Well, yesterday I did just that. I tumbled right down the stairs. OK, that is a bit of an exaggeration since all I did was miss the bottom stair and fall down. It hurt really bad, though---the worst pain I have ever felt.
The main reason that I fell down the stairs--or is that "stair"--is that I was reading as I was walking down them. It seems to me that walking and reading might be the in-house version of texting and driving. You shouldn't be doing it.
Right after this happened, all 3 of my kids were gathered around me, not sure of what to do. One of the boys mused aloud whether or not they should call daddy. I couldn't say much because I was too busy crying. Kids don't react well to that.
I managed to get upstairs and the boys got it together. They brought me water, advil, a bag of ice and a fleece blanket that has race cars all over it. I guess Josiah thought that his blankie was the best in the house.
I made a phonecall to my herbalist/midwife/naturopathic friend (I really need to think of a good title for her!) and she came over to test whether my ankle was broken or not. She has her handy tuning fork with her to assess the situation. With Susie you never know what you are going to get. Once when Danika had a horrible rash on her legs, Susie started rubbing something on her called "bear grease". Neither of us ever found out whether it was grease that bears like or actual grease from a bear. All I can say is that it worked and the rash left soon after.
Back to the tuning fork.
Before she laid into me I asked Susie was she was planning to do with her fork. She tapped it against her hand to get it vibrating and told me she would gently hold is against my ankle and if I ended up screaming and jumping off the couch, that would mean my ankle was broken. Let me tell you, that intimidated me a bit. On the outside I was brave, but on the inside I was thrashing about trying to make her stop. Lucky for me the fork told us that I only had a sprain. All is well.
This day taught me a number of things.
First off is that my kids are amazing. They helped in every way, yelled at me when I got up off the couch (they learned that from me!) and Aubry even wrote a newspaper article about the whole event. It is such a blessing to know that my kids are not only helpful, but also capable.
Second, reading and walking don't mix. This is one of those things that make perfect sense to most people. I guess that in my busy-ness I failed to realize that one must slow down and do things the right way in order for life to proceed. Otherwise you will end up on your face, surrounded by kids and being prodded with a tuning fork.
Third, life goes on even when my list of to-do's doesn't get done. Laundry is still piled high, there is hot chocolate mix spilled on the counter and pizza boxes are piled by the back door. But who cares? Tomorrow I will get up and take care of things while leaving my reading material on the table.
Fourth, I am terrible patient. Sitting down all day was SO HARD TO DO and I tried hard to get up as much as possible. I was acting like my hubs does when he is sick. Maybe I need more lessons in letting go and being cared for because I really stink at it.
My ankle? Pretty much fine now, just a little tender. And you can bet that any reading I do today will be done sitting in a chair!
Have a happy day!
