god speed

I am still camera-less. But thanks to the awesome advice I received yesterday, I hope to acquire one on-line (through upromise, of course) within the next few hours. Provided I possess the mental clarity to make such an important purchase.

Today has been a particularly long day. So while Charlie is giving the kids a bath, I'm having some "down time" which involves nursing Henry and quickly updating my blog.

What I set out to tell the internet tonight is that I had to go back to the podiatrist this morning and have my infected toe inspected. I thought my doctor would give me a super-strong antibiotic cream and send me on my way with a guarantee of full and complete healing.

Instead, he gasped and said I had a "horribly nasty abscess" and the entire nail needed to come off. The amputation avulsion of my toenail required more ethyl chloride (not liquid nitrogen as I mistakenly stated previously) and then, two shots of lidocaine at the base of my toe to completely numb it.

Have I mentioned before that I have a low threshold for pain?

When the doctor pulled out the needle, I started gasping and had to shove my shirt sleeve in my mouth to keep from screaming out loud. With both hands grasping the chair and my shirt clenched between my teeth, my doctor laughingly asked "So, tell me again how many children you've brought in to this world?"

Delivering a baby does not require a needle in your toe.

Have you ever had a shot in your toe?!

Did you know that there are more nerve endings in the hands and feet than anywhere else on the body?? Good Lord in Heaven high. My whole life flashed before my eyes.

Thankfully, he was quick about the procedure. Within seconds I felt a tug, tug, TUG and then he was holding up the bloody, puss covered nail and saying "Let me show you what I removed..." when I felt lightheaded and nauseated all at the same time.

He wrapped the toe in a thick bandage and gauze and gave me "Post-Op" instructions that involved soaking my foot every night for 10 minutes. I was also given a special sponge to wash it and an antibiotic medication I need to apply for the next seven days. He added Extra Strength Tylenol and ice cream will help with any discomfort.

I climbed off the chair and hobbled to the elevator. While I was standing there, a little boy - about three years old - dressed in galoshes and a raincoat came skipping out of the pediatric office with his father. He was so excited to push the button that I chuckled at his enthusiasm. When the door opened and six of us crammed in to the elevator, he ran to the panel to push the down button.

Since I have several children the same age as this boy (all of which were at home with their father), I know how a simple thing like pushing an elevator button can be the highlight of their day. When I pointed out which button he should push, because his father was busy talking on his cell phone and oblivious to the fact that his son was prepared to hit the EMERGENCY CALL switch, the preschooler flashed me a big smile.

And then ... this is the best part ... he started jumping up and down excitedly.

I am convinced that there is some kind of Law in the Universe that if you have an injury, things will gravitate and cause further harm to that injury.

Things like say ... a preschool boy who is jumping up and down in an elevator in his galoshes.

Even though my toe was completely numb, I still shrieked when the kid landed smack dab on my foot. Because almost instantly, the entire right side of my body felt hot.

I had planned to go from the doctor's office to the mall and browse for a new camera, but instead, I crawled home and peeled off the gauze and bandages that my doctor had applied. I only slightly fainted when I saw the copious amounts of blood, undoubtedly due to the pouncing my foot had been subjected to while in the elevator.

Smearing some of the antibiotic lotion on my toe, I loosely applied a new dressing and hobbled out to the living room and on to the couch, where not one - but three of my four children - sat or stepped on it over the course of the next few hours.

A highlight of my day was when a huge box arrived in the mail addressed to the kids. Inside there were several helium Happy Birthday balloons and a Curious George stuffed animal. I have no idea who sent this package - because the place that shipped it didn't include a gift card. Because I'm a stickler for sending thank you notes, I plan to contact the company and see if they can clue me in. If not, I hope that whoever sent it reads this blog and can step forward to accept my sincere thanks.

Now, I need to tuck our children in to bed and hopefully, come back with a clear mind and make a decision on a digital camera.

This blog cannot survive without pictures.

And at the moment, I cannot survive without Extra Strength Tylenol and ice cream.