The last week has been . . . challenging . . . to say the least. My girls went to exercise last week, great right? My eldest daughter is down over 50 pounds, my youngest is staying in shape and getting her healthy mindset back (Rona has not been a positive experience, another story for another day)
You know that feeling you get when you see one of your kids call and you know it is not good? You look at the phone and tell yourself that the kids have not been gone long enough to be calling to say they are going to stop and get coffee or lunch . . . That was the call. They had left, maybe half an hour before, to roller skate in their regular spot with a friend. My younger daughter calls and simply said, “You need to come now, G fell and broke her arm. You need to come.” Click. Great start to my Saturday! I stopped the sewing machine halfway down the first side seam of a client’s skirt, got shoes on, and off to the skate location. I arrive and see younger daughter, shirtless, older daughter sitting upright on the ground with her sister’s shirt tied into a sling. I walked up, looked down at her S-shaped arm, and got her loaded into my truck.
Urgent care #1- we don’t have x-ray here- says the really snotty girl out front.
Urgent care #2- They have x-ray- fill out papers (all 3 of us in the completely empty waiting room) then kicked out to wait outside for the doctor, but G has to go in alone. By the time it is her turn, I have to take E home to get ready for her gig that can’t be cancelled. Enter phone call- “Mom, I am done already, they said to go the hospital, I need surgery.” Enter one of my best friend’s, Cathy. Thank God she was home! We would tag team my girls- I would take E to her 1 hour gig way out in Timbuktu, Cathy would take G to the ER and we would meet there. My sweet neighbor, Sara, was just coming home when she heard of the commotion and she and her son brought back G’s car from the school.
Hospital ER- Since G is 21, she has to go in ALONE due to the Rona. Keep in mind, she has never had to go to the hospital, except once as a toddler. No advocate, nothing. She was sedated and the surgeon moved her arm bones to realign with her wrist. When I say sedated, I mean HEAVILY sedated! She tried to explain to me what they were going to do to her, finally the nurse took the phone. She had already been given pain meds, and they were hitting her. So we all waited on the brick wall outside of the almost EMPTY emergency room . . . watched a prisoner from the local state prison go into the ER with 3 guards to stay with him. Gotta love California!
When she was finally released, I brought my truck around and got her discharge paper. The ride home was one of the funniest I have had in a VERY long time. The one thing I have had confirmed again, the other time was her wisdom teeth, is that G is very kind when she is highly medicated. The mention of any person, “Oh, they are sooooooo nice!” Then there was all the ways that bread is sexy- buttered, with olives, grilled, with garlic, you name it, she loves it!
Tuesday: G has been an absolute trooper, but so has her sister. G is a nanny and her sister went with her to work to help lift the baby. She had the week off of school so it was perfect timing. Talk about an amazing sister! I am such a proud mom! 3 days post-procedure, we went back to the surgeon, and he wanted X-Rays the next day and he would call immediately to schedule surgery for Monday if the bones did not set (50/50 chance!). Here is where the fun, anxiety-inducing times began.
Wednesday: G called in the morning to make the X-Ray dept. Doctor’s office had not sent the orders. Follow up, office had forgotten. X-Ray done. No call all afternoon, so we call. Nothing but “I forgot to show the doctor that it came in. We’ll call you back.” Nothing.
Thursday: Still no call, so G and I both made calls to the doctor’s office. No answers, just excuses. The woman on the other end of the line did tell G that there was no reason to be stressed out, it was not a big deal?!?!? Um . . . you can’t just drive yourself to and from surgery! You have to let your work know! Your mom has to rearrange her life to help!! 4 calls, no answer.
Friday: Oh this was an extra fun time!!! I had a long scheduled appointment for myself an hour drive from home (one direction!). Two and a half weeks before I spoke to the office and confirmed my appointment and made sure they took my new insurance. Yes, all good! Two nights before the appointment, I received the Robo-call confirming my appointment. Yeah! So, after I rearranged my work schedule, I got to my appointment 10 minutes ahead of time and the receptionist looks and whispers to another woman and they tell me the doctor was not in the office that day! WHAT THE ?!?!?!? After the week I had, I am not ashamed to say I had an alligator tear or two. So, now to reschedule. I have seen this doctor for 23 years, she is amazing, her office staff sucks! And the saga of the orthopedic surgeon’s office continued . . . A couple calls to see if surgery was going to happen in a few days or the bones were good . . . “Oh, I remember seeing those X-Rays! I forgot to send them to the doctor” Well, I made the second call of the day and I had to hold back from having my temper lose control. Finally G got a phone call after 6pm Friday night to tell her she needed surgery. Of course we ask if it was still going to be on Monday, and the answer was that they were booked up for surgeries on Monday, but (of course!) they will call us Monday and possibly set it up for Tuesday. Hmmm . . . Aren’t you supposed to have the darn Rona test and quarantine?????Who knows at this point!
The weekend: We got chores done and prepared for this coming storm. I sure hope it does come. It is really dry!
Monday: Hi! We’re calling to remind you that you have an appointment tomorrow at 4:30 with the doctor. Yes, but someone was supposed to schedule surgery. And then, she tells G- “Oh really? The person who does that isn’t in today”. Oh. My. God! Please help me! In the meantime . . . our lives are in limbo. E started back to school today and I am working hard to create income for our little family. Don’t forget to add the political drama of Rona, especially out here in Crazy California. So many friends and businesses have been devastated- Us too on a smaller scale. Not sickness. We have been healthy for years. Lay offs and the loss of the majority of my business I have had for a decade. Callers and guests at the radio station who have lost almost everything because the government deemed them non-essential.
Though I really want to scream in frustration, I am trying to find joy. Joy in the gorgeous loaf of sourdough I made for dinner (video and class to come!). Joy in fixing a work costume for E. Having coffee with G this morning before we got ready for work. Prayers to my Heavenly Father for protection and healing. I know God is in control, of the big stuff and the small stuff. I have to rest on that assurance. It is the only hope that we have. The arm will get fixed. So far the bills have all been paid. We have alot of work to do, and a surgery to come, of course, but we will make it.
pamperedjaime 