My Dancing Career is Over

I was dancing in the office today - I've been known to do that on ocassion, when all the sudden I felt this incredible pain and my legs sliding out from underneath me. I looked down to realize that my leg had gone one direction and my kneecap the other. I'm still not sure quite how it happened. All I know is that I was on the floor in two seconds popping that thing back into place. My kneecap didn't look quite right there sitting on the left side of my leg. Of course, I fake bravery now, but really there wasn't that much thought involved except, this hurts...this hurts...and I know how to fix it. Jared had the unfortunate problem of constantly having his shoulder pulled out of socket and actually had to have surgery for it. So I knew right away the only thing to do was push it back in. I was prepared for that hurting. What I didn't realize is how much it would hurt afterwards. I tried to be brave, put on ice pack on and just wait it out. Surely the muscles were just sore around the kneecap. But after a while, I knew it was more than that. It hurt too much to walk. More than that though - I just felt that something was wrong. 

So around 4 pm (this happened this morning), I got up enough gumption to get to a hopsital. The doctor told me from the looks of it a ligament is either extremely stretched or torn. He didn't have the equipment to make an exact diagnosis, so now I have to go see an orthepedic surgeon. Correct me if I'm wrong - but the words orthopedic surgeon sound like it's going to cost a fortune.  If it's torn, I'm in big trouble, because its surgery. If not, it will probably just take a long time to heal. They kindly handed me a pair of crutches and an huge knee brace and told me not to walk on it. Lovely. Luckily it was my left knee so I can still drive the car (albeit, I have to make the seat go back and it is a PAIN to get in and out). Of course, everything is a pain on crutches. I whined to the nurse that the only other time I had crutches I used them for about 3 days because I am clumsy on the best of days. She probably didn't need proof of this due to the way that I was injured. But with crutches, I'm like an accident waiting to happen. Probably took longer for me to heal the first time- but my frustration level couldn't handle it. I told her I would be better this time though. Let's see how long that sticks.

So this is a warning. Those who like dancing along without a care may want to take a second thought. I certainly will. Of course, I think it is just me.  The doctor even looked at me like he didn't believe me. I'm not sure I believe me either except for the constant ache in my knee. 

Hurray!

School is out!!! What can I say? I made it. As Jared has lovingly taken the camera with him to Montana, there will be precious few pictures to add in the next few weeks. But I figured I would let you know I somehow survived. This week I am doing a district training learning how to teach Gifted/Talented kids. It has already been really interesting, and I am now coming to terms with what a nerd I am. I was dreading going this morning and was pleasantly surprised when I completely enjoyed sitting there for 7.5 hours learning. I always say I don't miss going to school. But I was sitting there realizing that maybe I prefer to learn rather than to teach. There are less behavior problems that way.  Of course, I have also learned to actually give my opinion. When I was at BYU, I think I can count on two hands the number of times I made a comment in any of my classes. Graduate school must have changed that for me, because now I don't shut up. 

As to what Jared is up to these days, he is somewhere up in the north freezing to death. At least that is what I have gleaned from my five minute conversations with him everyday. They went on their first death march today. He has class after the hikes way into the evening. But he did tell me that he attended a pig race this weekend. That must be about all of the excitement there is up there. Of course, I don't have all that much excitement down here unless you count my cats nipping at my fingers. 

In other good news, my brother and sister are coming to visit in just a couple of short (ok - long) weeks and hopefully I can get one of them to bring a camera so I can get pictures of all that.