Hobble

Nearly four and a half years ago, I'd just made a trip to the women's hospital for preterm labor. We'd left the boy with Eddie's mom, driven an hour, and trekked up to the triage area. I was hooked up to the monitor, and could hear my nurse on the phone outside my room speaking to my doctor. "She's contracting every 5 minutes." Considering I'd already had a child at 33 weeks, spent a week in the hospital on the evil Mag Sulfate drip, these were not words I wanted to hear again, 33 weeks into pregnancy #2.

The nurse shot me up with some Brethine, and I hung out on the monitor some more. My stomach churned in anticipation of another hospital stay, another agonizing week in the hospital on Mag. But, everything stopped. I got to come home, with orders for bedrest. "Don't fix anything but maybe a sandwhich for yourself. Don't drive anyone to school. Just rest."

We got home and I hoisted my big self up on the couch, feeling kind of crummy. The Brethine made me shaky and my heart race. I was supposed to take pills every 4 hours, day and night. Fun.

Eddie's mom arrived at the door, with our son, then 3, in tow. She asked if we were hungry, if she could go pick us up anything to eat. My mind screamed, "Yes, I am starving!" But Eddie told his mom no thanks and she was on her way.

It got later and later, with no signs of anyone other than me cooking dinner. Finally, I got up and made eggs and toast for the three of us. Luckily, I was only on bedrest for the those last two weeks. My dad and Eddie's mom cooked for us. His mom also watched the boy a lot and took him to preschool for me.

Yesterday I had a rather unpleasant procedure at the podiatrist's office. My big toe was shot full of lidocaine, and parts of my nail were removed, and the nail bed lasered. I'd had this done 9 months ago, but it did not work, and the problem parts of the nail had grown back. This happens in a lucky 2% of people.

Last time the narcotic pain medicine made me feel like puking, so I am going with just Tylenol.

Today I needed to change the dressing and apply medicine. Eddie helped me remove the bandage very gently. He also found and sanitized a basin to soak my foot in. Right now he is out running errands and took the girl with him to keep her busy.

So I guess I am a little closer to forgiving him for being less than helpful during the preterm labor episode.

He has no memory of being thoughtless during the preterm labor episode. I don't think he was really trying to be difficult. Just not thinking.