OW!

I don't know if it's because I grew up in a house full of girls, or if my parents did a really good job protecting me from harm, or if I've always just been very cautious--perhaps a combination of all three--but I've pretty much gone my whole life without any real injuries that have inflicted too much pain upon me. And I am so so grateful for this. But, if I believed in luck, I'd definitely have to say that this summer I've had my fair share of bad luck with injuries and painful things.

Stop reading here if you are easily grossed out. This could get graphic. Last week I went into my classroom to get everything ready (school starts in a few days) and I was organizing desks, pushing and pulling things to get it looking just right. I got my hands on this huge, heavy table and started pulling it out of the way so I could put something else where it was. I yanked it really hard and the leg of the table caught underneath my big toenail and ripped it off, in addition to cutting up my toe. (It looks like it went through a lawn mower). There was blood everywhere. I was in my classroom alone. No one was around. Naturally, I was freaking out. I crawled over to the sink area, bawling my eyes out because of the pain, got some paper towels, put pressure on it and called Jameson to come and save me. And of course he did.

We were in the ER for a few hours as they investigated the 'toe injury.' After being given 6 shots in my toe to fully numb it, they were able to ascertain that the toenail was in fact still attached by a thread in the corner, and they proceeded to shove it back in its place (to ensure that a new toenail would grow back). Ouch is right! The doctors have told me to completely stay off the foot for another week--so I'm back on crutches--which is super hard because I start teaching on Thursday. How do I do that? (Insert sad face). I'm on Vicodin. You're probably thinking: 'For a toe?' But, if you've never had something like this happen to an area where there are so many nerves, all I can say is that you have no idea! I have never felt such acute pain in my life. (And yes, I know I just admitted that I haven't had too many painful things happen to me in my life, but I don't think this is hurting so bad because of my pain tolerance). On a side not, I got a tetanus shot on one of the doctor visits and it was NOTHING compared to those six shots in my toe or the constant throbbing I feel at the tip of my body. The night we got home from the ER I cried tons--I kept pleading with Jameson to take me back to the doctors and let them cut off my entire toe. He wouldn't consent though.

I go back to see the doctor on Friday and I am really scared. I think he said he's going to try to fully remove the toenail (and this will probably make the pain subside at least a little because the nail wont be moving around on the nail bed). He was going to remove it the other day, but wanted to wait since "the shots hurt incredibly bad." Trust me, I know.

My mom gave me some good advice the other day on the phone: The best thing about you feeling that pain that day is that you know you felt it and you never have to experience that exact pain again. I hope she's right. No more owies please!!!