As I am sitting here on the couch and my family is running to different directions, I have a lot of time to think about EVERYTHING…which is sometimes not a good thing. During our lives there is never a good time to have broken bones, have an injury, or to be sick.
THERE IS NEVER A GOOD TIME!!! But I would say that right now is one of the worst times.
It is a very humbling and hard experience.
Three and 1/2 weeks ago on a Sunday morning, Kaleb and I went to irrigate and check cows. As we were driving, I was planning the next two weeks for fair prep and fair week. Preparing for fair week can be extremely stressful and overwhelming, but I was bound and determined to make sure that I was organized enough so that it was not that way! My college roommate and her husband had come to visit and help with the house, and I was planning on spending the rest of the day hanging out with them. It was a great day and I was excited for where is it was going and how productive the day would be. I felt on top of my world!!
We were finishing up irrigating and I took a step down the hill, my foot slipped, my ankle turned, fell right on it, and heard a loud pop. I was in so much pain! I knew I had broke it! A thousand thoughts flooded my mind! I was sad, frustrated, disappointed and in pain. I was trying to think of ways how I could have avoided what just happened, and hoping it was a dream. Kaleb immediately asked what he could do to help and I snapped at him to just leave me be, should have handled that better. After a few minutes, I asked Kaleb to help me get to the 4-wheeler, take my boot off, get me to the car, and then to the ER. So grateful that he was there to help; not sure what I would have done without him.
We were in the ER for about 20 minutes by the time the Dr said it was broke, which I already knew. Then we had to wait for the boot and crutches. Brad and Brock were off clipping cattle for a county fair and had no service and the girls were home with my college roommate. What a mess I made of our Sunday!!!! All I could think of how in the world are we going to figure this out and I had way too much to do to be BROKE AND NON WEIGHT BEARING! We waited until Wednesday for the orthopedic appointment. My roommate and her husband stayed another night and were great help with all the chaos that we had going.
On Wednesday, Brad and I went to the orthopedic surgeon and were told surgery was needed and we needed to do it at the Dr’s next available time. Plus I would be 6 weeks non weight bearing from surgery date, not braking date! Our next step was talking to the scheduler, the first worlds out her mouth were surgery would be scheduled for the next Thursday. I heard Thursday and just started cry…Thursday we show sheep and cattle at our county fair. My heart sunk! There was no way in the world that was going to work! I looked at Brad with my eyes full of tears and just said I cannot do this. Brad told me that we would work things out. He informed the scheduler that that would not work and neither would Wednesday because Emma shows pigs. After a long drawn out time searching for a date, we finally settled on Tuesday of fair week. WHAT THE HECK! HOW WAS THIS GOING TO EVEN WORK DURING FAIR!!!
For those of you that don’t know me, I am a very hands on mother when it comes to fair and life in general. I am a mom that loves wearing many hats, not always good at it but that’s just what I do. I enjoy spending time working with my children and the great family time that happens during county fair. There are so many wonderful memories that we have during this time. They are my WHY. My reason to get up in the morning and I will never do anything to change that. I felt so much guilty to add this to our week and really be no help at all. Thinking about it just made me sad and sick to my stomach.
My sister came up and helped with things around the house and getting food ready for the county fair. We went to Sam’s Club and got all the food supplies. She cooked for an entire day getting things ready and by the time she left, we had all the food ready for two meals/day for 6 days. Having that done for fair week was a huge deal for me. I am so thankful and did not want to see her leave.
The kids and Brad did a great job getting everything ready for fair. They got animals clipped and shorn and all the tack and feed packed and loaded. Sunday we took things in to the fairgrounds and had fan cage set up along with a few other things. I felt worthless just sitting watching but it kept my mind off of surgery and at least I was with everyone. Monday we hauled livestock in and spent the day weighing in animals and getting everything situated.
Tuesday was surgery day. It was in the afternoon so I was able to spend the morning at the fair with my family.
Brad and I went to the surgical center and they took me back to get situated. They told me that while I was waiting Brad could come back to talk to me but things were moving fast and he only got a came back for a quick second. When he came back I started to cry a little and then I saw my mom and I just lost it. What is it about seeing my mom that just makes me cry? I was so grateful to have her there. When I called and asked her to come, I told her that she was in charge of taking care of me and Brad was in charge of the kids and the animals during fair week. I am blessed to have a mom who comes to help when babies are born and when surgery happens. She seems to just make things better!
Surgery went well and the block was wonderful and lasted for a day and a half. I appreciate all the help and the kind words at the fairgrounds and all the support I have there for my kids. I was not going to miss them showing. With me being down, everyone was going to have to step up and that’s what bothered me the most about the entire situation. I was going to rely on people to do things that I would normally do. And a lot of that would be on my family.
We got through fair. Our kids were blessed and we had a great fair. Emma showed pigs for the first time and her calves. Brock showed a steer, MJ who has been a wonderful challenge for Brock. Maryann took sheep and cattle. Brad worked to keep up with everyone. And Kaleb announced a couple shows and was so involved. It was a successful fair. A different feeling but still a fair full of memories. My mom stayed a week and now my mother-in-law is here for a week. I am so blessed and grateful that they both have been able to help.
I got stitches out this week and then have a follow up September 13th and am non weight bearing until then. This is going to be hard, I know that. Kaleb will be leaving to finish his last semester at WT, the kids will start school, Maryann and Emma will start volleyball, sale calves will get weaned, haying will happen, state fair, and everything in between will occur. I have more tears that will flow and more frustrations to come. But we will get through this because we have no choice and I know there is really no good time to be broken. I do know that I am grateful for eveyone’s help and for all the love and support people have shown our family. I am frustrated but extremely blessed, even if this is the worst time of the year.
