Might I point out one more time just how cool a wireless keyboard and mouse can be?  Right now I have the computer desk pushed over by my bed just so I can read what I’m typing....but once I get all healed, I think I’m going to re-arrange the dresser and put the desk there so I can type from bed all the time.  HA!  It really does rule.

This friend that I was writing to has also broken his ankle in three places...although he did it while doing something cool:  rock climbing....not being a clumsy oaf....especially one who just came from living in Seattle for over 10 years and should know how to navigate a wet sidewalk by now....regardless of the fact it was made of cobblestone.  Where was I?  Oh yah, this friend broke his ankle just before me so I get a glimpse into the immediate future through his letters.  For example, let’s talk pain.

The first two or three days, after the initial pain from breaking of course, I thought, “Geez....is that it?  This isn’t too bad.” Now?  Oh holy hell!  Just like my friend said, after having it elevated for so many hours and then having to get up....like, again, as he pointed out, the first inkling of noting you’re gonna have to use the facilities soon--you get the hell up right then and there cause by the time you do get there...you gotta go....and bringing the leg down.....it’s like experiencing the breaking pain all over again.  It’s like the blood rushes down in a big gulp and slams into the side of my ankle. 

The Vicodin....well...when I went to the E/R, they gave me Vicodin and the pain was gone almost immediately.  I was expecting to have to wait like 20 minutes but the pain was pretty much gone in 5 minutes and I was laughing with the X-ray tech.  Damn she was funny.  Now though, and it’s not necessarily the Vicodin’s fault, the pain does not go away.  Part of that reason is because of my already incurred injuries from my car accident 4 years ago that I still feel to this day.  I’ve had a horrid headache since Thursday and I know it’s from my neck and back not being positioned properly while laying down because I have to have my leg elevated so much higher.  So really all the Vicodin does now is make me pass out...and when I do wake up, I feel sick.  They gave me Hydrocodene which my friend James told me is Vicodin....so I’m still calling it Vicodin.  I’ve used Ibuprofen a few times in its place as I experienced it works pretty good.  I learned that because the night I did this, by the time we got out of E/R (at 4 am), all the pharmacies were closed so I couldn’t get my prescription.  So I took Ibu which I have on hand all the time for my car accident injury pain.  That took the edge off and didn’t make me pass out or feel sick.  However, I’ve been taking the Vicodin cause I’m trying to do everything the doc told me to do.

Well, Thursday I was kinda stupid.  I was sick of the mess in my room from just tossing things here and there cause I couldn’t freaking walk and decided to clean up a bit.  The first chore was to gather up cups and other garbage and take the bag outside to the bin.  That wasn’t so bad except because I had to drag the bag, it leaked old soda on the floor.  Damnit!  So, I got a mop and mopped the line of liquid.  That was a nightmare.  Oh man....don’t ever do that while on crutches.  Anyway, then I was disgusted because I had been in bed that whole time and I wanted fresh, clean sheets.  So I gathered them up and changed my pajamas and threw a pair of pants...the only pair I can get over the splint, into the wash and also washed my down comforter.  I also had to change the cat litter.

By the time I was done, I was shaking, sweating and full of piss and vinegar from the whole experience.  I was exhausted.  I made the bed and fell into it, clean sheets, clean pajamas.....crashed out.  But that is the first time I started feeling sick.  Dumb.

Then I was going to just rest today but I knew I needed to get into the VA, see if they would treat me and just rest up this weekend instead.  The VA wasn’t so bad except I couldn’t elevate my leg and I was again, sweating, shaking and exhausted by the time I got home.  Plus, the cab ride is a lot farther away and I have to sit in the back seat and hold my leg up....you do NOT want to hit a pothole while you have your broken ankle rested on something in the car.....trust me.  So that tires me out too.

I got scolded for using my crutches incorrectly.  “Do you want to paralyze the nerves in your arms!” and they showed me how to do it right.  Thank goodness because I was getting raw under my arms from the crutches.  Now I can actually get around a little without wanting to scream with each step.

My brother was pretty cool last night and went and got me groceries. (Okay Mama?  I’m eating!  I’m eating!) Easy to carry and open.....those little one serving cans of like chili or stew or raviolies.  I also got MILK and some soda.  I also asked him for some Little Debbie’s snack cakes, (remembering how good those Strawberry shortcake rolls were) and he said, “Geez!  You’re turning into a Southerner!  ‘I want Little Debbie’s Snack Cakes!’ Only Southern people say that.” haha.  He got me some.  He said, “I got you your Little Debbie’s Snack Cakes” (he feels the need to repeat the entire phrase as it amuses him that I said it) “and I got the most ridiculous looking ones I could find!” They are called Zebra cakes.  Yah, ridiculous looking but oh my G-d they are gooooooood!

One person commented about the healing power of animals.  Absolutely correct.  My cat has been good for me through this.  Except a few times.  Like the very night I got home from the E/R, I had the splint on, was doped up on Vicodin, feeling ok but so tired and was halfway in dreamland when I felt my leg light up on fire.  I even pulled myself out of that REM stage with a scream.  The cat had jumped on the leg, using it as a springboard to get to the other side of me.  Poor thing....she came up and started licking me and nuzzling me.  Awwww.  I know she’s loving this cause she gets held and cuddled for HOURS a day.  Anyway, after she realized the error, she avoided going near my legs for a few days.  However, two times in the past day she has decided she needs to rub her face on the splint.  OW!!!  But I’m so glad she’s here cause she makes me feel a lot better.

I was outside the other day waiting for a cab and the neighbor cat, Gus, who accepts my presence from a short distance and has only once allowed himself to come up to me, saw me and decided to RUN over to greet me.  And he too, felt the need to rub his cheeks on the splint.  I didn’t know how to react.  I wanted him to know it was okay to run up and greet me....not scare him off but at the same time...OW!!!!!!!

Anyway, I have an appointment on Tuesday with the VA ortho docs and I will get their prognosis.  I’m pretty positive it will be the same answer.  And that totally sucks.  I hate needles and I am a big baby when it comes to pain.  And then of course, I don’t want the scar.  Oh well.  Not a damn thing I can do about that now.

At least now if that is the case, I can stay overnight in the VA hospital instead of doing it on an outpatient basis like I was going to do with the other doc to save money.  Now I can be properly cared for.

I’m scared shitless too.  However, my friend just went through this and many of you have as well and you all came out alright....so I’m going to keep reminding myself of that.  Besides, it’s only bad until they knock me out.  Right?

I haven’t had the chance for cabin fever really with running around trying to get someone to take care of my break.  I’m looking forward to laying around this weekend...not worrying about anything and just resting.

Oh but what I would give for a t.v. right now!

I did get to watch t.v. while in the waiting area at the VA though!  Even though they were those dumb Texas Justice and Divorce Court shows.  LOL....G-d help us..those shows suck.  I did get to watch the very end of the Price is Right though!  Call me what ya want but I love that show.  It reminds me of summer vacations as a kid when Dad was at work and Mom went back to school and we would get up late, stay in our pajamas, eat cereal and watch the Price Is Right and play along for the day that WE might get on the show......and how dumb those players were!  Why, I would have won both showcases many a time!  It’s different without Rod Roddy there though. 

Hmmm....do I sound like trailer trash now?  Oh well...I love that show and I don’t care who knows it.

So--I’ve been sitting here thinking if I have anything more to write and my mind started wandering to those Zebra cakes....and I am now debating if the pain is worth it to get up and get one.  Tough call.

Anyway, I have a lot of blog reading to catch up on in addition to responding to emails and other such well wishes so this post is going to have to hold you over for a day or two until I start reading news reports and get so livid I have to post my thoughts.

And yes, I’m gonna say it again, thank you all.  I can’t seem to find the words to express how much you have all helped me out through this first rough part....you’re wonderful.