I'm Back!

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who sent comments of well wishes for my trip and for the lovely comments about my recent crafties in the last post!  You are such a wonderful bunch!  I appreciate you!

I actually got back on Monday.  Yup.  But only got back on-line today.  As soon as I got back, I called my mom from the baggage claim and found out that my younger daughter did not go to school.  She had a low grade fever since Saturday and still had one even with medication.  I hung up and called the school to request her work.  The office told me they couldn't request it because it was too late (1200).  I explained to them that I had just arrived back, was at the baggage claim, on crutches, and my mom didn't know to request homework by 9am.  They said they couldn't.  I said, "okay" and asked to be transferred to her homeroom teacher's voice mail.  I left a message that I would be there to pick up her books after school.  I would get the work assigned from one of the other parents.

Oh. . . yah. . . I mentioned crutches.  I had a little skiing accident while in Utah - oops!  We flew into Las Vegas Wednesday night, shopped for a day, and drove to Brianhead, Utah to ski.  It was snowing and we saw quite a bit of cars and trucks spun out and in the center ditch on the way up.  We made it safely.  Everything was going well.  Since it had been snowing, there was quite a bit of powder on the runs.  We did our first run on a blue run (intermediate).  My legs hurt, so I rested for one run.  I was surprised that I was breathing pretty easily (elevation 11,000 feet).  My friend and I have asthma so he bought a can of O2 and I had my inhaler.  I went down a few more runs and felt great!  No pain, easy breathing, no headache or signs of altitude sickness.  Pretty good.  Actually very good.   My husband went to the lodge for something (can't remember what it was) so Keoni and I did another run.  Still in good shape.  We went in and got Curt (husband) and decided we'd do one more run for the day . . . from the top.  Keoni had already taken a few breaths out of the O2 can and used my inhaler and Curt was feeling some symptoms of altitude sickness so we said this would be our last run.   It was.   The snow was coming down pretty heavy when we caught the ski lift to go up to the top.  Not many skiers or boarders were going up at this point.  We wanted to go to the top and pray in the highest place so we were determined to do this last run.  We were going up and I saw a couple of skiiers coming down.  They were good.  When we passed over them on the lift, they had stopped and I overheard one of them say his legs were really burning.  That made me a little concerned, and I told my husband we shouldn't go down that black run today.  It was too powdery.  I told him we should go down the blue run instead.  We reached the top and the snow was coming down harder.  This was actually a snow storm and it was coming right upon us.  I started to go because I told them we had to get down the mountain quick.  Keoni (a minister) reminded me that we went up there to pray.  Ooops.  We got together and prayed.  Then we started down the mountain.  There was one other guy that came up while we were praying.  We asked him how the run was.  He said he had been skiing for about 20 years and was having a hard time so he was staying on the blue run since it was groomed a little.  Well . . .  did we listen?  We started down and got to a point where we could choose between several runs.  I wanted to go to the right (blue runs).  Keoni wanted to go to the left (black runs but faster way down).  The storm was right upon us, so I said, "okay, let's do it." and we headed down the black run.  We had done the black run several times 2 years ago when we had been there, but there was no powder like today.  We were going down fine.  Smooth.  I reminded the guys to keep their tips up and not to lean forward - too much powder.  Then all of a sudden I felt my right ski pitching forward.  I don't know what happened.  I tried to stop myself from going forward by planting my poles in front of me but they just sank into the snow (three feet of powder!)  I felt my ski pitching forward and down and my calf muscle pulling . . . then . . . POP!  I threw my body down to the side and felt pain in my right calf.  Oh-oh.  My ski didn't release and I was having trouble getting it off.  I couldn't find the place to stick my pole in to release it.  Curt came down to where I was and helped me.  I got up and tried to put my ski back on.  It was too difficult in the powder and with the injury.  I though maybe I could ski on one leg, but in the powder it was impossible for me.  Finally, I told Curt to ski down to Keoni, who was waiting about 30 yards in front of us, and tell him to call ski patrol.  Luckily we were by another crossing so there was a sign marking our location.  Keoni headed down.  Curt was watching him and then he started edging his was toward the slope.  Then he went down.  "Hey!  He left me!" was my first thought.  Then another thought immediately popped into my mind.  "Keoni must be in trouble!"  Oh no.  I looked at the ski lift and no one was coming up.  I knew this was the snow storm we had heard about on the news the day before.  There was going to be snow in places that normally didn't get snow (Las Vegas even!)  I looked behind me and all I saw was a dark cloud headed right for me.  Everything was white around me.  I looked down and saw that the snow was covering me (burying me actually).  My first thought was, "Hmmmm . . . is this how people freeze to death and die in the snow?"  I started brushing the snow off of me - my legs, my arms, my shoulders, my head.  Then I got my head together and remembered that we had prayed.  Everything would be all right.  I had to just sit tight and enjoy the beauty around me (it really was beautiful) and trust in God.  I realized that even though I was in the sitting in the snow with only a scarf on my head (I didn't have a beanie - HELLO-o-o! Not smart.)  I wasn't cold.  I was actually warm.  Good.  Finally, a couple of skiiers came by and I asked them to call ski patrol when they got down.  Okay.  I decided to put my skis and poles up in the snow to mark my position.  They sank so much that I thought I better stand up.  I saw a ski patrol skiier coming down so I forced myself to stand up leaning on my poles.  I waved and he saw me.  Yay!  He hadn't got the call yet.  The couple saw the ski patroller since they weren't too far when he came down.  Something must have happened to Keoni and Curt - oh no.  He determined that I couldn't ski down and called for the toboggan.  While we were waiting for the toboggan, a call came through to the radio that I was on the mountain.  I asked if two guys came down to tell them.  They confirmed that it was two guys so I knew Keoni and Curt had made it down okay.  When the toboggan arrived, so did a ski patrol guy on a ski mobile.  They said they would put me in the toboggan and bring me down.  I looked at the toboggan and at the ski mobile.  Pointing at the ski mobile I asked, "Can I go down in that?"  They looked at each other and then at me.  "That's your call.  Do you think you can?"  "Oh yah," I said.  "If I can't ski tomorrow, I want to at least ride down in the ski mobile.  I've never ridden one."  It was the most awesome, fun, thrilling ride!  Definitely something to do the next time we go up.  Make a note of that.  Anyway, we got down.  Turned in our skis, drove down to Cedar City where we lodged for the night, checked in and went to the emergency room.  No breakage!  Yay!  Sprained calf, pulled muscle, and torn tendon.  Crutches.  Yuck.  So that's the story of the crutches.  Sorry it was so-o-o-o long.  Later, I found out that Keoni and Curt had trials of their own on the way down.  Basically, the Lord brought each one of us to a place where we couldn't do it on our own and we had to rely on Him to get us through.  Hallellujah!  God is awesome!

The rest of the trip was a blast.  We went sight seeing, shopping, saw an awesome show - Mystere, visited friends, and had a wonderful time.  It was a really great trip all-in-all. 

So back to my daughter's work.  I drove to her school to pick up her work.  I went up three flights of stairs to go get her books.  I used just one crutch because I knew I had to carry her books with the other hand.  My husband had to go and get our other daughter so he wasn't with me.  I went up and into the classroom and started gathering her books.  Her teacher didn't say a word to me.  Then I went to his desk because I saw on the homework board that they had a new vocabulary list.  The first thing he said to me was, "I can't give you any work."  OMG!  I said, "Can I just get a copy of the vocabulary list?  I'll get the assignments from Tammy."  So he got the list for me.  Then he said, "Oh, I might as well give you this packet too."  It was a summer school referral and the school newsletter.  Gee thanks.  Then he asked how I got hurt.  "Skiing accident."  is all I said.  So I carried her books (2 math workbooks, 1 math hardcover book, 1 marble notebook, a  binder, and a spelling workbook) in one hand, crutch in the other hand and left.  Then I went to her math teacher just to see if he wanted to give me anything for my daughter.  He just gave me the assignment.  Then asked the same question about my leg and got the same answer.  I left.  I got down the 3 flights of stairs, and walkways to the parking lot and to my car (stopping about 10 times because I had to rest) without falling, dropping any  books, or being asked if I needed help.  Yup!  No one offered any assistance.  Mind you this is a Christian school.  Yikes! I even stopped in at the office to let them know that my daughter wouldn't be in the next day and I was requesting her work now so I didn't have to call in the morning.  One of the office ladies said, "Oh. . . do you need help?  I can rubberband the books together for you."  No thanks.  Geeez.

Anyhow, it is now Thursday and my daughter is still sick and still at home.  Her fever is finally gone but she has bronchitis and the medicine is making her tummy feel yucky.  My leg is less swollen, but more black and blue and still sore.  It cramps up everytime I stand.  Yuck.

I can't wait to feel better so I can get the store open and make more stuff!!!  Hopefully, in a few days.

If you read this whole long drawn out post, thanks for hearing me out.  You are a true friend.  Cyber you soon!

Comments

[Stacey]

Thank you to all of you for your well wishes. My leg is mending slowly but surely. The swelling is going down. You girls are the best!

[kathi]

wow, now that's a story! but glad you are back and okay. hope your leg is feeling better soon. i know, what is up with the 9am thing? my daughter's school is the same...and i can't even pickup the assignment until after school is out. i did go to the bead show. wouldn't miss it! bought several pearl strands and turquoise discs. and some funky asian beads. so fun! next one is in may at the ilikai. maybe i'll see you there?!

[myra]

What a story! So sorry about your leg. Hope your leg will be on the mend asap.

Welcome back!!

[megan]

Wow! What a story! So glad: no breakage! Love your amazing outlook and remaining calm & secure. I'm puzzled by the school's behavior/attitude.

[joanna]

Welcome back! Bummer about the leg, but hopefully you'll be off crutches soon so life can get back to normal.

Don't really understand the 9 am assignment policy. Is that pretty standard? Seems like they could cut you a little slack, your daughter being sick and all. Ugh!