Well, it finally happened....I hurt my back. I say finally because I hardly stretch after my runs and I quit lifting, so it was really bound to happen. I'm not writing this for sympathy, however, and would like to note this in my life dairy because of the funny story that ensued...
SATURDAY
The Gym
Jarrod and I went to the gym to workout. I ran 5 miles because I was trying to get back into training for a half, then eventually a full marathon and didn't quite make the 6 I set out for. Also, Jarrod's bud Corbin, bet us that he could run 6 miles at an 7:30 min/mile pace without ever having run that far before. He also told me he wanted to run in the full marathon with me in Austin. So, naturally, my competitive instincts kicked in, and I ran my little heart out. I hadn't run that far in 3 months myself, at most it's been 3, so that run pretty much killed me. Oddly enough, Corbin made it 3 miles and now owes us a 6 pack of beer. Yes, Corbin, it's documented now so pay up!
Lawn Maintenance...
After the workout, we decided to start our yard work. We just moved in 2 months ago, so the yard isn't where we want it to be. I started weeding the flower beds and then realized weeds were growing in between the rocks, these weird weedy bushes that I hated from the onset, and well, just everywhere. I decided, being proud of the times I can show Jarrod my hard ass side ;), that I was going to remove all the rocks AND the weedy bushes all by my little self. It didn't matter that I was blacking out while doing the work at the time, hello Maria. Also, those rocks are much heavier than they look and the little weed bushes have roots that grow laterally, not just a couple feet deep. It took me an hour, but I finally dug them all up! After that, I tried to help Jarrod edge but kept breaking the plastic blade that comes with this super fancy edger we got from Jarrod's mom. I got fired from that task , but thank goodness. I'd done myself in more than I knew at the time.
SUNDAY
Sunday, my back wasn't sore, just a little tight, but nothing major. Jarrod and I vegged around the house after cleaning, so I wasn't up and moving around to notice I guess?
MONDAY
Rise and Shine!
I usually wake up after Jarrod gets out of the shower. I'm pretty bad, terrible actually, about getting up in the morning and I try to get in as much sleep as possible. Anyway, I lay there after opening my eyes on Monday morning and realize that I can't move, at all. My neck wont turn, my back wont bend, and I can't pull myself up. I felt helpless haha, so I groaned, wined, moaned, and anything else in between. Eventually, Jarrod realized I was needing help, so he came over to assist me to the shower. While in the shower, I thought it would be a good idea to try and stretch my back. Lesson learned as I quickly learned my body didn't like that. I was trying to shampoo my hair while stretching and realized my hands were going numb, the world was spinning and I was going to throw up. Fortunately, I opened the shower door before passing out. I wake up to Jarrod saying from the closet, not able to see me, "Maria., get up! You'll be late for work!". He then proceeds out of the closet and finds me on the floor with hands white and clenched, face white, throat tight and meanwhile yes, feeling like death. Of course the first thing to run through my mind is "oh shit, I have West Nile? Wait, Maria, don't be a freak, you probably don't. Think about what Kathryn would say to that thought!". Then my rational thoughts went away and were replaced with "shit, i'm dying. I can't breath". I start to cry, and yes, shampoo is still in my hair and oh, I'm naked.
Jarrod's reaction
Jarrod isn't quite sure what's going on, but assumes I am having an allergic reaction to food and gives me benadryl haha. He then puts me in a towel, carries me to the bed and lays me there to later dress me in a dress and heels. I'm lucky he made me look somewhat decent!
Minor ER quest
The plan was then to drive me to a minor ER on his way to work, then pick me up after the second person from his branch shows up. His branch, or maybe banks in general, have a rule where you can't operate the bank if there aren't two people in there at one time. He was scheduled to open and was the only one with the key, so it wasn't an option for him to NOT be at the branch. In giving that back ground, you might understand better why when we got to the ER, and it was closed, we had to go to the branch. The options were now, Maria should drive herself to the nearest open ER or wait with Jarrod at the branch, for the next two hours, until he would leave.
Sidetrack to plan: Cops are OUT!
I decided, after feeling more calm yet extremely stubborn to fix this as fast as possible, that I would be fine to drive to the ER. It sounds crazy now, but I wanted to save my sick days for times my stomach acts up. Anyway, Jarrod's branch is located in not one but TWO school zones and as luck will have it, it's the first day of school. You know what that means, COPS ARE OUT! I wasn't in the car for more than a minute until the cop's red lights flashed. I started to freak out yet again, got more pissed because I just needed to get to the dang hospital, and now my time to get to work before missing less than an hour of work was slimming!
'Genius Idea'
Then a genius idea, or so I thought, entered my mind. I remembered one time where my mom, who was also in a hurry, got pulled over, and asked the cop to come to her house to finish writing her ticket at her house while she got ready for school. (She was on her way home from dropping me off from school when she initially got pulled over). He obliged and wrote her the ticket at her house. So, when the cop came over to ask for my license and registration, I asked him the following "Hi officer, I apologize for not being able to look at you. I don't know what's wrong with my neck and back, can't move it, passed out, and was trying to get myself to a local ER". He was beyond confused, asked why I'm driving in my state, if I knew I could have run over children (?), why I didn't know exactly what ER I was going to, and if he should his medics to come out and look at me. When he mentioned 'medics', I thought just a couple of people to come out and make sure I didn't break anything, or have west nile (irrational thoughts still present in my mind apparently). While waiting, the cop also asked if I have a husband. I say yes, then he, looking confused, asked why he didn't drive. So awkwardly, I had to tell him what happened that morning, in detail, while still staring straight at the road. I definitely got the vibe that I had to defend my husband and somehow was able to emphasize that I wasn't a beaten victim. I kept saying, "my husband is a good man!". This is all in tears at this point.
The Ambulance?!
Yeah, not more than 5 minutes later, a firetruck AND ambulance come. Jarrod sends me a text saying "OMG where are you, I just saw an ambulance. Is that for you?!". I, wearing heels and a dress, got out of the car, so embarrassed and not able to text him back, and handed the cop my phone because I apparently forgot Jarrod's number. Cop calls Jarrod, tells him where he'll drop off his car, and then places my phone in my purse.
At this point, I was in an ambulance and completely emberassed. The medics were all very calm, which was nice, and were sweet enough to carry a light conversation with me. Not more than 10 minutes later, I arrived at the hospital, in a stretcher, and eventually roomed next to people with serious car accident conditions. I again, felt a little rediculous! Regardless, the doctors did the x rays, blood tests, hooked me up to an IV, and even did a cat scan for me. Still not near my phone during all of this, my prince charming, Jarrod, found me! I have this application on my iphone called find friends and it's basically tracks my whereabouts. My hun stayed by my side, even after I was doped up so much on muscle relaxers, until I was released about 4 hours later. Did I mention that he had appointments and many plans scheduled that day?! He's a busy busy man and obviously, a hard worker at that!
What a sweet heart Jarrod was to me that day and I feel so comforted to know he'll be there for me no matter what! What a great experience to go through before something life changing was about to occur.
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