My one arm life

Hello friends! It's me. Jenn-Lee.

I promise I'm alive. Boy do I have a story for you. I'm going to do my best to type today using one hand. My left hand. Many of you may already know and many of you do not. I'll explain. I love girls nights. I love going to the movies, or eating at a yummy restaurant.Well, after the crazy holidays past I thought it would be fun to gather a few gals together to meet up.Except this time, I suggested we do something silly and active.Like trampolines, or bowling, or roller skating. 

We decided on roller skating and had a blast until the very end when I fell hard and ..... drumroll.... broke my elbow. At first when my feet flew out from under me and hit the floor on my tailbone/back I thought I broke my back. The pain was indescribable. I had my right arm out behind me to catch my fall. My arm was straight out and I hit my wrist which later we learned gave me a radial head fracture in my elbow. 

Cara and I, minutes before the fall.

After laying there in pain my sweet friends and some employees helped me get up. The moment I went to move my arm I knew I broke something. I felt as if I broke my wrist, elbow and shoulder. Luckily not all. It could have been much worse. My sweet angel friends were so helpful. My friend Cara took me to the ER and stayed with me the entire time even after My Conan Man got there. My friend Mindy drove my car home and Kendra stayed at our place to watch the kids until we came home. Then Cara stayed a while after that to help me with baby Tobin while Daniel helped me get settled. 

At the ER one nurse had to cut off my top (brand new Christmas present top) :( I was sad to part with it. We actually asked the nurse if he could cut along the seam so I could re sew it up. His answer " oh- well, It's not my job to worry about that. Its not going to be nice." Then he chopped it up. That was the least of my worries though. I was angry. I was angry that I had allowed myself to fall and get hurt. At the very end too. We were about to go play laser tag and I had been slowing down to get off the rink for good. I was angry, upset and extremely worried how I would take care of my children. Specifically my highly active and strong willed Sophie and my two month old.Cara and My sweetie were so kind to calm me down and remind me that everything would be ok. 

The ER sent me home with a sling, a prescription for pain reliever and a referral to an orthopedic DR. This was a Fri. night. The earliest appointment I could get was the following Wednesday morning. It was not my favorite Dr. experience but I won't get into that. I got a full arm cast and was told to come back in 6 weeks to get it off. I have a very long road ahead. Lots of physical therapy and hard work on my end to get full range of motion again.

my cast and my baby boy.

 

We were so blessed to receive lots of help that week.Friends (aka. angels) brought us meals, stayed at my home to help me clean and take care of Tobin and Sophie. Some also picked up my girls for playdates, book club etc. I saw miracles. I felt so loved and so grateful for all the service rendered. My awesome in laws offered to take the girls and I in for the duration of when I have my cast on. Daniel couldn't leave work to help me and relying on friends and my girls help is alot to ask for that long. We took the long trip here to New Mexico. We have been here a few weeks without my sweetie pie. We miss him terribly but are so grateful for the time spent here receiving help and enjoying time with Grandparents and cousins. 

missing my Conan Man!

Being away from my amazing man has been so hard on both of us. 

The reunion will be sweet.

As time goes by I am able to do more and more everyday.Sunday I was able to help get the girls bathed, braid their wet hair and help them get prettied up for church. I loved that. Right now the pain is mostly gone. I get achy if I go a while without my arm in a ling. The most frustrating thing is how difficult it is to take care of, hold, nurse etc my sweet little Tobin.Sadly the sweet little guy has had his head bumped on my cast a few times. I'm getting the hang of it more and more but its never easy. I miss just snugglin' him in my arms. Both arms. 

Well, my left arm/hand is pretty achy now after typing all this. 

I want to share with you my thoughts on some lessons 

learned through this ordeal and some fun photos as well.

  Chat with you soon. 

PS. as you can imagine life has been a bit crazy. Thank you for your emails or comments. I have not forgotten you and thank you for your kindness. I am working on getting back into the groove and should be able to reply shortly.