Why I will not be getting that pedicure...

In my previous CVS post, I mentioned an extra trip to the store due to unforeseen circumstances. Well, here is the story behind it:

Yesterday was a terribly rainy day, so we decided to 'celebrate' by ordering pizza and eating in the living room instead of the dining room. I offered to go pick up the pizza because I wanted to go to CVS too (plus I had been inside all day and was feeling cooped up). Nathan graciously agreed to watch Georgia. I shopped at CVS, picked up the pizza from Over the Falls, and came back home.

I have heard that flip-flops can be dangerous. Well, now I know! I had the pizza in one hand and my shopping bag in the other as I climbed the steps to the porch. I must have tripped or slipped on the rainy stairs or something--all I know is that I started to fall, threw the pizza down, dropped my bags, and slammed my left foot into the BRICK stairs as I caught myself. Did I mentioned I screamed too? My poor husband and daughter were in the house, and Nathan apparently tossed Georgia off his lap to come see what had happened to me. I caught myself on my hands, so I did not hit my stomach, but I was in a lot of pain. I tried to shake it off because Georgia was upset, and I hobbled into the house. As I sat on the couch and propped my foot up, though, I noticed the bleeding...and the completely bent back toenail...and I started to lose it. I tried really hard not to freak out, but my toes were going alternately numb and throbbing, and I knew I was going to lose at least one toenail, if not two.

After a brief debate, Nathan and I decided to go to the local Urgent Care to make sure my toes were not broken. I might have tried to tough it out if I was not 38+ weeks pregnant, and oh yeah, if one of my toenails was not barely hanging on! Praise the Lord for Rex Urgent Care, and for their efficiency. I did not have to wait long, and they were very thorough in their care. The doctor took X-rays to make sure there were no foot or toe fractures (there weren't), examined me to make sure I was okay, and asked several questions (in addition to a general examination) to determine if Baxter was hurt. Once it was determined that my foot was not broken, he numbed my toes to remove my grotesque toenail and check the status of the other nails. That was not a fun experience, but I would much rather have the numbing medicine and the doctor doing that than be messing with it at home! The toenail on the first little toe was removed, and we were concerned about the next toenail. It was obviously traumatized (bleeding underneath it), but it was not loose. The doctor said he would prefer to let it heal on its own or come off on its own than to mess with it at this point.

Though nothing is broken, I jammed my toes so hard that we are practically treating it like they were broken. I have a shoe to wear for the next ten days or so, or basically "until the baby arrives" as the doctor said. He joked the shoe would still fit into the stirrups! I am to tape the two toes together for a few days, and keep a bandage or pad over the toe without the toenail as it heals. Fun stuff! Let's just say this was an interesting way for the Lord to get me to rest before Baxter arrives. This morning my foot was really sore, but it has felt better as the day has worn on. It may of course help that I haven't really been on my feet much at all!

So my dreamed-of pedicure is off limits now, and Georgia and I probably won't be taking any long walks any time soon. However, the Finns praise the Lord that nothing was broken, Baxter was not hurt, and I did not go into labor because of the shock and stress. I did ask the doctor if, while I was there, we could just go ahead and take the baby out, and he told me he didn't have enough lidocaine for that. Oh well, I guess I just have to wait for real labor:-) Please be praying that my toes will heal and that I will take it easy while they do.

Praise the Lord, I did not have the stomach for a before picture, but here is a shot of my bandaged foot!