I Thought I Was Defying Gravity . . .

Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.

~Albert Einstein

Really? So I'm no Einstein. We've established that.

Remember this post? How I accidentally ran over Petunia?  I got her back from the shop, just like new, and then she sat in the garage and waited for me to find time to ride her.  It was a long wait.

Tuesday morning, all the planets must have aligned, because the moment presented itself, and I hit the road.  Me.  My iPod set on "Wicked."  And Petunia.

I was in the ZONE.  Music playing, legs pumping.  At one point it was all I could do to control myself and not throw my arms in the air Rocky-style at the pure excitement of being on the road.

I was approaching a stop light about four miles from home, so I unclipped my right foot--the foot closest to the curb--and stopped the bike.  Unfortunately for me, the road was sloped towards the intersection instead of towards the sidewalk as I had expected.  In an instant, I was falling and I couldn't extricate my foot fast enough to prevent the fall.  Instinctively, my left hand shot out to catch myself.

The second I hit the ground, I knew something was really wrong.  But I had four excruciating miles to go with no alternative but to ride home.  I told Brad when I finally got back that I thought something was broken, it just hurt worse than any other injury I've ever had.  He dismissed it--a sprain--and I resumed my day.

I proceeded to take four small children, 2 three-year-olds and 2 babies, to the park and then to McDonald's for lunch.  I may be getting a medal for those heroics, I'm telling you.  Pushing on the swing.  In and out of car seats and high chairs.  FOUR KIDS.

When I got home, I headed to the computer to work on my lesson for Thursday.  At the end of an hour I could no longer support the weight of a book, and I knew.  At least I hoped.  I texted our doctor, and he called ahead to get me an x-ray. (What?  You don't text your doctor?  I know. Spoiled.  MD is a family friend.)

An exam and an x-ray later, Dr. P determined that yes,it was broken, and that yes, I needed a cast.  At this point, I was just thrilled I could tell Brad I wasn't a big baby.  Then Dr. P (and our family doc) informed me ofthe bad news--a scaphoid break is difficult to mend, and it will be at least six weeks in the cast. Then a CAT scan to see if it's knitting.  Then maybe a new cast, or the insertion of screw.  Maybe up to six MONTHS.  Seriously?  Six MONTHS?  Sigh.

Let's just say that the cast and I--we have a love/hate relationship. I so love that the cast is helping me heal.  Otherwise, I hate it.  I need a good name for it--a tortured, pained name.  I'm thinking.  You got a good one?

On another note, I received the stylish blogger award from my friend Susan at Five Great Kiddos.  One of the requests is that we share seven things about ourselves.  Here's my angle:

I haven't had a giveaway in a while, so I'm going to work all these events (broken scaphoid, blogger award, and giveaway) into one amazing post. 

I'm going to list ten things I've discovered that are really hard with a broken arm.

One of the ten is actually remarkably easy to do with a cast.

One of the ten is virtually impossible to do with a cast.

And one of the ten is surprisingly difficult to do with a cast.

Whoever guesses all three correct will win a $15 gift card to Target.  Not that big of a deal, but this challenge is more for bragging rights anyway.  If there is more than one correct answer, I'll have Hyrum draw a name.  Are you up for the challenge? 

Okay, here goes.  Having a cast on your arm makes--

1.  opening pill bottles

2.  changing diapers

3.  fixing a pony tail on the back of my own head

4.  doing up my bra (TMI?  Sorry)

5.  tying shoelaces

6.  turning door knobs

7.  steering the Suburban

8.  eating a sandwich

9.  any personal hygiene associated with the right armpit (again, maybe TMI)

10.  picking up Evie

--extremely difficult.

I'll determine the winner on Monday.  Good luck, and have a break-free, cast-free, x-ray-free weekend. 

Petunia is up for a ride if anyone wants to borrow her.