1st Week

The first few days at home, my body was really achy every time I got up to go to the bathroom. Maybe this was from the accident or maybe that's what lying in bed with no activity does to your body very quickly.

By Sunday morning, I woke up with an awful back ache. I knew I couldn't last on the couch so I started to think of my options. I had also started my period which gave me a back ache but I didn't really think that was the true culprit. I finally remember that my father-in-law had a day bed but it was on the 2nd story of their house. I wasn't sure they'd be able to move it to my house and I wanted hubby to ask our neighbor to help out. He's pretty strong and willing to help when asked. What I didn't know was the daybed could be taken apart. So my hubby and his dad moved the daybed into our living room. It's much wider, doesn't sag your back into a bow, and more comfortable.

Jan 2nd, I called into work to let them know of my new found condition. I didn't know when I'd be back to work but I had already looked up my accrued leave time. Between sick, vacation and personal leave, I had 15 total days. Three weeks was not a lot of time for this situation especially if I had to go back into surgery.

On Monday, Jan 5th, hubby went back to work and the kids went back to school. I was going to stay home alone for the day. I was hoping I would be okay. I knew I couldn't take any risks. Attempt going upstairs, going outside, be very careful with my crutches. No unexpected falls. I had my essentials handy. Our weather was mostly rainy and/or cold with a rare sunny day. So the dogs stayed inside to keep me company but that also meant I had to let them out to go potty. I just hoped they wouldn't act up and choose these times to run off.

This 1st week at home, I learned how to manage in the kitchen. I could make some oatmeal, and put the bowl in a basket, then hold onto the basket, and hobble with crutches back to the recliner in our den. John's dad got me a walker for longer periods in the kitchen. I didn't use it too much but if I had to stand in one place, like at the stove or sink, it worked out a little better than the crutches. My awesome husband made me a sandwich for my lunch so I didn't have to worry about making anything myself. I was trying to drink lots of water, eat healthy, stay off sugar, so to further help ward off an infection in my foot. When my husband got home from school, he would help me change the dressing on my foot. I got to where I could do this on my own but at first it helped to have him assist.

A friend of ours called me Monday during the day. This was her last day in town before moving to Washington DC area. She asked if I needed any help. I didn't think of anything until I got off the phone. I really liked the two pairs of pants hubby and my sister had got me at Wal-Mart and knew it would make my life easier to just have a whole weeks worth. So I asked her to go to the store for me to buy more. She had to go down near Wal-Mart anyway to close out an account at a bank so it worked out well for her and me. She got me 4 more pairs so now I had 6 pairs, enough to last a week. I could do laundry every weekend and be all set every day. I knew my husband was pretty busy with having to pick up the extra load, so this was a tremendous help to me.

My better half was busy with after school soccer activities with the kids. We had one driving and one still needing to be carpooled everywhere. He left the house at 7 and didn't return until 6 on most days so I didn't like being an additional burden to him.