Last night, we were getting ready for bed and my left wrist starting hurting. Weird. I thought aloud, "Ow, that's weird my wrist is hurting like it did when I sprained it last summer." And then I remembered, he wasn't here for that. Just so you don't feel lost - because I wasn't blogging then - I'll give you the details on this lovely story.
Joe had been at BCT for 2-3 weeks. I had just gotten the form I needed to be able to get my military ID card. That Thursday, I took off work early to get this prized card. It was the first time I'd had medical insurance since we'd been married. It was kind of a big deal in my book. 2 days later, [a Saturday no less when most of our family was out of town] I had cleaned up the house and took a shower. I had bought more body wash the day before and set it on the dryer (our washer/dryer were in the bathroom at this place) so I'd remember to grab it before I got in the shower. Well, I forgot, but I didn't realize this until I finished washing my hair and reached for the body wash. So, I stepped one foot out of the shower to reach for it. {I really wish I could explain this shower better...it was one of those that's a shower only with a small lip about 3-4 inches off the ground.} I'd set a towel on the floor before I got in to soak up the water from exiting the shower. My right foot was on the towel and my left foot was still in the shower. I grabbed the body wash, attempted to pick my right foot up, slipped, tried to grab something to break my fall with my left hand and ultimately crashed on the shower floor. Right on my toosh and left arm. OUCH!
After sitting there for a minute to ensure that I indeed had lived, I got up and continued showering. I was pretty sore, and my wrist hurt a little, but I didn't think any real damage was done....until an hour-ish later. My wrist looked a little swollen and it hurt. So, I did what any newlywed girl does - I called my mom. She gave me the "duh" advice: take ibuprofen, ice it, elevate it. Off to Wally World I went. I also called my other SIL who's a nurse to get her professional advice, which happened to be the same as Mom's. I got an ice pack, meds and a movie at WalMart and went home to baby myself. A few hours later, my wrist only felt worse. I was beginning to worry that I had broken it. From my mom's experience working in dr's offices and from being a pharmacy technician for 2.5 years (and from having broken a foot), I knew that letting a broken arm go untreated was not a good thing. I called Joe's grandparents' house. I needed to go to the ER and get it xrayed. If my wrist was broken and - God forbid - it needed to be set, I was gonna ask for drugs. Lol! I'm a weenie. It's ok. So, I would need someone to drive me home. And, I'm pretty sure Joe's family would have killed me for not calling them in the first place.
Joe's grandpa came to get me, and carted me to the ER. After 2 xrays, 3 hours of waiting, and some awkward "do you feel safe at home" questions from the nurse, it was determined a sprain. A sprain that hurt like hell and even caused my blood pressure to go up. I was sent home with an amazing brace, Darvocet (life saver!), and ibuprofen. I felt a little stupid, but how else was I supposed to find out?! I was only supposed to wear the brace for a week, but ended up wearing it for a month because it hurt so bad. I couldn't do anything with it and it was so weak. It would throb constantly while I was at work...even if I avoided doing anything with it. I even wrapped my wrist when I went to the beach a week later with Joe's family. Swimming definitely helped it though. Joe totally missed out on my whiny, klutzy self that month.
So, after the "wow my wrist hurts like last summer" statement, it got me to thinking what else Joe is going to miss in the next year that he's gone. He missed out on a lot in the 2 months he was at BCT and the 6 he was at AIT. What is he going to miss when he's gone for a whole year?
My birthday.
Family members' birthdays.
Thanksgiving.
Christmas.
New Year's.
Celebrating his own birthday.
Valentine's Day. (Not really a big one, but what girl doesn't like to feel special on that day?)
Possibly our 3rd anniversary.
Possibly my 25th birthday.
A lot can happen in a year. I love how the Army thinks that 2 weeks of R&R and a month of leave after deployment can make up for 365 days. You can't replace it. You can't stop it. What's a girl to do? I saw a deployment journal on Amazon once, and realized it was more for people who have kids and don't want their husband/wife to miss out on milestones with kids. Plus, it was kinda ugly. I thought of making one for Joe, but would that really be a good idea? I mean to hand it to him when he gets home and be like "Here ya go. This is all the stuff you missed out on while you were gone." Wouldn't that kind of be like a slap in the face? Or would he appreciate it? I mean, I can understand doing that for your spouse if you have children, but for me? I don't know.
Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo, Deployment. You suck.
Sorry, this post was kind of Debbie Downer-ish. Maybe tomorrow's will be more "bright and shiny." =) {That was a Grey's Anatomy joke if you didn't catch it.}
P.S. Thanks for all the book recommendations from yesterday! Keep 'em coming!
