics if you are diabetic - just another piece of evidence that insurance company decision makers are crazy). He also gave me this funny looking little padding device to place over three toes to keep the affected area from hitting the ground fully. After 2 weeks I'll go again and we'll evaluate the situation then. The worst case scenario, of course, would be surgery. It could be a cast. It could be that I'll have to buy orthotics outright. It's the pits. I should probably have gone in sooner.

Kristen's had several more bouts of health issues - take your pick. So of course, that means a lot of kiddo time at our house. They do well, but sure do miss their mommy when she's sick - and the big ones worry about her. I have to admit that I do, too.

Last week, Livi woke up with a sore throat on the week-end, of course. By Monday she was really miserable, so a trip to the doc proved that our suspicions were true - strep throat. At the same time, Kristen talked to him about Livi's continual plumbing problems. So, since Kristen had to work a lot Monday through Wednesday so she could have the girls while I took my trip (more later), I had 3 of the girls most of the three days - Livi's throat felt better quite quickly, but I turned into the Miralax Nazi, on her case constantly to glug down 30 ounces of liquid with 6 caps of Miralax. Needless to say, her love of apple juice is now gone. But it worked! Now we have to keep her more steady and be proactive. Poor little thing - she has struggled with this problem for most of her little life.

At the same time, she woke up that Saturday morning to take a bath, and informed me that there was no hot water. She was right - the old water heater bit the dust overnight. Of course, on a Saturday. So Monday was greatly anticipated! In the meantime, one of those days, I heard a lot of activity and toilet seat banging going on in the lower bathroom. I should have checked sooner, because by the time I did, there was water covering the entire floor (Yep - the twins). They played in the toilet water - yes, it was flushed! When I got down there, I found a baby washcloth floating in there - uh-oh, I thought, what might they have flushed? My worst fears were realized when Livi came up the next morning and told me that the water was about to overflow. We plunged and plunged and plunged some more. But nothing worked, so when the "Dwelling Doctor" came on Monday morning to replace the water heater, I asked him to check the toilet as well. In the meantime, I had asked the twins once again if one of them had flushed something down the potty. This time Emma said, "Katie did." Katie is nothing if not honest. She's the one who owned up to cutting Emma's hair. I asked her what she had flushed and she said, "A zebra." Livi immediately went on a hunt - they have two different Noah's Ark sets, so there are 4 zebras around the house. All 4 were accounted for. Livi thought it might have been a giraffe instead.

The plumber could not get the clog to release, so he ended up removing the stool from the floor, which led him to discover a more serious problem than the clog - a blessing in deep, deep disguise! And he did find the clog problem - a ZEBRA!! Turns out there was another set of animals - this one a zoo or safari set that I forgot about. This one has a movable head, and if the head had been straight, not cocked to the side, it would have gone through.

But - we had a working toilet and HOT WATER!! What a blessing! A very expensive Monday morning, but not as bad as it could have been, or as I feared. This guy was recommended to us by our BIL, who works with many small businessmen in town, and he knows who is good and honest.

Seems like there was more, but it's kind of like childbirth - I seem to have forgotten the pain. It did make for a late night of getting ready for my trip to Maine Thursday morning. I will post about that next time - including the trauma of the actual trip (which you have probably read if you're on Facebook with me).

Have a great week!

18 comments:

Amy said...

Dawn, Take care of yourself ma'am!

I hope things calm/settle down for you sometime soon and that Kristin's health stays good.

God bless!

peppylady (Dora) said...

Hi, Dawn I'm blogging walking.
I wouldn't know about bad insurance we have none.
I'm sorry to hear about those no feeling well in your postings.

It may all seem like a mess but most of the time it works out to a blessing.

Coffee is on

nancygrayce said...

Oh, man! What a time! I thought my week was busy but I think you have me beat. Our 16 month old grandson was here just for the weekend and we're exhausted. I'm going to say extra prayers for your endurance!

Oh, the toes hurt so badly when they're messed up! Hope that works out!

Unknown said...

GeezLouise. When it rains in pours. Glad you had a nice vacation on the tail end of all of that.

Hope you've had a nice trip!

Needled Mom said...

Oh dear!!! It sounds overwhelming, Dawn!!! Prayers for all of you.

Brenda said...

Oh my goodness Dawn! Sheesh! I shuddered the first time you jammed your toe and shuddered even worse when you ran into the door jam. What a time you've had. And tho' I sense the frustration you still have a way of putting a positive spin on it!
Hope your week is free of highchair legs, walking in your sleep and zebras!

Forty Pound Sack said...

How often, in life, do we get the opportunity to say that someone flushed a zebra down the toilet? Gotta love kids!

Robin said...

I couldn't help but stop and say a quick prayer for you after I read your post. I prayed for health and healing, strength and stamina, but mostly for some quiet and boring days!

Sam said...

The story about your foot was making me cringe! How awful! I've never broken anything, but I've heard broken toes are really painful. I hope your foot heals soon and then stays that way!

So sorry to hear Kristen has been sick. I know that's hard on all of you.

A bunch of the kids in my class had strep throat last week. I feel so lucky that I didn't catch it.

Well, the zebra story cracked me up! I couldn't help it! Doesn't it feel good when those things are finally fixed and you can go back to having hot water. Makes you realize how much you appreciate it.

Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

Gram said...

Oh My! Seems like your fall was like my summer. Here's hoping things get better.

Hootin Anni said...

Three words....Oh My Goodness!!!

First off, what really ticks me off about insurance...no matter WHAT policy, be it health, car, or house---they always come up with some lame excuse why you're not covered. I've told Bud over and over again the past few years that we should have put away $25 each month for all three of our policies [$75 total] into an interest collecting account instead of throwing away our monthly premiums and getting none back all these years. Too early to do math, but I do know we could have retired on it. LOLOLOL

A zebra in the toilet. Sounds like a case of Sesame Street Detective Work somehow. Kids!! Gotta love 'em tho.

You all take care. They say it comes in threes. Well, you're working overtime here...your foot, sickness, trip, and the girls.

I don't do facebook at all, so I will wait patiently for an update.

Hugs to you.

MotherT said...

It sounds like physically your family has had a rough time, but I love the way you all just pitch in and help each other out. That's really what family is all about, isn't it?

grammy said...

As usual... lots of goings on around there. So sorry about all the foot drama. Hope it fixes itself. I wonder how many things have been flushed that we never find out about.... oh my goodness.
How many capfuls... poor little thing. I have had that problem all my life too. Wish I had great answers...I don't. I eat plenty of fiber... who knows.
I can imagine what a post it will be about your vacation. Lots of Drama and blessings would be my guess.

Linda said...

Oh Dawn, I think it amazing that you can write at all these days. Your life is so incredibly busy. It is wonderful to visit with you when you have the time. I am sure the day will come when you will have more inspiration for writing than you know what to do with. You are storing up all sorts of incredible memories.
I'm so sorry about your poor toes. I'll be praying everything heals well.

Mary said...

Dawn, seems it never rains but what it pours. Sounds like you've had quite the time lately, much like us except ours have been refrigerator problems and this morning,once again, everything was frozen.

I hope your toes heal quickly and that your life gets back to normal soon.

Unknown said...

We are always stubbing our toes on things here. I'm sorry your latest stubbed toes have caused more damage than you first thought. I hope they heal completely. Rest them as much as you can. :-)

I look forward to your post about your trip.

Carole Burant said...

Well my goodness, you certainly have had quite a crazy ride lately! Your poor toes, I do hope that they heal well and you won't need surgery. I've stubbed my toes a few times and I know how much it hurts like the dickens!!

I'm so sorry to hear that Kristin still struggles with so many health problems. No fun at all, especially since you get stuck having to babysit all the time. Well, I know you don't think of it as "stuck" but you know what I mean! lol

I wonder if that was the first time that plumber guy rescued a zebra from the toilet? lol The girls certainly do make life exciting don't they:-)

Fingers crossed that life will soon settle down for you and you can enjoy that retirement of yours!! xoxo

Sharon Lynne said...

Oh my. Daily life can bring problems. Yet I'm glad the toilet is working better do to all the attention it got from the plumber.

(rather funny that a Zebra stopped it up!)

My dishwasher is out. I'm hand washing the dishes. It won't be fixed by Thanksgiving so we're eating on paper plates. The dishes are actually cleaner when I hand wash them, and It's not too bad sloshing my hands through the warm water. (maybe its theraputic)