Benched!

Good News: My rec soccer league started a new session Thursday night.

Good News: We won.

Good News: I blocked a shot late in the game.

Bad News: I used the side of my head.

I've been playing soccer competitively for nearly 20 years.  Over those years, it has been the source of many friendships and memories.  It was my motivator and tuition-funder through much of college.  And it continues to  be my go-to stress reliever and fun every Thursday night. 

Unfortunately it's also been the source of much pain infliction on my body.  Breaks, tears, sprains, concussions... I could have been a permanent fixture in the AT's room.  I spent the end of most college seasons on the bench and sporting fashionable accessories like this one:

It's pretty much been enough to drive the hubs and my mom crazy from time to time.  The love me, which is pretty awesome, but it's hard to explain why you insist on continuing on with your passion even when it can cause physical harm.

On the plus side, the co-ed rec league I play in is generally pretty laid back and fun.  Let's be honest, I'm often on the younger side compared to those joining me out on the field.  We're old and wise enough to know what our bodies can handle!

Occasionally though, you put your head in the wrong place at the wrong time, and you drag your butt off the ground with an ear that looks like.... well.... this....

Cute little red thing, isn't it?  Thankfully it's usually only about half that size on any given day, and I found a new use for my Bondi Band as way to hold an ice pack on my head hands-free!  Though with the puncture wound that came from having earrings in, well, I've learned my lesson there!

I could have dealt with the puncture and swelling though- those will go away.  What I wasn't ready for?  The post-concussive outofthisworldpainful migraine that set in the next day.  Around noon yesterday I called the hubs at work, while curled up in the fetal position on my couch, and told him he needed to take me to the hospital NOW.

This is about where I had flashbacks to my TBI lectures.  I had visions of brain hemorrhaging and swelling and brainstem failure in my head.  I think there's a point, as a (soon to be) medical professional, that you realize that sometimes you just know too much for your own good.  Yesterday was one of those times; I'll admit I was freaking out a bit.

Thankfully I lucked out and got the most wonderful group of people taking care of me in the ER.  God Bless the sweet woman that made a point to put me in the most "out of the way" room, closed the door, and turned the lights out.  There is a special place in heaven for her!

In the end... my CT showed that I do in fact have a brain, and it is just fine.  I also learned that Reglan and Benadryl (neither being  medication for migraines) given together will both get rid of your migraine and make you feel like you just drank an entire bottle of wine!

And today... I just feel a bit fogged with a dull headache.  The biggest downer for me is that this means I can't play soccer or workout at all for at least another week, and perhaps a bit longer depending on how long the headaches decide to hang around.  Stir Crazy here I come!

Anyone else find themselves continuing on with their passion or taking up risky hobbies because their passion outweighs the risks?

To prove to dad I'm not a fool

I should start by expressing my deepest, most profound apologies to the entire half of the room that appeared thoroughly disappointed when I walked in with all of my hair this morning.  Apparently asking for salon recs made my own friends believe I actually intended to do something with those recs in a timely manner.  You would think they would know my flaws better by now.  Maybe next week. 

Let's get FLEXible

I have a little story to tell....

I was at work early one Saturday morning.  I was sitting on the gym floor, surrounded by the most honest and observant 3 and 4 year olds I know.  We were busy telling them about all the wonderful benefits of stretching and exercise. 

Reach down.  Touch your toes. 1..2..3.. "Miss Abby, why aren't you touching your toes?" 

I then try to explain in 3 year old words that I am trying my hardest and that this is precisely the reason why stretching every day is good for you.  And like any good 3 year old would do, one little girl plopped herself down on my knees while her friend climbed on my back, and a third and fourth child pusssssssshed my toes as hard as he could toward my shins while pulling on my arms.  Such nice little helpers I have....

Did I make it with a little help?  I'd love to say yes, but even with my little helpers... I had to cheat and bend my knees.

Moral of the story you ask?
My flexibility is decreasing exponentially with my age, and I hope I've still got a long ways to go as far as age is concerned!  Ok, so that's not really a moral, but working with kids for the past 4 months has been a friendly little reminder of how much my fitness really isn't what it used to be.

I just don't move like this little girl anymore...

 ... nor do I wear that much makeup.

The embarrassing truth....

That's me trying REALLY hard to touch my toes.  Youch- talk about some tight hammies!  Maybe I should reconsider that "no resolutions" idea?

I'll be reunited with my 3 year olds on Saturday morning after our holiday break; maybe they'll have some tips for me ;)

2010 Visual Aids

Here's looking back at a fabulous 2010... with pics that may or may not be at all related to the accompanying text and may or may not actually have been taken during said month, year, liftetime...

We rang in January at the cabin, I started my hardest semester of grad school yet, and I traveled to Baltimore to join some girls for the Cookie Lee Spring Launch.

February brought the great Snowpocalypse of 2010 and getting stranded in the snow while trying to make it to Washington DC.  It was also Valentine's Day, for which I can't remember what I gave, got, or did.

March gave me a small reprieve from the hardest semester of my long college career with Spring Break... and I am sure I spent the rest of my time studying Neurology.

I celebrated the official end of my first year of grad school in April.  I also celebrated my "little" sister turning the big 2-1.

May was the start of a very easy summer semester, and I spent all the extra days off working on the mile-long home to-do list we have by attempting to refinish our deck and fence.

I started my first full-time clinical position in June, and was reassured I am headed in the right career direction.  I also traveled to Boston for the first time, and spent most of the month as a single lady while the hubs was on the other side of the world in China.

If there's a "biggest" month award for 2010, it goes to the month of July.  I celebrated 3 wonderful years married to the hubs, welcomed my cousin's beautiful baby boy, and found out I would be a new aunt with my brother and SIL's announcement that they're expecting.  July also marked the end of my 3+ year job at the university, and we had a "roomie" staying with us temporarily from the University of Delaware.

There was lots of fun to be had in August with last ever "summer break", my first ever cruise with a vacation to the Caribbean, a family camping trip in Ohio, and lots of birthday and summer fun with friends and family.

September was the start of a new semester and the start of a new job, working with kids early on Saturday mornings playing games and teaching them how to swim. (Circa 1990-something)

There were no costumes in October this year, but I did spend Halloween weekend in New Jersey for another conference.

November brought my favorite holiday with Thanksgiving, and I believe I'm still recovering from the volume of pumpkin baked goods and pumpkin lattes that were consumed that month.

I finished off the year with a busy December full of holiday shopping, my first Steelers game, celebrations with friends, and a growing number of family Christmas parties.  Add that to the work holidays parties and NYE at the cabin, and I'd say we ended 2010 with a bang!

The one thing I didn't do in December?  Make any resolutions... let's see how that works out.

Happy New Year +2

We rang in the new year much like the last.  No limos, no party dresses, no cover charge, no fancy ball drop, no fireworks at midnight.  Last year we even had no working toilet, but that's a story for another day.  Last year we also had snow to our knees, but we had to settle for rain this year.

We spent new years at the hubs's friend's cabin in the mountains with 15 or so of our closest acquaintances.  I know the hubs took some pictures after we arrived, but I was having too much fun relaxing and eating enough junk food to prepare me for any unexpected hibernations to bother with my camera.  Sweat pants, little sleep, and no shower doesn't make for my most flattering appearance anyways.

I'm excited for the start of a new year... with no resolutions.