Slip of the Ice...

I'm doing good, although today, nothing to worry about, I slipped on some ice on the way to work and fell on my arm and on my tummy.  Jeff dropped me off at the round-about which is maybe about a 100 yards from the door I enter to go to work, well after walking about 30 steps away from the car, and after he had left, I slipped on some ice rearing the corner to go up the driveway to the door.  Immediately after hitting the ice, I rolled over and grabbed for my tummy.  In panic I started crying and yelled for the boys around me (who were also freaking out, especially after I grabbed my tummy, then realizing I was prego) to help me up.  Thankfully they came to my rescue and lifted me up onto the icy walkway and helped me walk to dry cement.  I apparently had gathered a crowd, because of pain, shock, and embarrassment I was crying.  I didn't know what to do, where to go, or what to say, they were really freaking out, and freaking me out, so I walked away from them. 

I walked into the Taggart Student Center, up the elevator to the 2nd floor, thinking I would go into the catering office and tell them calmly what had just happened.  But, unfortunately I could not tell them calmly because my arm was in tons of pain and I was still crying because I was worried and somewhat still embarrassed about what had just happened.  I was scared that something might be wrong with the baby, especially after landing straight on my tummy!  I walked into the office, Craig (the catering Manager) and Amy (the catering secretary) were in there talking, I stood in the doorway holding my arm, heavily sucking in air trying to get a grip of myself and the situation, but as soon as they looked at me, I lost it. Craig immediately asked, "Did you slip on the ice?"  I wheezed out a "yes..." and then he was off, I don't know where he went, I wasn't paying attention.  I sat down and just started crying again.  I was so nervous for the baby, for the fact that I was suppose to cook the food today at work, for the baby, not knowing what to do next or how to go about doing it.  Craig came back with Jamie (the lady head of Dining Services- she interviewed me for this job) she was carrying a bag of ice... my arm had already swollen up twice its original size!

Amy made me sit in her seat and call my husband. I knew he was on his way to the library to study, he had his only final today, the most important one, his accounting final, the only one that really counts.  I was nervous to call him, because I knew as soon as I was to tell him about my accident I would start crying... and I did.  Word spread, by the time I got off the phone with him, Anthony came in, and some girl from catering, all worried at my expense, and was more than helpful to let the Chefs know what had happened to me and where I was to go next.  They sent me to the Insta-Care, to WorkMed, to have my arm checked out, all the women in the office told me I had nothing to worry about with the baby because it is in so much liquid and padding that he is protected.  

Jeff and I arrived at the Work Med Insta-Care, after filling out some paperwork, measuring my height, and weight, the Nurse noticed that I was expecting and was unsure if they were able to take xrays because of it. They called over to my OB office to find out the protocol.  My OB wanted to see me to make sure the baby was really OK before going ahead with the arm xrays (even though at this point my belly wasn't the thing in pain) They wanted to be safe than sorry, and really the number one priority over my aching arm was the BABY.  So After going to the WorkMed IHC (insta-care) who turned me away because I was prego (didn't want to take xrays without the OB's permission and the fact that I fell on my tummy) sent me to my OB, while in the Dr.s office he checked my blood pressure and the baby's heart rate.  Everything good, but again to be better safe he sent me upstairs to Labor and delivery, to get monitored for 4hrs, I was hooked up to two monitors, one to measure the baby's heartbeat and one to measure my cervix- to make sure that I wasn't dialating or going into pre-mature labor.  The baby had to move or have an increase in heart rate 4x in 20 min, which is why they had to hold me for so long... the good thing about all of it, is 1. the baby is very healthy (maybe a little shook up like his mother -from the fall) and 2. I am in the computer system and got a free trial run of how the Labor and Delivery Team work or what might be expected for when I go to Labor and Delivery for real (kind of got a walk-through pre-test screening).  Now when I go for reals it won't be so unknown and scary (it may still be scary, but at least I know where it is and what they'll do while I'm there)

Then after being released around 2:00pm (and Jeff wasn't with me, he had left the L&D at around 10:30am to go to the Library, and then at 1:30pm he was taking his Final) I had a girl from work come pick me up and take me back to the Insta-care where they then took x-rays... good news, no broken bones or fractures, and I didn't have to pay a cent (workers comp).  However my arm (elbow mostly) still hurts, there's a huge bruise forming, and my arm/hand is so swollen that I was afraid that I wasn't going to get my ring off my finger and they might have sawed it off (the ring, not my finger) but now, even at 1:23am 11 hrs later, my arm is still swollen and I still can't move it... I've got a gimpy arm. :)

I spent practically the whole day worrying in hospital after hospital... and I forgot my phone at home, so I wasn't able to get a hold of anyone nor they me.

I'm glad that I am ok, and mostly I am grateful that the baby is OK... he was my number one priority today, especially after I fell and held my tummy crying (not because of the pain, but mostly because of shock and worry)... in some ways I am glad that this happened because it really put an emphasis on the connection and bond that I have with him already. And how much I depend on the Lord for both of our safety (safeties?) our lives.

Other good news for the day... Jeff passed his Accounting Final and Class (the one that he was most worried about), he got a B in the class, which means he Graduates for Good! And he is officially hired at Liberty Income Tax and starts Jan 6! yeah! (also, the owner's husband owns a media installation and may need extra help; and wants Jeff to help him - I guess it is installing and setting up media for homes such as computers, tvs, dvd players, speakers, surround sound, etc... Which is something Jeff wanted to learn how to do better... oh and the fact that Jeff is fluent in Spanish has been very beneficial to him and will be both in the media industry and taxes.

So all in all, today has been an incredibly long day.  I don't have to go to work tomorrow, The Dr. has got me on Lortab for the pain and the swelling, I've never had it before, but I really like it because it actually works.  Of course I still can't move my arm much, the fact that I can move my fingers at all is pretty impressive! The Lord answered my prayers today, I felt calmness while in the hospital, hooked up to the monitors, I was nervous, worried, and anxious, but then I prayed for peace and he gave it to me, and everything turned out to be OK, both for baby and for mommy! Thank you Heavenly Father!