Slammin on the Brakes.......

Forget Switzerland. I know, I know what I said. But we have to forget about it for now. Just wipe it from your memory, because we have a new focus for 2011. And it is not the happy, wonderful, blissful paradise of the alps in Switzerland.

You see, there is nothing quite like a major injury to slam hard on the brakes of life. And after 41 years of MY life, I have managed to achieve my first injury. And it's a pretty major one. One that will require a LOT downtime and physical therapy if I am to get back to the active life that I love.

SO. I have made the decision, that in order to help me focus during my copius amount of downtime, and to hopefully keep from being a 300 lb alcoholic, in need of both rehab and fat camp....I shall blog my road to recovery here! Lets just get started,
shall we?

Here I am, in happier times. The picture of youth and vitality with my three kids and my two working legs. They were good times, those days. The good ole' days. In fact they were just a few days ago. I was skiing and running and doing yoga and lifting and squatting and lunging. So happy......so oblivious to the danger and tragedy that did lie ahead. Today, dear readers I cannot even use the toilet without the aid of crutches. How far we fall.
Now, I know what you are thinking. You're thinking, "uh-huh..ya got cocky didn't ya? you an yer skiing an yer yoga an crap. Ya tried to do too much didn't ya?" But you are wrong. Let me explain:
It was Savannahs birthday and Jackson and I were treating her to a day of snowboarding and lunch and dinner out. The day was gorgeous! 8 inches of fresh snow, snow still on the trees and bright, clear, blue skies and sunshine. After arriving at the resort, the kids of course immediately left me to go on the more challenging slopes with their snowboards. We decided on a meeting time, and off they went. I stayed on the more moderate slopes.
I learned to ski last year, and I still happily do slow S's down the slopes. I had been down the slope several times when I noticed my right ski felt like it was digging into the snow a little. I looked down and discovered that the prongs on the ski binding had come down, just enough to drag a bit. I popped off the ski, and reattached the boot again, and PRESTO! Good to go. (Word to the wise: if there is EVER anything even SLIGHTLY wrong with your rented skis.....TURN THEM IN.) On my next run down the slope, I began to turn to the left, pushing on my right ski, and the prongs came down again and dug into the snow. So in the middle of my turn, my right leg slowed way down, while my left leg was still traveling at regular speed. After that, it was all twisting, and jerking, and legs and skis and a pile of rubber bands snapping in my left knee. My faulty skis STILL never popped off! My legs were all over the place in the most unnatural of positions, and I had to pop the skis off manually. Finally, I was able to grab my left leg and straighten it.
Ow. Pain.
*sparkly things...black spots....passing out....no-no...still here....not passing out*
I thought that perhaps I could hobble over to a nearby lift, get back to the lodge and then rest it, put some ice on it and all would be fine. SO, I manage to stand, I take a step on my left leg and POP! I crumple to the ground as my left knee has no way to support me. That was the WORST, most helpless feeling EVER.
Actually,I take that back. Being driven in a wagon pulled behind a snow mobile, with an 1800's-style, wooden splint on your leg is probably the worst feeling ever.
The driver of said snowmobile was a 50-something year old man who was on a major adrenaline rush at being allowed to take the snowmobile out, so he FLYING over the slopes, beeping the little snowmobile horn, and turning on the flashing lights. Meanwhile, I sat in the wagon. Snow spraying in my face, and my wooden splint bouncing all over the place like a box of unimportant refuse. If I looked ahead, through all the snow spray, all I could see was the Mr. Ski Patrollers butt as he stood up to drive, all hunched over in that position that little kids do on their bikes, to go "really fast". I passed by fellow skiers and snowboarders, as they all had to make way,...... step aside........NON-SKIER COMING THROUGH. I was glad that the snow was spraying in my face. It blocked my vision for the most part.
So now here I sit.
Rest Ice Compression Elevation. RICE. I hate acronyms.
Here is what my knee looked like the day after the accident. EEEEWwwwww!!! Look Away! Look Away!!!

It's straightened all the way out. I put my other leg out beside it for comparison, so you could see it's normal size. The verdict? Torn MCL and Torn ACL. Reconstuctive surgery.
So, here we go. The injury is behind me and the long, long, LONG road to recovery ahead of me. Much more to tell, of course.....much more.
It stinks to be injured. But it's good to be bloggin'.
Cheers!
Melissa