Where I Plan to Stay Home Until 2008

Oh, the quiet wind-down of the year. There is frost on the roofs of the houses across the street this morning. New Year's Eve. The last day of 2007.

It's been wonderful having the past couple of weeks off. Absolutely wonderful. Christmas was quiet and lovely. We spent Christmas Eve at my sister's beautiful new house. The highlight of the evening was Arden, our nine-year-old niece, passing out the crochet presents she'd been secretly working on for weeks. I know I've said it before, but this girl truly is a crocheting wunderkind. As we opened our presents (pictured here are the hat and scarf she made for Frances the polar bear, and all without a pattern) pure amazement was expressed as we looked at each thing she'd made entirely on her own, with no help from anyone — a hat, a round pillow, a bracelet, a scarf, a stuffed bear for her brother, and juggling balls — and a collective cheer went up for our girl. It was my favorite moment of Christmas.

Thank you for all your kind Christmas comments and well-wishes and the beautiful cards and presents. Egads, so kind of you — thank you. It all gave me such a sweet, warm glow to carry through the holiday. I've spent the past week quietly crocheting, soaking up the wind-down of the year, reflecting and planning things for the next one. Nevertheless, a worry was plaguing me. My bad foot had not been feeling right since November. I tried to push it to the back of my mind, since there were so many other things going on, but for a couple of weeks a small bump had been looming on my ankle. I tried to stay off my foot, hoping it would disappear. By last week it could not be denied. It was popping up in a place that was held together by lots of plates and screws, where my bones were put back together at the time of my accident in 1998. Last week I went to see my regular doctor, who referred me to the orthopedist; because of the holiday I wouldn 't be able to get in until this coming Wednesday. But by early Sunday morning, the bump looked big and angry, and had developed a tiny, weeping hole, so, once again, we headed up the hill to the ER.

Eight a.m. Sunday morning at the ER felt oddly comforting and familiar. To say I was "nervous" doesn't begin to describe it. I think the clinical term is "very, very, very-very-very nervous." My blood pressure and pulse were insane. While the docs drew blood, asked questions, took x-rays, and looked concerned, I quaked with anxiety until someone gave me an Ativan. Under warm blankets, I took deep breaths and watched "Christmas in Yellowstone" and held Andy's hand, all of which helped to calm me. Slightly. Hours passed. People in scrubs and coats came and went. Sometime in the afternoon, the very kind orthopedic surgeon appeared to talk to us and said, as they usually do to me, "Well, there's something very unusual on your x-ray."
     "Really."
     "It seems a drill bit is trying to get out of your ankle."
     "[I'm giving up swearing for new year's so I won't repeat here the long string of very creative expletives that whizzed through my brain upon receiving this news.]"

I won't go into the details either, but basically at the time of my original surgeries, a drill bit had broken off and stuck into bone. When that happens, they leave it there, if it looks like it won't cause any problems. And it didn't, for almost ten years, though who knows how long it's been trying to work its way out. By the time the surgeon removed it yesterday, the tip of it was actually coming through the skin.When I got home, I told my friend Elizabeth this story. She screamed appropriately (thank you, E) and then said, "So your ankle was like 'Pa-tooey!' and . . . spit it out." Prrrrretty much, yeah.

Everything's good now. I am fine and feeling more relieved than I can say. Turns out having a drill bit in your ankle is actually not as bad as some of the other problems I was imagining! Of all the things I was imagining, I will admit that I hadn't considered that there might be a tool coming out of my body. Luckily, it came out without any trouble and now just has to heal up. Nevertheless, it is my fervent wish to stay out of trouble for the rest of 2007. To that end, I plan to stay on the sofa all day, cuddling Frances (above) and Clover (video and photos coming soon, just haven't had time), eating shrimp cocktail and homemade eggrolls (thank you Andy), and watching movies, the New Year's Eve ones you guys recommended last year.

Be well, everybody, and a very, very Happy New Year to you all!

xoxo,
a

Comments

[Lizbon]

Oy veh! (Yiddish is so helpful at times like these) Glad you're okay. That's a tale straight out of the midnight bunk scary stories at kids' camp.

[Beata]

So happy to hear everything is OK - quite the scare though -- I can only imagine! All the best to you and your family Alicia in the New Year...And, I'm, of course, looking forward to another fabulous year of your blog (also looking forward to your book!!)

Beata xx

[Jeannie]

OW! Wishing you a speedy recovery and a year of cocoa, cuddles, crochet, cupcakes, and creativity. Happy New Year.

[Annie]

So with that last bit... out of the way you've got the all clear for a fabulous year to come! I too had a lousy 07 and welcome the fresh start of the new year(and
secretly very delighted to be first to post...on the last day)
your Annie in NH

[~Vicki]

Glad to hear you had a nice Christmas and all went well with the surgery on your ankle. Still trying to clear some time here so we can hang out. These past weeks have been so busy, and the time just flew by. Here it is the last day of December already! Well, you guys take care, get some rest, enjoy the frost (inside from a cozy nest) and we'll hopefully see ya around sometime. Let's all pray for a GREAT 2008!

[Sue]

Wow.
Sounds like an adventure somehow.
So good it all came out well in the end.
Have a good start in 2008!

[Dorian Fletcher]

A very Happy New Year to you, Andy and Miss Clover. I'm glad the ankle scare turned out all right. Your blog has become habitual - like my morning coffee. Thanks so much for the continuing creativity and charm.

[Jeannie]

OW! Wishing you a speedy recovery and a year of cocoa, cuddles, crochet, cupcakes, and creativity. Happy New Year.

[Jeannie]

OW! Wishing you a speedy recovery and a year of cocoa, cuddles, crochet, cupcakes, and creativity. Happy New Year.

[carlene]

Thank you, Alicia, for another year of blogging, and for being the kind of woman who can create intricate strings of both expletives (yes, I know, you're quitting) and posies.

:)

[Martha]

Holy Cow!!! I am so glad you are okay. Phew. I would have been nervous, too. Wishing you a very Happy New Year! Oh-and can I come over for a crochet lesson??? Pleeeeeese??? :o)

[Kim]

I'm glad the story has a happy ending, but I just hate it when scary stuff like this happens. Your plan for ushering out the old and in with the new sounds perfect.

[h.]

Gah! It is amazing what the body does, isn't it? My hubby had an accident several years ago that resulted in a very deep wound in his leg. His body still spits out bits of pant fiber and other foreign matter from time to time. I am glad the bump wasn't an infection or something worse! Rest up! Enjoy your coziness!
(Oh, and bye the bye, did they let you keep the drill bit?) Best for the New Year!

[Sarah]

Oh my goodness! I am so glad you are feeling better. Yes, you do need to stay out of trouble in 2008. :)

[Andrea]

Happy New Year to you, Andy and Clover. Thank you for a year of inspiration and prettiness.

(Glad the ankle business had a happy, if unusual, resolution)

[Tay]

I second the Oy Vey! that is a freaky, crazy true story. You are a pillar of strength and inspiration, A. I wish you a happy, healthy, accident-free (even the simple falling on the porch kind) prosperous and amazing new year. I'm glad you body decided enough was enough with that drill bit before Jan 1, so you can just leave that behind you fully and enjoy 2008.
xo
Tay

[patricia]

Wow! I'm so glad that everything turned out ok in the end.

Alicia, thank you for such a lovely place to visit everyday. I wish you, Andy and Clover and wonderful and healthy 2008. Happy New Year!

[Wandering Chopsticks]

Can anything more happen to you this year? :( Aiyah!

I'm glad you're safe and recovering. Just wanted to say I've enjoyed checking in on you this year. Best wishes to you and Andy for the new year.

P.S. Congrats about the promotion Andy!

[Carolyn]

Goodness! My mouth just dropped and hit my desk while reading your blog. What an "ouchy"! Glad to hear it wasn't bad ... even though it was not that good.

You have the perfect person (Andy) there to cuddle you and make it all better. And a pupper (Clover) to give you "licks of love" when you need them. :)

My Wish for You in 2008 ...
May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips. May your clothes smell of success. May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be those of joy. May the problems you had forget your home address. In simpler words ..... may 2008 be the best year of your life!!!

Peace and Love to you ...
Carolyn xxoo

[anna maria]

Whew! It's good you got THAT out of your system!
All wonderful blessings to you and Andy and loved ones for 2008.
xxxoooxxx

[Cece Marie]

Not knowing how this would all end, just reading along, I could feel my heart start to beat faster as I clasped my hands over my mouth in horror. Oh, my Gosh! Poor Dear Alicia! Thank you for sharing this with all of us. Your strength, as always is so empowering and your ordeals give me much needed perspective. You are an inspiration on so many levels! From the bottom of my heart, I wish you and Andy, and Clover a wonderful New Year!
Oh, and I hope Andy's new position is going well! I found myself at the ER on Christmas Eve (I'm fine) and I thought to myself how desperately they needed a kind soul like Andy to guide them. Best wishes!

[jstar]

yikes! that is wild. your ankle had had quite enough of that drill bit apparently :) i hope it feels better than ever, when healed

[Jessica]

So glad you're okay. I wanted to thank you for your blog - it's the only one I read, and I look forward to every post! I also wanted to tell you that your occasional Winnie-the-Pooh-type post titles make me smile. Happy New Year, from very snowy New Hampshire!

[ellen]

oh my goodness! An escaping drill bit -- what a thing to have happen to you! I have a plate and screws in my right ankle ... I've often wondered if things could work their way lose. Hope you on the mend! :o)

[Andie]

The same type of thing happened to my brother's wrist. He had a motorcycle accident and about a year later one of his screws came out. I am glad to know it's not as bad as you were afraid it was, and that you are on the mend. I am thankful for your blog to read and miss it when you don't post. Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year.