Monday 5 July 2021

Baby Toes and a Stick in the Eye

 It's been a whirlwind of activity lately at the old homestead. Son has been home for reading week from college and he was able to enjoy some time with friends, pool parties, and such. Our daughter and her long time boyfriend have embarked on a big life moment, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post about it, but suffice it to say everyone is happy. On Canada Day (and yes, I'm still proud to be Canadian) I was throwing together a hamburger supper and husband thought he'd add some more fuel to the burn barrel (which is no longer a barrel, but a cut-in-half old oil tank which holds a lot more than a barrel). He gathered up an armload of my cuttings (a shrubbery!) and as he was pushing the branches in, one supple branch snapped back, or sproinged, as he described it, right in his eye. 

At the same time, daughter and long time boyfriend, who were suffering some flu-like symptoms from their second covid shots the day before were in the midst of their big life dealings, a guy was coming to do a porch purchase of some classic car stuff (carpet? door things? who knows) from husband, and I was pretty sure we should head over to Emerg. at our tiny local hospital (which incidentally is only open until 8:00 p.m., so don't hurt yourself after 8:00). Husband still managed to wolf down a hamburger and then off we went to Emerg. Of course, I couldn't come in, so I sat in the car (but on the side street because I refuse to pay to park at a hospital - it's one of my pet peeves - nobody should have to pay when they go to the hospital as it's bad enough to be at the hospital because you're likely not doing so well, or someone you love isn't doing so well, so why should you pay when the money doesn't even go to the hospital? There, I'll get down from my soapbox.) He got seen fairly quickly and that doctor didn't like when she was seeing (something about a pressure difference between his good eye and his bad eye), so she referred him to a bigger hospital that had an opthemologist (sp?) on call, so off we went 45 minutes away, and of course I couldn't come in to that hospital either, so I parked down the street and husband was seen by the doctor there who prescribed antibiotic drops and gave him a "band-aid contact lense" so it would heal smoothly. He had another appointment a couple of days ago, and goes back one more time in two more days. Things are healing well, and I'm glad they took it seriously. You shouldn't mess with eyeballs.

So... then on Sunday, I ran into town because I needed gas and I also went to the L.C.B.O (liquor store - here in Ontario, alcohol is sold at the L.C.B.O., or The Beer Store, or in some bigger grocery stores, there is a section where you can buy wine. You can't buy alcohol at the corner variety store. As I was pulling up to the counter, I managed to slam my baby toe (I was in sandals) into the wheel of the shopping cart (I think, it was something at the bottom) and it hurt like blazes and I had to stop to suck air through my teeth, do some having-a-baby breathing, and not swear. I made my purchases (the girl at the counter didn't say anything like, "Oh, are you o.k.?" or "Do you need a bandaid?" or even "Serves you right for buying more alcohol than you could carry in your hand!") Just walking out to the car was agonizing. I figured I had hacked off part of my toe and didn't even want to look, but I did look, and there was no blood, but holy cow did it hurt. It hurt so much that I decided I had to go home and not continue my bit of shopping. Even pushing on the accelerator hurt (yes, it's my right foot). 

I kept thinking, I do NOT want to go to Emerg. Nothing will happen on a Sunday. If they want to X-ray it, they'll just tell me to come back on Monday when the technician is working. And do I even need to be seen anyway?? I've had broken toes before, but never the baby toe. I never saw a doctor for the other two, just hobbled around, buddy taped them to their neighbour toe and watched them turn purple with bruising. I got in the house and told husband I thought I had broken my baby toe and he did the whole, "What?!?! HOW???" thing and I was so disappointed and so P.O.'d because I knew I'd messed up a chunk of my summer. Walking is a pretty standard thing, we have a big property, I have a lot of gardens, I have chickens to tend to, I have 16 steps to go upstairs... and I know how long it takes until broken toes start to not feel broken anymore. I just wished I could go back in time and not slam my foot into that cart. Alas, I could not. I iced it and took pain killers and sulked.

So... this is the next day after the great toe incident, and yes, I'm hobbling. The positives are that I'm no longer working, so it's not like I have to be teaching with a broken toe. Also, it's summer, not winter, so I don't have to worry about trying to cram my foot into a shoe or boot. Tomorrow I go to get my second Covid shot. I'll be hobbling in there regardless. At least I know people will be distancing, so I don't have to worry about someone accidentally stepping on me - ha ha! 

I have two books at home to read, so I can put my feet up (foot up) and read and watch my weeds grow and little bit by little bit it will start to feel better. Between husband with his one eye (Arrrghhh matey) and me with one sandal on, one off, hobbling around, we're quite the pair. Son drove back to his college town tonight. It's been lovely and hot with a brief interlude of thunder and about four minutes of rain. That's my life lately. What are you up to?

37 comments:

  1. Oh Jenn, you your husband are having a right old time of it (as my Gran would say). With all the woes of Mr Man's eye troubles & surgeries over the last 6 years, I am so glad your husband was seen to right away - sight is SO precious. You never know how much each little toe takes on until you injure one of them. Thank goodness you got to the LCBO first (col). YEAH to 2nd shot of your COVID vaccine & on the q.t. - congratulations to your daughter & her partner (wink wink). ... Mary-Lou =[..]^=

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    1. Oh, it's not the wink wink you are probably thinking of, but a really good other wink wink.

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    2. I'm thinking of the Beyoncé song ... if you like it put a ring on it ...

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    3. Nope, that will happen, but not right now. This is a major purchase big life event.

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  2. Busy, busy life!
    Sorry about your toe woes. I stubbed my toe on a chair a few years ago and my doctor told me not to even come in. Just tape it to the toe next to it. Apparently that’s all he would have done, too.

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    1. Good, that makes me feel better about not seeing a dr. about it!

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  3. I've broken my toes a couple of times in the past - silly accidents like stubbing my toe against a brick wall and another time falling out of the back door while wearing my husband's slippers. Really painful but all you can do is tape them up.

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    1. I see I am not alone! The brick wall incident must have hurt!

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  4. Sending Hugs Jenn. Bless your heart, the story you told made me laugh. Not at your misfortune but at your sense of humor. My daughter just broken her little toe on a fan cord she got tangled up in. Oh my gosh. She had to wear a boot for a week. Take care of each other there. Yes, put your feet up for a while. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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    1. Hi Susie! How nice to get a comment from you. I hope you are doing well!

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  5. What a week! Sometimes enforced confinement is a good opportunity to push a reset button and, well, enjoy some time sitting down reading for instance. The weeds won't really hurt anything.

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    1. Sitting down for extended periods is tough for me, but you're right, sometimes it's enforced confinement.

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  6. You two need to take it easy! Heal quickly!

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  7. I feel for you as these are the sort of incidents we have. Such a pain and I totally get that feeling that you wish you could step back in time and not do it. Like others have said the weeds will keep, you just need to take care of yourself.

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  8. I broke my baby toe once when, one morning while still half asleep, I stubbed it against my full, heavy briefcase that was sitting on the floor. It hurt so much I couldn't even SWEAR. And yes, I taped it, wore tight shoes and it took forever to heal. Even now, 35 years later, it still occasionally aches from arthritis due to that ancient breakage. I feel for you! And I hope your husband's eye heals without incident too.

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    1. I feel for everyone who has also broken a toe / toes, but apart from the pain factor, it's actually quite interesting to hear everyone's stories. I'll think of you in 35 years (??).

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  9. I don’t think anything hurts worse than an injured toe! It doesn’t seem to take a big hit to cause a lot of pain! Scary about your husband’s eye! Time for both of you to heal!

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  10. I broke a toe summer before last, so I sympathize with you. It's a bad thing any time of year, but summer is undoubtedly the worst. And I didn't even have gardens or chickens or anything to tend! I guess it's as good an excuse as any to sit inside where it's cool and catch up on either reading or tv viewing--or both!

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  11. Gee, you’re having a bit of a time. Sorry to hear about it. Yeah, you don’t want to screw around with eyeballs because you only get two. My mother always said that when she thought I was doing something dangerous near my eye. Congrats on your daughter’s thing whatever it is.

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  12. Ouch! I tend to avoid our ER unless absolutely necessary too, as you can sit there for 6-8 hours and still never be seen. Agree too that hospital parking fees are inappropriate. I hope you both heal quickly.

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  13. If you like mysteries, check out a mother son writing team who write under the name Charles Todd.

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  14. What a nightmare of a weekend. Hope that's the end of your bad luck. Rent some DVDs and take it easy but don't forget to feed the chooks!

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  15. I hope you get a great collection of broken toe stories! Here's one of mine. My oldest daughter a.l.w.a.y.s! dropped her books, coat, anything else she was carrying at the front leg of the piano, at the foot of the stairs, but on the other side of the way into the kitchen. One morning that pile had somehow spread across the kitchen opening, to the bottom of the stairs. I was so irritated, I took a mighty swing with my right leg to move it, and stove my toe into some oversized book. I was still working and wearing three inch heels. But I went to work in my slippers for at least a month.

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    1. This should have been a "Mundane Monday" where everyone shared how they broke their toes!! Holy cow, Joanne.

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  16. Oh dear - what a few days you've had - but glad to read that you are both feeling better.
    My broken toes story happened in a fit of temper - I kicked the back of what I though was a soft, cushioned piece of furniture - turned out I hit the solid wood frame instead! Ouch! Two broken toes and yes, I went to work in slippers for a couple of weeks. Enjoy the enforced rest.

    And yes, I too am still proud to be Canadian.

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  17. You've had quite the time with injuries. I'm glad the eye injury is healing nicely. Toe injuries are so painful and take what feels like forever to heal. They say, "accidents happen"... two at once?

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  18. Oh, Jenn! Your husband's eye injury was (potentially) more serious than your broken toe, but yours is a real pain in the . . . well, toe. Being sidelined, as you are, at this time of year has got to create lots of frustration. A friend recently tore off the nail of her big toe (caught under a screen door) and I still cringe even thinking of it. She said it was one of the most painful things she's ever experienced. Our toes are extremely sensitive and hurt a lot while healing because we can't avoid using them each and every time we move. Heal fast . . . to both of you!

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    1. Oh, that story made me feel "icky"!! I'm still managing to get around, but don't feel like I can try to put on rubber boots or gardening shoes yet.

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  19. ouch ouch ouch

    I had forgotten about the LCBOs. Funny how I associate them with positive memories viz. being on holiday and wanting some liquor.

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  20. Add me to the broken baby toe list. Was practicing a dance routine (obviously many decades ago) and did a very strong side kick without realizing just how close I was to a wall...let's just say I didn't dance for a long time. Even now I remember it was excruciatingly swear-worthy experience. Took ages to heal (especially as I had to wear shoes--twas fall/winter), so I feel your pain. Glad your husband's eye is healing well. Scary stuff.

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  21. I do hope that by now both you and hubby are healing and feeling much better. Broken toes are painful, and one must always take good care of the eyes. Keep that foot up and enjoy a book or two. Hugs, Edna B.

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  22. What is it with the ER/hurts these days? We spent all day with Rick in ER yesterday (and probably surgery tomorrow). My friend in London ON was in all day with her husband and now this news from you, which sounds GRIM and PAINFUL. I'm SO sorry. Bad broken baby toe is no fun -- but you're right about the sandals and summer. If you have to have one, comfy shoe season is best. I hope it heals very quickly. Be careful hobbling that you don't throw out your back/hip! Sending all good healing wishes.

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  23. I'm with you on the parking situation at hospitals! Here we do not have to pay, but where we lived in Texas, we had to pay, and there were always sketchy people on the side streets, eyeing the cars of those who didn't park in the lots!

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  24. Oh Jenn...I hope you both get better soon! A broken toe? I could not afford one of those that's for sure. Our E/R here is only open until 8pm as well, otherwise it's a 90 minute drive to Saint John. I agree with you about the parking at hospitals, it's like, kick me when I'm down please.

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  25. HOLY MOLY! What a period. I hope you feel better soon and your husband, too. I am totally in agreement with the parking at hospitals! There shouldn't be a charge. I recently had an appointment and my husband waited on the side of the entrance for me, prepared to move if he was told to. Thankfully he wasn't. No way will we pay for parking if we can manage not to.

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