"If you are going to do something, do it right the first time."
I say it when someone scrubs the floor, but I find milk spots still there.
I say it when someone cleans up the lunch dishes but fails to put any of the silverware in the dishwasher.
I say it when someone cleans his room but leaves junk all around the edges of the bed.
I'm pretty sure they appreciate it.
They also appreciate the fact that I practice what I preach.
Unfortunately, I sometimes practice it even when I shouldn't.
Take, for instance, when I'm playing in a sport of some kind.
I can't play half-way.
I have to give it my all.
When a person is running for a ball, I have to beat him.
And when I do, I have to injure myself in fine fashion.
Do it right the first time.
I got the results of my MRI on Monday morning.
The doctor handed me a paper with a list of the injuries I inflicted on myself.
It was half a page, listed from most problematic to least problematic.
With the fist line, I knew I was in big trouble.
"Acute, complete disruption of the anterior cruciate ligament."
I ripped that ACL right in half.
The next two lines didn't sound much better.
"Obliqued tearing of the medial meniscus posterior horn that extends through both inferior surface and meniscus periphery."
"Vertical tearing of the lateral meniscus posterior horn near the tibial attachment, most likely representing a radial-type tear."
I tore my meniscus pretty good, too. In more than one place.
"Bony contusions...blah blah blah".
I have bruises on two bones.
That's the worst of it.
I done injured myself but good.
Normally, I'd say let's get this surgery booked ASAP. Too bad this isn't a normal situation.
(Here comes the secret part...)
In June, Bryan and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary.
Two weeks ago, we bought tickets to go on a trip we've postponed for 16 years.
It was supposed to be a celebratory trip after he graduated from law school, but I ended up pregnant with Phoenix. He was due four weeks after the bar exam, so we didn't go.
Two weeks ago, we bought tickets to fly to London, England.
My flight leaves three days before Bryan's. He isn't exactly social, so I am going early in order to visit with a friend who moved there with her family last year.
And the agenda includes a stop to meet one other special person.
*cough* Lizzi
If I have this surgery ASAP, we have to cancel our trip.
Not a chance in H-E-double hockey sticks is that gonna happen.
According to the doctor, if I am a good patient, staying on my crutches and not trying to do all the stuff, I will be able to walk and have fun on our trip. I won't be able to do everything we might have done before, but I will be able to do plenty.
So, a good patient I will be, then schedule the surgery upon our return.
I am taking anti-inflammatory medicine, in hopes that someday soon I will be able to see my knee cap.
Apparently, the bone bruising is what makes my knee hurt the most, so once that heals I'll feel much better.
I will use my crutches at all times. I will park my rear on the couch with my foot up at every possible moment.
When I told the kids what the doctor said, Giant commented, "All I heard is that we're going to be doing a bunch of extra work for three months."
Smart kid, that one.
Have a lovely day!
It's hard to be jealous that you get to go on a fabulous trip AND meet Lizzi when you have done torn yourself up. Okay, still jealous. Follow the doctor's orders. Don't take naproxin with Hot Tamales and Diet Coke or you'll have more, but different, problems. Take care of you.
ReplyDeleteHave no fear, I will follow doctor's orders. And I will avoid that nasty combination. Thank you for being able to think of my best interests through the green fog of jealousy. :)
DeleteWho says you can't have your cake and eat it too? Sounds like you found a way to do everything you want to and need to do.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great vacation and that your surgery goes well.
No one I know! :)
DeleteThanks.
I spent yesterday wondering how the appointment went; I'm so sorry you did such a number on your knee. The timing of your injury reminds me of a time years ago when I was watching a friend's daughter. The little girl had broken several bones in the past year--no abuse; she "just" had fragile bones. Anyway, they were going to Hawaii the next week, and my friend was so excited because her daughter was healed and would be able to get in the water without a cast. (You see where this is going, right?) Sure enough, on my watch, she fell down and broke her arm. I felt horrible. My friend was gracious. I felt horrible. (It bears repeating.)
ReplyDeleteHowever, enjoy London! (If you can walk around with the crutches, I'd recommend the www.walks.com Salisbury Cathedral/Stonehenge tour. Stonehenge was interesting, but I really enjoyed Salisbury. And National Gallery, and the Tower of London, and. . . Can I just come along with you?)
You get to meet Lizzi! I can only imagine how much fun that will be!
Oh, the poor little girl! You had to feel awful, even if it wasn't your fault.
DeleteThanks! You are most certainly welcome to join us. :) I'll keep your suggestions in mind if you can't, though.
I'm thinking it will be loads of fun.
Well, since I already gave my condolences yesterday, I will say this: I am BLOWN AWAY by the level of sympathy you are getting from the family already! ;) Giant doesn't mince words, does he? lol
ReplyDeleteI'm on the hunt for your backpack purse...I'll be in touch soon! :)
Compassion is the quality I am most proud of in this family.
DeleteI could barely get that out without laughing.
He has never minced a word in his entire life.
Thanks!
Ouch, that sounds painful! I can't believe that the injury can "sit" that long without starting to heal by itself. I hope you'll still have fun in London! How exciting that you're going to meet up with Lizzi!! I see how you're excited for the trip after waiting for so long. Hubby and I had to postpone our honeymoon to Rome due to his work. Hoped to get to do it for our 10-year anniversary, but with Baby Boy being still fairly young then, we may have to postpone even longer. But one day... :-)
ReplyDeleteIt will heal in some way by itself. Some people never have the surgery to get it fixed.
DeleteOne day...I hope you get to take that trip.
I must say I'm surprised that the surgery can be delayed. Sure hope your mobility won't be too affected for your travels.
ReplyDeleteEngland, though?! I'm so jealous! I think that will be our next international destination!
Wish I lived closer to drop by for a visit to the temporary invalid :)!
I was pretty shocked myself. I know several people who have had a similar injury. Some put it off for 6 months. Some contemplated not having the surgery at all. Walking isn't a problem, apparently, but doing anything else, like climbing or sports of any kind, is difficult.
DeleteI'm so excited for the trip. (And a bit scared, to be honest.) The only other countries we've been to are Bermuda and Canada. This is a huge deal for us.
That would be lovely. Ah, well. :)
Oh I am praying that you take care so that you can get to travel to England... Take care my dear!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Deleteoh man, I was soooooo wanting to be wrong on this one.... sorry.... Get to England! Do you have a brace? You will be fine if you behave! and Im sure you will as you always do everything to the max... you know , might as well do it right!....bummer...
ReplyDeleteSo was I. I do have a brace. I'm sure that will help tremendously once I start walking again.
DeleteEvery time I think, "I can do that," I follow it with, "Will it hinder my trip to England?" Then I sit back down. I'm going to enjoy England!
Oh no!! But I had to LOL at Giant's comment. He's a smart one! I'm so glad you still get to go on your trip. And you did injure yourself quite well. You should be proud!
ReplyDeleteGiant, even in his cheekiness, makes me laugh. :)
DeleteI would feel awful if my injury ruined our trip. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure I am as healthy as possible by then.
I'd be more proud if crutches weren't such a pain in the armpits. :)
I'm so sorry to hear about your injuries ... but how exciting about your trip!! My mum used to say something similar to your quote (and apparently her dad used to say it to her). She'd say: "If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well". She is a complete perfectionist! I had a little giggle at Giant's comment - that's one pretty cluey kid you've got there!
ReplyDeleteSo does that mean you've ended the tradition by not saying it to your kids? :)
DeleteHe makes me laugh, that boy.
Well you certainly went for it big style didn't you - that must be a lifetime's-worth of injuries in one fell swoop! I hope your eventual surgery goes well and everything heals as it should. And Giant's comment - priceless :)
ReplyDeleteYour trip over to the England sounds exciting, and you get to meet Lizzi too :) Shame I don't live closer to London or maybe WE could have met up while you're here.
It certainly is. Thanks.
DeleteDon't think I wasn't wanting to meet up with you, too. I looked up your address long ago. From what I can tell, you are several hours outside of where we will be. I was bummed to see it.
To drive from home to London itself would take me between three-and-a-half and four hours, which is nothing compared to some of the drives I've done. I could maybe have found a camp site in the vicinity and met you elsewhere but I only have weekends free just now and it would all depend on your plans and where you would be on any given day.
DeleteNot to worry, maybe we WILL meet up one day - just make sure you have a lovely lovely time while you're over here :)
That's what I thought. We aren't renting a car and traveling around the country, so I knew we couldn't get there.
DeleteBryan will be arriving on Saturday morning, and we'll be leaving London on Thursday to head to Paris for a couple of days.
Yes. Yes, I did.
ReplyDeleteThe bruising should be healed well before the trip. I'll be fine. I'll be fine. I'll be fine... The more I say it, the more it will be true. :)
Yay cake!
"I can't play half-way.
ReplyDeleteI have to give it my all."
(as the Doctors' note might have continued, "etiam, duh" or something to the effect of (and) scottian drive to compete and win exceeded physical capacity)
sorry to hear of the extent (of damage), glad to hear of the prognosis that allows your trip (visual: Doctor crouching in corner of examining room, "ok! ok! I'll change it to 'she can do whatever she wants! just put down the Doyen bone mallet, and I'll change the report!")
there are things that will happen, your being a scott forced into relative inactivity, I'll try to put together a list for you.
I did not threaten the man in any way!
DeleteAre you predicting I'll get grouchy and make other people do all of the things I want to do or think I should be doing? That's what's happening. :)
er… exactly! (but the cool thing about the Doctrine perspective thing is) it is a sign that you simply are getting hungry lol don't forget the behavioral metaphor of 'the predator'. no, not literally, yes, totally figuratively.
Delete(you might find a new (and growing) interest in games that have a large competitive element (no, not being redundant)… like online scrabble and other things that you can do while your running-down-chasing-bringing-down-the-hapless-gazelle muscles rest and recover.)
not to worry! totally 'normal'
Ouch. You have to do less when you get older. I'm in my 60s and it's less and less all the time.
ReplyDeleteI would go on that trip too and then deal with the surgery when you return.
I had to chuckle with the kids' having more work. Yep, that's about right.
Have a fabulous day and I'll be glad with the bone bruising is gone. ☺
I can deal with wrinkles and sagging. It's the doing less that I absolutely HATE about getting older.
DeleteThank you!
OMG! So absolutely no more wrestling and wrangling for pig shots! We go on a vacation every year with some other families. And in leaving a restaurant, three forty someone broke down retired Marines (husband included) decided to take on three boys - Christopher being the youngest and race down across the parking lot. I told me husband before he did it, "I don't think that's a good idea." Well he hurt himself. No where near to your extent - no surgeries needed but he used the jacuzzi at our lodge quite a bit for the remainder of the weekend and I had to do the majority of the driving going back home. Look forward to hearing about your trip!
ReplyDeleteNot for a while, anyway. They better not get sick or get out of their pens at all this summer, or they will die.
DeleteIt's so hard to get old and not do the things we want to do and used to do without a thought. I completely understand your husband. I've actually done the same thing, racing the kids.
Yikes. You really DID go and bang yourself up good. So sorry for your pain and surgery but holy crap I'm jealous of your trip and you get to meet LIZZI? In real life? I'm jealous!!! I'd postpone the surgery too. And a good excuse to have people fetch you things. That part will be fun. I know it goes without saying because you will and they'll be awesome but please please take a ton of photos!!!???
ReplyDeleteSigh. I'm really excited for you!
Unfortunately, I really did.
DeleteI do, I do get to meet the real Lizzi in person. I hear her sister will be making a chocolate cake for the occasion, too.
It has been nice to see the kids jump without question when I need a drink of water or something.
I will take lots and lots of photos. Have no fear.
Be good! Be good! Be good! A trip is worth the short-term inconveniences!
ReplyDeleteAy-carumba lady!!! Go big or go home. Eeep!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear you'll still be able to go on your trip. Bummer about surgery afterwards though. Kudos to your kids for stepping up/in!!!
Take care and no more sporting events for you...well at least not without full body armour. :)
You're not kidding! When you do something, you go big...even injuries. That is terrible and I'm so sorry. My husband jumped off a diving board three years ago and completely tore his quadricep tendon. It rolled up like a window shade and it was nasty, He's a tough guy and he was down for the count.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could say I wasn't jealous about the trip to England. But I can't I've always wanted to travel to England. And you get to meet our Lizzi! Yep, definitely jealous but terribly happy for you at the same time! Enjoy!
oh my word! What a bad time to be injured! Not that there's ever a good time, I guess. God bless your youngins', they've jumped right in. I loved your later post about all those who helped you get around. I had wrist surgery when my older two were 7 and 4. They were so concerned and helpful, washing dishes and making a mess. I loved it. :-) Will be interesting to follow your recovery.
ReplyDelete