All Broke Up

Well, sorry for the long dry spell.... and I can't promise the hope of much in the way of words from me...

Had a lovely beach ride nearly three weeks ago, that ended in an fall (no fault of Beau's... as I told the ER Doc, gravity just got the better of me!) I'm still not quite sure what exactly happened. Savanna and Linda and I were just enjoying the day and the next thing I knew, I was hanging in mid-air! I had just allowed Beau to break to the canter- we were 6 or 8 strides in; "chasing" after Billy on his bike when I had ended up parting ways with my saddle. There was no issue- no spook, no buck, no shy or bolt- I just fell. I'm not sure if it was a balance thing with the ever bigger belly, or what... but in an effort not to have the baby hit the ground, I tried to land on my feet. Saved the belly, but broke the ankle!

Shattered it really. I broke both sides of my right ankle, shearing off the top of the joint space on the medial aspect of the limb. We rather ingeniously got myself and all three horses, 2 kids and dog off the beach and headed out. I didn't want to go to the closest ER, I wanted to hit the hospital where we are doing the baby; where my Mom works... so I made Bill bring the kids and trailer home then we did the drive to the hospital. After x-rays and an ER visit, it was clear we needed an ortho consult... on a Sunday... humm. We had an ultrasound to be sure and sat attached to a heart rate monitor for baby all afternoon. Basically as I told them, he never touched the ground, and Beau never touched me. In fact after I came off he stopped and backed up a few strides (as did Squeeke! Good pony!) So; broken ankle but the baby remains safe and sound.

We went home with no pain meds- lets not drug the baby thanks... and waited a LONG night to see the orthopedist in the am. After he reviewed the case he recommended surgery. Well, not what I wanted to hear... so we opted for a cat scan to be sure it was really the only option. Another long night, and another test later- yup. No choice. 27 weeks pregnant and under the knife! Sigh. And to boot, there was such significant swelling they were not comfortable going thru the soft tissue... so I had to wait a WEEK for surgery. Lets be clear folks. Tylenol is for headaches and such- not broken bones. And, then with upset tummy issues I had to even stop taking that. I'm confined to the recliner and crappy living room futon, bearing the brunt of broken bone pain and pregnancy symptoms. Heartburn anybody?! I am only up on crutches for the bathroom and totally non weight bearing...100% reliant on others for everything.

Finally surgery day arrived and as unhappy about the procedure as I was, I was glad to be "fixed" and on the road to recovery. They were able to stabilize the joint with a plate and 8 screws, and left the outer break to mend as it was pretty clean. I was kept most of the day to let the spinal wear off... yup, I was awake for the whole thing! I wanted to do what was best for the baby, so minimal drugs please! After I regained function of my legs, we headed home. BAD idea! After just a few hours it was clear that even after 4 percoset dosed out over the course of the afternoon, and some Advil to boot, I wasn't going to "hang!" Another ER visit and then an admit for a night stay with some better pain management... lets see if the kid comes out "looking for glue" as my Mom says... but I needed it!

Before we were sent home this time, we had another ultrasound- they checked baby's kidney function (for drug exposures) and my amniotic fluid levels. Based on great results there, we got cleared to use ibuprofen a few days for pain, as well as the percoset and tylenol... came home in the afternoon and back to the chair I went. Well, pain meds and I don't do well. Nausea and vomiting, and then day 3 off the meds I went. Another 10 days of sitting, and yesterday we finally had our follow up. We opted not to do another x-ray, as we will need one in 6 weeks... and Id like to minimize exposure (I know, kinda late now?!) so had the stitches out and a hard fiberglass cast put on. I have until Dec. 7th for non weight bearing- boring stuck at home can't do anythingness. Then they will x-ray and I'll get an air cast "boot" for 6 more weeks of progressive weight bearing and then rehab. Sigh!

My Mom and Bill's Mom, and the kids have been great. It's hard to let go of control and let others do for you... but I'm managing. I've missed a lot of fun kid events, but did manage to sit in the car while Bill drove me along behind the kids door to door trick or treating last night. It's a real drag to be stuck with my foot up, you don't really realize how much you do day to day, until you can't do it! I've certainly missed the computer- but with no lap-top getting to and sitting at the desk top has been pretty out of the question. The kids were desperate for the TV (we just have the living room one) so I escaped the candy trading, sponge bob event and have myself propped up on Bills for now. My leg is on an chair with pillow underneath and I'm craning to see the screen and reach the keyboard lined up perpendicular to the desk, but "My" space (and the bedroom) are out. There is no way to negotiate the spiral stairs, and I sure miss the horses, but I'll be fixed soon enough, the baby is fine and hopefully there will be no lingering issues from the break. Bill bought me a new "bed" yesterday- a much nicer futon for the living room, so hopefully sleeping will get better- sometimes I get overwhelmed when I think about the timing... the baby, the holidays, the kids... but it could have been so much worse and I am thankful for good insurance and supportive family! I'll hopefully be up and around more soon, but until then posts will certainly be slower! And once I can get down to my computer etc, I do have some very nice shots from that day at the beach- Savanna got Squeeke into the water!

A Big Baby Day

http://carters.kidslineinc.com/products/collections/tree_tops.php

I realize this is a ridiculously small picture... but it is the nursery collection we have decided to use for the baby. It is by Carters, and called Tree Tops (or Forest Friends... they are making a few changes to the set) I love it! The raccoon is my favorite, and although the baby won't have a nursery per se, I can't wait to get his little area all set up in this stuff! My Mom and I went yesterday and did our registry, so we are all set for what we want. Now, we just have to keep waiting!

Bill and I also had our first birthing class last night. He is sweet to go through it all again with me. I want as natural a birth experience as I can have, so it was important to me to take these classes. We opted to take hypnobirthing... or the Mongan Method. Now I know what you think- yipes. Crazy lady! Well, its not hypnosis as in a stage act- more of a deep natural relaxation and body awareness technique. I am excited for the prospect of empowering myself enough so I can go through my birth with minimal intervention. I have long known that a natural birth experience was what I wanted- I always wondered how we as a society got to the point where birth is such a commercial event- we have been sold an expectation of a drama filled labor necessitating loads of drugs and medical procedures for a successful outcome. I know this is not the case- it's not true of births around the rest of the world, and it's not true for all of the other animal forms that share our planet. The female body was designed to do this... why are we led to believe was are patients who need interventions? I wish to be allowed to be a parent, and welcome our baby boy into the world by the way I was designed... I know my body can do this. I want the opportunity to allow it to be so.

I have watched plenty of horses foal, and know that all of the other creatures on our planet are able to birth their babies unassisted and without medical intervention... so why can't I?! We will deliver in a hospital setting (both because my Mom is a nurse there, and because it really is the best place in terms of dealing with special circumstances) but I hope that through this class, as well as though my ability to work with my body, we can bring this little guy into the world with no chemicals in either of our systems, and without the stress and trauma of a pain filled and fear based delivery. Here's to roughly 15 more weeks of preparing and 5 more weeks of Wednesday night classes!

Shades of My Day

The kids are back in school. The cool evenings have arrived. Most of the bugs are gone. The horses are starting to get their fluffy winter coats. The trails are a blaze in color. It's official... Fall has arrived in New England.

The reds and oranges and yellows are amazing... my pictures do them no justice, the leaves are gorgeous this year. Beau and I enjoyed a nice walk on the trails this morning, and it was beautiful! He was a bit wound up; I have not ridden since our beach ride last week, and he wasn't too sure about going out alone. The wind was blowing, leaves falling as we went along. I knew I needed to be careful, he felt a bit unpredictable, but the call of the fall leaves was more than I could bear!

Fall is certainly my favorite time of year (remind me of that come may or June when I say spring is my favorite) I love the crisp feeling in the air, the bug free rides, the show Mother Nature puts on for us. It won't be too long before winter is upon us, I must get out and enjoy as much of it now as I can! He really was a good boy, and I was so glad to soak up some of the many shades of the season.

Happy 40th

Today is Bill's birthday... I'm trying desperately to upload a photo from my phone... but it just won't cooperate- so I'm using this one Savanna took of Bill on our Acadia trip. He looks like a goof ball, but this is his "happy shirt" and is exactly how I picture him in my head... sexy? Maybe not. However, this is MY Bill; wearing his "day off" clothes and playing around with the kids... My favorite look

So, it's true, he turned the big 4-0 today, and wasn't too thrilled about it. We had a quiet day planned with the kids- a small family party and formal fox hunt with his parents. Then we found out that the kiddos biological mother was coming... why she chose THIS weekend I'll never know... but it is her court appointed weekend for sleepover visitation (she has one each month... has she taken them at all in any of the other 11 months this year?! NOOOO!! But, Bill's birthday.... ugg. don't get me started!) He was pretty bummed about not being able to spend it with them, so we took it even more low key that I had originally planned. We did a brunch with his parents and one sister yesterday before the kids left and did manage to squeeze in a cake before she arrived. Then we went to a movie last night and after letting him sleep in this morning we went up for the potluck at the hunt... which was fine with me. It poured yesterday, and I knew the footing wold be bad. Plus, i don't fit into my boots or jacket... so the formal aspect of the hunt was proving to be difficult for me anyhow! After a nice lunch and another cake, we spent the afternoon shopping at Sears- we got the snow blower attachment for the new lawn tractor we purchased earlier this summer. A large birthday present for him, and hopefully a clear driveway all winter for me! We also looked over some baby stuff and I got a better idea of some of the things he wants- which is good as I planned to do the registry this week.

I know that this wasn't at all the day he had in mind, but I hope that as he eased into the next decade he was able to relax a little and enjoy himself, and I hope he knows how excited and lucky I feel to be heading into this new year with him! I can only image what 40 feels like (I've got another 10 years to go!) and I know he didn't feel like making a big deal of it, but in my opinion it is a big deal. And I'm so glad we get to experience all that this new chapter has to offer, it is really going to be an amazing year for us! Happy birthday honey- I love you!