Okay, I admit, this is a lot longer than it needs to be, but it makes me feel better to get it out, so here it goes.

New Year’s Day always brings many resolutions in our family. Our kids pledge to limit their TV watching, clean their rooms or eat healthy snacks. My husband resolves to meet new people, spend more time outside, and visit with our friends more. My goals have varied from year to year - sometimes they’re noble as in the year I resolved to only do things that were good for me (body and soul). Another year, I vowed to continue my newly found love for running. And when our first 2 kids were small, and our life seemed hectic, it was to do more housework! Many years, it’s been to eat healthier, lose weight and stay fit. This year it was to lose the last of the baby weight for our 3rd child, born in August last year.

So the first week of January, I set myself up with a trainer at the Y, worked out 3 days, and played soccer with my “old ladies league” indoor team. I stretched out for it all.

On Saturday night, my husband and I were going to meet a bunch of other parents to play dodge ball. A friend had put the night together just for fun, and everyone got babysitters and headed out. There were a few bad omens, which I should have heeded. My sister was going to watch the kids, but my nephew had strep throat, so that was canceled late in the day. There was a bad snowstorm predicted, so we weren’t sure people would even show up. We luckily (we thought) got our neighbors to sit the kids, and headed out for a fun night.

This was one of the only activities we’ve been on time for in the last few years. There was a great group there to start off the night. One couple came in costume with matching terry cloth sweat suits, headbands, and mouth guards. We lined-up like grade-schoolers and picked teams. Noboby stretched out. The game started off pretty good for our team. I caught a couple of balls and even picked off one or two guys. Then I took a step back and felt someone land on the back of my calf. I covered my head and ducked, thinking that a couple of big guys were about to land on me. Then I looked around and no one was there. I don’t recall hearing the “bang”, I probably just thought it was another dodge ball hitting the floor. I took a step back and that’s when I stepped in the hole. I took another step and stepped in it again. I actually starting looking around for the hole in the gym floor thinking “that’s funny, there wasn’t a hole in the floor when we were warming up”.

Then I realized I couldn’t support my weight, and I thought my ankle was broken. My husband saw the panic on my face and started toward me. Someone pegged me with a dodge ball. The referee declared me “not out” and called time out. I really didn’t care. Then the lady with the headband came over to help. She started asking me medical questions and taking off my shoe. I had to ask, “Is this part of your act, or are you a nurse?” She was a nurse. A quick evaluation and we headed to the ER. We don’t get out much these days, so I tried to convince my husband to stay and play a few rounds and I would watch from the bar, but he couldn’t be swayed. There were other couples arriving as I was being carried out to the car. I heard later that some of them went straight to the bar, just to be on the safe side.

After a few hours wait in the flu-infested ER, a painful Thompson test and a quick x-ray (looking for bone fragments), I was fitted with a soft cast and pair of crutches. The snow started to fall as we pulled away from the hospital.

I had a follow-up appointment with the ortho doctor on Tuesday, who confirmed the full rupture and scheduled the surgery for a week later. Gave me the walking boot, and said I could be full weight bearing when necessary (as in picking up my baby) until the surgery, but that I should use the crutches the rest of the time.

My husband and I started strategizing on how this was all going to work out, with a 9 year old, a 7 year old, and a 6 month old.