Summer Plans

have been hereby changed. Of course, being us, it's because something new happened. Something that is NOT good. Aren't we lucky to have such interesting lives? Here's the plan change cause:I have seriously sprained my left thumb. As in, this would heal faster if you'd broken it. As in you'll probably be immobilized for 12 weeks. As in, you have to see the hand surgeon because surgery is a distinct possibility, and we don't want you to lose mobility and use of your thumb.
I can't go cycling because I can't grasp with my left hand. I can't really garden for the same reason. I can type, though. I can probably knit, although I still hurt a lot, so I haven't tried. Right now I'm taking ibuprofen, but at night I'm taking tylenol with codeine. Yes, it's that bad.

I did this yesterday morning. Wednesday started out kind of strange anyway. I woke up to thunder. As The Collar and I ate breakfast (the boys were already at school), the power went out, and was out for about an hour. During the hour the power was out, The Wiz had an accident at school so I had to run him new clothes. No power at school = dark bathrooms = scared The Wiz. I get to the school, he changes, I head to the grocery store for the soup ingredients, GameBoy's lunch supplies, and ice cream (most important). Any way, I get home, and start carting up the groceries from the garage. I start walking up the stairs, step on a dog toy, and down I go. The thumb was hyperextended, and it HURT. A lot. It hurt so much I started crying. There were no words. None at all.

I decided I jammed it. I picked myself up, picked up the groceries, and carried them upstairs. Then I brought up the second load of groceries. I put the perishables away, and realized that I still hurt. More, in fact, than at the time of injury. So I called The Collar, and told him what I'd done. However, I didn't decide to go to the ER or UTC (urgent treatment center--cheaper and faster) at that point. No, I decided to check my e-mail. I made an ice pack, and rested my thumb/hand on it and tried to read the email. I couldn't concentrate on it. My left thumb area was now twice the size of my right, and it hurt even more. I decided that I should go to the UTC (I despise going to the ER), and get it X-rayed. I even took the splint from my last thumb injury.

The first thing the UTC doctor said to me was that no one needed any training to see that there was something pretty seriously wrong in my case. Just what I wanted to hear. Then he asked me to make a circle with my thumb and forefinger--nothing doing. Then I had X-rays, and tried to read (which I couldn't). The x-rays came back with nothing broken, but instead he thought that I may have torn the ulna-collateral ligament (UCL), which is BAD. Worse than a broken thumb or hand. So here's a script for tylenol with codeine, put on your splint and don't take it off, and here's an appointment with the hand surgeon. That will be on Tuesday, so I'll let you know what he says. Maybe things will be better. Maybe it's not so bad?

The not-so funny about this: Monday the dermatologist released me from his care. Two weeks ago the ENT did. Both said, "Stay away from doctors for awhile!"

So, I won't be gardening much this summer. Or cycling. Or doing much that requires two hands.

Maybe the neither of the boys will break anything now? I really hope not...

Surprises!

I've had a few surprises the last couple of days. First, when soccer starts in March, you don't expect to go to a game and come home with striped feet. It was at least 80 F out there. (Today, it was a record: it reached 82.) GameBoy's team defeated this team too--8-0. Second, when you have a dermatologist's appointment the next day, you don't expect him to be nonchalant about said sunburn. Basically, he said that I'm so fair, I'm going to burn. I'm currently skin cancer free, but most likely I'll have a recurrence or two (or ten). Growing up in Kansas was not good for my skin.

Another surprise is how straight A's are celebrated at GameBoy's and The Wiz's school. GameBoy was able to have the straight A's lunch (complete with medium frosty) and they gave each kid a bag of loot: a miniature light saber, a baton, a cup, and other things that I can't remember at the moment.

And finally, I received a surprise from my SP. I think that she's from the West Coast, but I am not convinced that I know where. She sent me a great package, too. Of course, there was yarn:

The Wiz saw the box, and decided that this yarn is for him. He likes the colors. If there's enough left over, I might make him a pair from the left overs.

She also sent me wonderful gardening gloves (goatskin, which make the best gloves for gardening in my experience) and flower seeds (hollyhocks, columbine, and Canterbury bells). Maybe we'll be able to plant flowers this weekend.

And finally, a really great t-shirt. Do you think it's me?

Soccer!

Today was day of the first games. Both boys played: GameBoy at 9:30 am and The Wiz at 11:00. It was WARM. As in I wore shorts and a t-shirt and was comfortable at the early game.
GameBoy's game went well. For the first 15 minutes, I thought the two teams were evenly matched--but then the Tigers took off. GameBoy and his team won in a shut out. He's quite pleased.

The Wiz and I had our first game this season later. The players have gotten much better. They actually scored 6 goals! Much better than last season. : ) Yes, we did lose. The Wiz got his first goal, EVER. He is extremely proud of himself. We still need to work on The Wiz crying when the other team scores, and not continuing to play when he falls down. He tends to get up and wander back over to the side lines. He's not hurt, but he feels like he should be.

Well, I need to find us some lunch. I am hungry, even if the boys are not.

Signs of Spring

Free toes! Grass too.

Forsythia blooming

The pear tree will be in full flower by next week.

Today's bike ride.

And so it begins...

Tonight when the boys and I came home from choir rehearsals, The Collar handed GameBoy the phone. A classmate had called him. A girl classmate. He talked to her about 5 minutes or so, and then told us about her.

She had asked him for his phone number, and he said no, he couldn't give it to her. So she called his best friend, who gave it up. It must be that she like likes him. GameBoy was pretty happy about this.Maybe now he'll start taking showers without being forced again! Or maybe not.