Ok, so I have been away a while but with good reason. On the last day of August, I did an incredibly STUPID thing. I decided to do laundry.
There is a back story of course; my washer and dryer are located in the basement. I also am the parent of two (lazy) teenagers who typically stand at the top of the basement stairs and toss their dirty clothes over the rail, with the intention of them landing on the floor below. Of course this almost never works out right; the clothes generally land someplace on the stairs. Sometimes they roll downward towards the floor, sometimes they fall through the stairway, which makes for a special treat of reaching blindly through the stairwell to the dark place below. Either way, I should know better than to assume the stairs are clear and safe. I guess I fell victim to temporary amnesia.
Anyways, I decided to do laundry and began by retrieving my own laundry which was stored neatly in a basket in my room. I trotted across the house to the basement stairs in my flip-flops, carrying the basket of laundry. I ventured down the stairs, carrying the basket in front of me, thus blinding myself to the hazard on the stairs below. Needless to say the combination of flip-flops and road hazzard made for a spectacular fall. If there had it been an Olympic even I am CERTAIN I would have gotten a perfect 10 from even the Russian judge.
As I gathered myself on the floor, atop the scattered dirty laundry in spite of the excruciating pain in my right leg, I plaintively prayed to God "please don't let it be broke God, please don't let it be broke!" Of course, I already knew it was but was in complete denial. My son heard the ruckus and flew down the stairs, his face white as a ghost. I sent him immediately for ice, and he returned with a sandwich bag containing a couple of cubes. I must have looked at him like he was about to sprout another arm as I wailed "that's not an ice pack son, I need a BIG ICEPACK!!!" He disappeared up the stairwell and almost immediately returned with a large freezer bag full of ice. As I held the ice to my screaming leg and panted for air, my son disappeared back up the stairs screaming for his older sister "Mom fell down the stairs! Come help!"
My daughter surprised me. She is 15, and most 15 year-olds would panic at the sight of their half-broken mother at the bottom of the basement stairs. Instead, she got the "all business" look I have seen a million times on the faces of first responders, doctors and nurses. I have put on that same mask so many times in response to trouble. I always knew she was mature but I had no idea she could handle a situation like that. Her calm voice, matter of fact statements and take charge attitude were so soothing. Hours later, after the initial shock had worn off, I reflected on her actions with amazement and swelling pride. She really helped me in my time of need.
Ok, so fast forward to the here and now (17 days later): I have had surgery to repair my severely broken leg and have a cast knee to toe. I am pretty-much captive on the couch, waiting for it to mend. Doc says it will be four more weeks before I can have a walking boot. In the meantime, I am doomed to be a couch potato, as my butt grows roots in the couch. My mother is here taking care of me (thank GOD!) and my daughter has run me an internet cable to the living room so I can be online. There is only one thing I hate more then being house-bound at this point... The question on everyone's lips when they see the cast: "What happened?" I grimace and simply state "I thought I could fly."
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lisa46
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Sep 17 @ 1:25PM
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Yep and all this time you thought your daughter wasn't paying attention to mom. It seems your daughter noticed your actions growing up and showed how good she can be. Makes you proud dont' it???? Hope you get better soon.
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kywonder
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Sep 17 @ 2:01PM
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Ouch, on those broke bones hurt so bad! Of all the bones I have broke, I think the back hurt the worse. Here wishing a happy and fast healing to your leg and may you be up and doing flips through the air in no time at all. 
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EternalFlame
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Sep 17 @ 2:14PM
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OMGoodness! The only bone I've ever broken is a toe...I have no idea the pain you must be in, but I wish you a speedy recovery!
And I must say....
Needless to say the combination of flip-flops and road hazzard made for a spectacular fall. If there had it been an Olympic even I am CERTAIN I would have gotten a perfect 10 from even the Russian judge.
That line damn near made me pee my pants 
I'm glad you can find humour in the situation!
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KnittinKitten
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Sep 17 @ 4:11PM
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I hate to sound like the Grandmother in this scenario, but I hope that you have made a dealk with both of the kids to handle their laundry differently....actually, it would be great if they decided themselves, that they were clearly partially to blame in this accident. Perhaps it's time to have them learn how to do the laundry themselves....hmmmm
But, I also have sympathy for a loving mother who wants to do for her children. So, I understand,.....I learned the hard way, years ago, that I cannot do everything. And the best gift I ever gave to my children, was to teach them how to do things for themselves....so glad that I didn't have to break a leg to do it....
However, I can tell you the story of how I broke my nose....that certainly led to them picking up "stuff" they left lying around. 
Mend well and quickly......they can learn to be experts in 4 more weeks!
I'd give ya a Gold Medal, but all I have is a Kudo...
KK
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Loreli
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Sep 17 @ 4:17PM
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I know the teenager laundry thing all too well!
I hope you mend quickly-and milk it for all it's worth with the kids!
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wolfmist
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Sep 17 @ 4:37PM
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OUCH.. sounds like something I'd do. Perhaps if nothing else, a hamper at the top of the stairs would be the best plan? LOL
Hang in there, there's a great scrabble site called scrabulous.com where you can play live games and chat with folks at the same time. That's where I've been hanging out since I got bronchitis and can't move around much after work.
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LQQking4the1
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Sep 17 @ 6:30PM
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Wow, thanks to all of you for your kind comments and well wishes! To answer a few questions:
To Lisa46: Am I proud? You betcha! I am so proud of her, and it gives me great relief as a mother, and yet another reason to be proud of her, knowing she can handle an emergency with a level head.
To KnittinKitten: I agree, it is a great gift when parents enable their children with the skills to help themselves. My daughter usually helps out with the laundry, and my son usually carries things for me (I have a bad back and its a wonder I didn't hurt it in the tumble!) but I happened to need a few things washed for myself and was going to throw some of their stuff in also, since I was going to do some anyways. As for making sure they know they caused it, I didn't have to point it out... the stricken looks on their faces when realized what happened told me they already knew. Both have been doing everything they can to help around the house. No sense in rubbing it in, that would be just hurtful and cruel. I would love to hear the story about your nose tho, I guess misery loves company! LOL
To Wolfmist: About that hamper at the top of the stairs...My mother is all over it LOL. She stuck a laundry basket right by the door and all dirty laundry is being deposited there. I guess great minds think alike. LOL
I am just tickled to be back online though, I have been going through internet withdrawls and a mean case of cabin fever combined. Believe me, it's not pretty. LOL You know it's bad when you are excited to go to the doctor's office. Now THAT was an experience, but maybe I will save that for my next blog. 
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missliss78
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Sep 17 @ 10:17PM
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Ouchie, ouchie. So sorry about your accident. Here's to a speedy recovery~
BTW....great blog....hope we can look forward to more while you "laying around."
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