So two weeks ago I dislocated my shoulder. And not even doing anything fun- I just slipped and fell and hit it hard.
Fun fact: a urologist is actually capable of putting a shoulder back into place, when his wife is exhausted enough and doesn’t want to go to an ER late on a Saturday night. Mark did a great job, but I’ll never let him do it again, because here’s the thing: the hospital has drugs. And while I have a high pain tolerance, I did pass out because it was so painful.
We did get it checked out the next day, and both the ER doctors and the orthopedic surgeon I saw were impressed with his work, so Mark is feeling very good about his medical degree.
I had thought that I would maybe be in a sling with restricted movement for a week, but apparently I vastly underestimated the time it takes for a shoulder to heal. I’ll be in a sling full time for at least two more weeks, and then the orthopedic surgeon will reassess it and hopefully sign off on physical therapy.
Soooooooooo I’m learning how to do everything without my dominant hand. And man is it hard. I can’t cook without help, or vacuum, or switch laundry loads. I can’t even put a new bag in the trash can! I really had never thought about all the things I take for granted around the house- things that might be a bit of drudge to do, but that I am capable of knocking off my list anytime I like.
It’s humbling to need so much help. I’m pretty sure my mom has significantly cut down on her purgatory time for the dirty diapers she’s changed (a one-armed poopy diaper change on a squirming toddler is near impossible, let me tell you) and the way that she has selflessly stepped in to handle the laundry and chores that require heavy lifting. My mom regularly amazes me with the ways that she loves our family, but I am especially in awe right now. I would be lost without her.
As frustrating as it is to be so limited, it’s hard not to be overcome by the blessings we’ve been showered with in this- we have a parish and homeschooling community that has rallied around us and brings meals and comes for visits (I can’t drive). We are so loved, and that is overwhelming.
And I can see the ways that God has prepared my heart to be able to ask for the help I need. I had just finished the book The Heart of Perfection, which is all about the different versions of perfectionism and how to overcome them using the saints as examples. I loved it, and it definitely challenged me to re-think the lies that I have believed and internalized over the years- especially the ones about motherhood and being a stay at home mom. I have a tendency to feel like I need to have it all together all the time. Praying with this book helped me to identify some of my own weaknesses more clearly and allowed God to gently open me up to changes I needed to make, before I found myself in the unexpected position of having to ask for help with everything.
So two weeks down and at least two more to go. My goal is to continue to look at the blessings and not the frustrations, and to be patient and gentle with myself in my limitations, while being patient and gentle with my kiddos and Gram even when I’m tired and in pain. Please pray for me, this is quite a challenge!
This isn’t a traditional quick takes, I’m linking up with Kelly, who I had the pleasure to meet in person last week while she and Addie were visiting UD Mercy. Head on over to read about her trip, her new workbook, and to check out the rest of the 7 Quick Takes.
Just wanted to put in a quick plug for the 2020 Lent Bundle from Catholic Mom Bundle- you don’t want to miss out on these 24 AMAZING resources to help you dive deeper into Lent this year.