You know that saying what a difference a day makes? I’m not sure this is what they were talking about, but I recently had a 24 hour period that left me asking: What’s next?

It started on Thursday. I was working from home, my blood pressure was a little high, but I figured it soon would drop. After all, it had to, as we had a babysitter coming over. Hubby and I were going out to dinner to celebrate a huge accomplishment at his job and to go Christmas shopping for Logan.

Like every time a sitter comes over, Logan gets a little clingier, starts moving like molasses through our evening routine. I was trying to get him to go downstairs so he could get a good start on dinner before the sitter came. My stubborn mini-me, refused, despite my commands to “get down here!” Finally I decided to put him on my back since that’s the best way to tote him. (Yes, I shouldn’t be lifting him, at 9 months pregnant, but I dare you to find me a woman who hasn’t had to lift their toddler during their pregnancy.)

Logan knows I’m not a fan of carrying him, so he announces: “I’m going to hold on tight.” I said: “good!” and one step later I slipped. Everything kicked into slow motion. I realized I couldn’t fall forward because of the baby in my belly. I couldn’t fall backwards because of the baby on my back. Panic singed my soul as I ground my feet into the stairs trying to stop hurtling downward. I saw my pinky toe jut out at a 90 degree angle and thought, that ain’t right.

Finally gravity was through with me, we were done with the stairs and both of my babes were fine. My toe however, was another story. I put Logan down, began howling and cursed. Logan started laughing, mimicking me. I just prayed he didn’t repeat my bad language, especially at day care.

About 30 minutes later, the sitter and Hubby came home. I didn’t mention the fall and I was relieved Logan didn’t either. After walking with me for a bit, I had to explain to Hubby my gimp. His eyes bulged and he quietly gave me a fierce hug. Then it was off to dinner and then shopping.

We hobbled through Toys R Us and had a blast finishing up Logan’s Christmas shopping. I’m not sure who will enjoy Logan’s gifts more, my husband or my son, as Hubby grew giddier each time we put an item in the cart. A date night to go Christmas shopping is surely going to be a new holiday tradition in our family.

On the way home, Hubby put air in the tires and I waited in the car. Bored, I whipped out my Droid and hopped on Facebook. I updated my status with a flip comment about my trip down the stairs. That was a mistake as I misjudged how it might be received and immediately got scads of very concerned comments. I suppose they thought I did a triple back flip down the stairs maiming, Logan, Bean and myself. Eventually I deleted the post. Note to friends: Thanks for the concern, but if something ever is really wrong, you won’t read about it on Facebook. 🙂

The next day, my blood pressure still was pretty high, as in 150/100. I again was working from home, lying on my left side along with my laptop and my blood pressure wouldn’t go down. I knew I should have called the docs on Thursday, but now I *really* had to call them. Sure enough, when I rang, they wanted me to head to the hospital immediately for monitoring. Let me say, I *hate* hospitals. Hate them. They do a lot of good, but I can’t stand to be in them.

I was worried that they’d decide to induce me that day and I fretted that I still hadn’t packed my hospital bag. I actually tried to argue with the nurse that I didn’t need to come in. Obviously, I lost.

Hubby met me at the train station and we jetted to the hospital. After being monitored for three hours and some blood work, my blood pressure finally went down, all the tests came back great and I was told I could go home. I thought about having someone check out my toe while there, since it hurt like a b*tch, but was too much in a hurry leave.

After returning to the burbs, I swung by a friend’s house to drop off a thank-you gift and relayed to her the zaniness of the past 24 hours. I began joking with her and her hubby about my possibly broken toe. He looked at me quizically, I’d forgotten he was a podiatrist. They insisted he take a look, asking me, if my toe was purple and blue. I answered: “it’s brown.” (Duh, I’m African American, ALL of my toes are brown.)  Clearly, I was very tired.

After some poking and prodding he confirmed it was broken and advised me on taping it up.

Finally, I made it back home and shut out the rest of the world. It was really, really nice to just be with me, my boys and my broken brown toe.

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A Stumble Down the Stairs, the Facebook Fallout and a Trip To The Hospital — No Comments

  1. Oh my gosh! When I saw the title I was so scared the that trip down the stairs sent you into early labor. I’m glad that you’re okay…which made me feel better about laughing at this post. Especially your brown toes, lol.

    Have a very Merry and SAFE Christmas 🙂

  2. Thank goodness you’re okay and that only the toe was sacrificed (although toes are important – even pinky toes, I sprained that one before). Amazing catch there in a split second. I guess that’s just what mommies do. Saw you on SITS.

  3. Oh goodness, yeah posting things like that on Facebook is gonna get real heavy. I know what you meant though about not knowing which way to fall. I hurt my knee when my toddler was 6 months old and it never healed. I walk normally with no pain but when I twist too fast once in a blue moon it goes out.

    It’s hard to hold your children not knowing what will happen but luckily my mind always remembers, ‘turn left!’. One day I hope I don’t break my arm forcing my weight that way, but it’s worth it to keep my daughter safe if I’m holding her when it happens.

    To you and yours, I hope you have wonderful holidays no matter what you celebrate.:)

    • Ouch. Knees are no fun to mess with either. “Turn Left!” Good thing that track keeps rolling through your mind. Yeah I didn’t put this post on my personal Facebook account out of fear it would incite panic again. 🙂 It was nice to have friends so concerned, but by literally the 20th comment, they were sounding slightly hysterical.

      Happy holidays to you too and I *love* your first name. (It’s mine too. Hee hee.)

  4. Wow, what a trip and great save! I fell at 9 months, feet slipped out from under me on wet porch and I sat down, HARD, on the steps. Amazingly nothing happened (phew) not even a broken toe or baby popping out too early! Great Christmas story but you didn’t tell us what toys you bought so the rest of us could enjoy them, too (hohoho)!! Visiting via SITS – love your writing style!

    • Yowza, hard fall at 9 months! Betcha that was scary. On the toy front, I ended up getting him a crane train, which is just as it sounds and one of Thomas’ friends named Kevin. He got a couple of Play Doh items since he loves that stuff and my Hubby works in the Boeing building so he bought all of these planes and other airport related vehicles in a set. We realized we had everything for an airport, but the airport so on Christmas morning we made an impromptu airport using crayons, shoe box and two large canvases. Good times. 🙂

  5. I am so thankful you were all (almost) OK after that scary fall. I have also broken numerous toes on different occasions and they hurt! Hope you feel better soon.

    • Man, toes ain’t nothing to joke about right? Totally hurt and I feel like a wuss for whining: “my toe hurts!” But it’s so true. And I sooooo need a pedicure, but am scared to get one. I know it’s winter and usually I don’t keep the toes cute for winter, but I’m due to go into labor any second now, so would like toes that aren’t shameful. Yes, I’m that vain.

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