Shake my head...

Our life this past week has been one challenge after another.  It starts with my foot surgery, that oddly enough was the least challenging of all.  In fact, it was so easy.  Everything went great... well; with the exception of the fact that when doc opened up the foot, the injury was more severe than the x-rays indicated.  Apparently the bones were shattered & he had to completely rebuild my right foot with screws, donor bone tissue & such.  The recovery was going great while the foot was totally numb, but when that bad boy woke up ... very different experience!  I couldn't get the pain management under control - none of the prescribed meds were taking the edge off.  Finally started to get some relief & learned very quickly to stay ahead of the pain (even if it meant sleeping the days away - luckily my boys weren't around to witness me sleep constantly - good call Mimi C). Well, 2 days post surgery, I'm feeling pretty good & decide to get up (against doc's orders) & try to straighten my house (this is what happens when I'm left alone, stubbornness rears its head) - I decide I'm cool to dust the living room & as I'm getting to the last table, I bump bum foot on the table. Yowzers. I quickly decided I would follow orders, back to bed I went.  Then the boys get back 3 days after surgery & it's full speed ahead. They do not understand why I'm laid up with my foot on pillows - they keep wanting me ... wanting me to do this, see that, fix this, read that ... non-stop action-filled needs. Thank goodness Mimi C was sticking around for the next 4 days! First morning post surgery that we're a family of 4 again (plus mi madre) & trying to get the boys back in routine, I'm being told that my oldest son has just thrown up. ?????? What in the world? You have got to be kidding me? After figuring out what lead to the spewing, I find out his Daddy had tried to pull him in for a little snuggle & thinks he squeezed him too hard? Okay, that sounds ... possible? The child doesn't appear to feel bad, he's running around the house as usual - he did say his tummy hurts, but he's just hungry - lets feed him! He eats a banana & claims he's full. I ask again if he feels okay & he said "yeah mom, I'm good - just needed that nana". Sweet, so off to WEE school he goes.  Yet around 10:30, home from WEE school he comes.  He's thrown up again.  Mom fail. (Sometimes it's so hard to figure out when young bucks are sick) Well, what I didn't tell you is that the day after my surgery, my folks call to let me know my youngest son has been acting as though he didn't feel well & later projectile vomited at the dinner table that evening. We ruled out a few scares & thought it might have been he was just homesick (hence the lethargic nature) and the vomit was because he was full & that last bit of applesauce was just a bit too much.  Apparently, not so much ... it was invasion of the stomach bug!!! That creepy, highly contagious, wouldn't wish it on my enemies (well maybe a few) stomach virus. My poor small guy had his 1st stomach bug & infected all of us.  Yes, ALL!  1st small guy, then my sister (who was staying at my folks house while the boys were there), then my oldest lil guy, then my Dad, then my Mom (who was with us), then me, then my Mom-in-law, then my husband, then last & least vicious, my Dad-in-law.  It tried to take us all out in the course of 6 days. We were a family full of funk & misery and a house full of germs & chaos! A wounded warrior mom trying to comfort sicklings & those of the like. By day 7, post surgery -  Mom left to go back home to see Dad & get the laundry & what not caught up and planned to return late Sunday evening. By day 9, post surgery, we were practically back to normal.  So much so that my husband took the boys & left me to "stay off my foot & rest from the chaos" - bad bad idea! About 10 minutes after their departure, I had to get up to let the dog out. 10 minutes after that, I'm crutching my crippled & angry hiney down the 8 brick front steps to win the battle between me & Chyno (said dog) - that fool stood in the driveway, staring at me while I did everything in my power to get him to come back inside.  He is just as stubborn as the rest of us!  Once I hobbled over to him, I was expecting him to play "cat & mouse" but I guess he sensed the fury & jolted inside with me speed crutching behind him.  Now granted, it was a gorgeous day & I wouldn't have wanted to go in either but kids could be walking the street, other folks with dogs walking, anything that could cause him to want to greet folks or scare the bejesus out of them & let's face it "ain't nobody got time for that".  So, me out of breath, I sit on the couch & take a few cleansing breaths & look around & suddenly got the overwhelming urge to organize the boys toys in the living room (to prepare for the cleaning lady to come) - along with the living room came the desire to organize the kitchen & the babies rooms. Friends, I am stubborn & a bit bull-headed ... but I felt good, I couldn't just ignore what was staring me in the face.  I can get more done in 15 minutes with no hubs & kids, than I can in 2 days with them around. Plus, a friend loaned me this handy dandy little knee scooter - so I tossed the crutches aside for the time & was racing through the house like an Indy 500 driver. Makin' it happen, man! Thrilled by my productivity & the lack of pain in my foot due to the scooter - I was flyin' high on happiness. This girl loves an organized house. Then it all came crashing down - all of me that was.  As I was trying to back the scooter out of this corner, Chyno ran right into me & my right knee slid off the scooter & I landed flat footed on the bum foot & then my tail & instictly grabbed 'ol bummy. Holy Guacamole! Wowzers.  After a few deep, cleansing breaths ... I scooted my way back to my room, put the scooter in the closet (where it still remains) & grabbed my faithful crutches & climbed back in bed.  I had the strangest sensations running through my foot & leg, but it surprisingly started to feel better much quicker than I was expecting.  I didn't even have to pop a pain med. Let's just say, I didn't do much more than chill for the rest of the solo time (which wasn't long, because my fellas arrived home shortly after the stumble & Mom arrived shortly after them). There were some other challenges that took place within those 9 days, but I just hit the high points. Gratefully we accepted all challenges, adjusted & moved on.  Now, let's see what this week has in store - so far, Doc told me "months & months before you walk", stay off the feet & my boys have colds.  Game, set, match! Let the challenge begin... 

(Shake # 7: Just because you feel well, doesn't always mean you are well ~ physically or mentally)