Later that Night

Well, my Friday night double-header was cut short in about the third inning of the first game when I slid into third base and felt a good pop in my ankle. I tried to get up, but couldn't put weight on my leg.

Our team officially called it a rough night when, shortly thereafter, another player re-pulled his hamstring. He and I shared company on the bench with our leaky icepacks.

It became apparent that I was not going to be playing the rest of the night, so I called Scott to see if he could come get me. Given that he was watching the kids at home, it took a bit of doing (thanks, Janell!!) to get them situated before he could come down to Littleton to get me. (Side note: Little Zach chose this night to stay up, asking questions about the map in his room and to just generally chat until about 11pm! Again, THANK YOU, Janell.)

So Scott got down to the field, literally (not the best idea) picked me up, and drove us to the closest ER for an x-ray. I was x-rayed and evaluated fairly quickly, told that the ankle wasn't broken, fitted for crutches, and then made to wait for the administrator to "check me in" before we could go. Gotta love the ER.

After a stop at the gas station for some cereal - patient's wish - we got home a little after midnight. Thank you, Janell, for spending your Friday night on our couch.

We were told that the first few days are critical in the recovery process. Elevate and ice, and stay off it. Scott, who's had an injury or two, made himself the not-so-nice-but-very-effective home-care nurse. I was ice-packed and elevated in bed, and made to rest on the couch for the next couple of days. Boy, those ice baths for the foot are not - I repeat, not - comfortable at all.

The swelling did go down some, and the pain did go up, though it was never completely unbearable. At least as long as I didn't put weight on it. The several times I did catch it on something, I didn't quite catch the four-letter-words that escaped. I wish I could remember the "explanation" I gave Zach for one of them...

Wouldn't you know that timing was such that Scott had 4 day work trip, starting the Tuesday after my injury. That was an interesting period. Me hobbling around after two little energizer bunnies, determined not to be completely inadequate. And being SO grateful that both bunnies could walk. I do not know what I would have done otherwise. I did lose a few pounds during that time. It takes quite a bit of energy to keep up with bunnies and to use crutches going up the stairs and bummin-in down the stairs and to get so sore from the crutches that I reverted to hopping around instead. Whew! And, boy, it's hot out when it's summer in CO and you're hopping all over the place. The funniest (sad kind of funny) scene was probably when I was hopping up the hill of the Target parking lot, using the cart as my crutch, my crutches hanging out the front, with Olivia sitting in the cart, and Zach hanging onto the front. Quads burning, sweat dripping fun.

*I'm writing this post 3 months later, and just in the last couple of weeks have I finally been able to walk, and almost run, normally. Finally.*