The Slippery Slope

We finally go the car back after five and a half weeks - a week ago.  I think I'd been handling it pretty well up to that point - I was driving again, not having too much as far as driving anxiety goes.

Hubs was very well meaning when he brought me in the bill for the repairs - which was all covered by insurance.  As it turns out, if our new car had been two years older, the insurance company likely would have called it a total loss instead of fixing it.

What a Week - Ten Things of Thankful #99

Well - it's been quite a week.  On Saturday, I was in yet another car accident.  I'm OK.  Bae (who was also in the car) is OK.  It wasn't my fault - the other driver was charged with careless driving at the scene, but our car was badly damaged - and his car was totaled.  I've just found out that we'll be four weeks without our car - but the insurance has kicked in, and we have a rental.

On Monday, for various reasons, I had to have an ultrasound.  I knew at the time that something was wrong (although the technician isn't allowed to provide the results) but had to wait until today for the results.  I was able to wheedle partial results from the secretary - it isn't a "mass", but they found a "small" fibroid cyst.  I have an appointment to figure out where I go from here next week.

Moving on After a Car Accident - Dealing with Driving Anxiety

My driving anxiety sometimes presents itself in the most annoying of ways.  I've developed such strong coping mechanisms that sometimes I'm not even aware that I'm using them until someone points it out.

Turns out I've been dealing with anxiety issues my whole life without even knowing it.

My Lawyer's Worst Client

By now, most of you will know that I was in a terrible car accident a little over four years ago.  I spent five hours in surgery three days after the accident to fix my leg.  There is a big metal rod in my femur now.  They used metal wire to stitch my knee back together.  There was a fracture in my ankle.  And (although they didn't see it at the time), I also had a talar process fracture (a bone in my foot cracked off and lodged in the muscle).  I had two further surgeries after the accident - one to remove the wire from my knee, and the other (finally) to remove that piece of bone.

My lawyer, a very successful accident attorney, has seen the gamut of clients in his office.  Although he specializes in car accidents, he also has slips and falls and other insurance claims.  He's seen people who've turned their ankle in the bank parking lot and never been able to work again.  Others who have been hit from behind and had whiplash and PTSD so bad they can no longer leave the house.

And then he had me.

Four Years...to the Day

Four years ago today (December 15th), I had a very bad car accident.  I've written about it before:

• I Am NOT a Survivor
• Every Day is a Gift
• Thriving through Post Traumatic Stress
• Enjoy the Sun!

Writing about it has given me some peace.  I struggle internally sometimes - because I don't like to be seen as week.  Sometimes I hold it in.  Like today.  I was in the car before I remembered the day and it's significance.  On the highway.  With my husband driving.

One Step at a Time

Today was an exciting day for me.  My son, who is now almost 11 months old, has crawled for the first time.  He's a bit of a mover and shaker.  He couldn't wait to figure the whole "crawling" thing out, and has actually been locomoting by rolling around on the floor for well over two months now.  Arm up, out of the way.  Back to front, front to back.  Pushing his foot on stationary objects and twisting to change his direction.  But today, he crawled.  For the first time.

And I'm revel in his accomplishment.  Because just a short three years ago, I, myself, learned how to walk.  Again.

Enjoy the Sun!

I was just reading another fantastic blog by my friend Kimberly at "All Work and No Play Make Mommy Go Something Something" (I reviewed her blog here.)  Her blog today is entitled "Mr. Sun", and she suggests: 

"I hate hearing people say “You shouldn’t be doing that” or “I thought that you couldn’t handle things like that” and it pisses me off. Just because my back is an asshole that doesn’t mean that I “can’t” do things or “shouldn’t” do things. I have good days and I take advantage of them. Life keeps keeping on just like I do. I am looking forward to all of this sun this weekend."

It certainly struck a chord with me.  As you all may know, I had a bad car accident a little over three years ago.  My leg was broken in over four places.  My knee was shattered.  I had seven hours in surgery three days after the accident, and then two more surgeries after that.  I was off my feet for over three months after the accident, and then two more months with the other two surgeries.  The surgeons did their best - but like Humpty Dumpty, my leg will never be the same.

Learning to Dance in the Rain

A couple of summers back we experienced what they called a once in a hundred years storm. 

The skies opened up and dumped so much rain on us that roads were washed out, basements were flooded – and there wasn’t a thing we could do about it even if we’d known it was coming.

I remember that day distinctly.  I had my children at home and was taking care of my niece for the day. 

It had been pretty hot, and I’d promised them that we could go swimming at a local pool. 

There was a break in the rain, so we headed out. 

However, it turned out that the roads were flooded, and because of the storm, they’d closed the outdoor pool anyway, so we went back to my house.  The kids were pretty deflated.