Spoke too soon

Who would have thought that I would be tempting fate by using "We survived" as the title for my last blog entry?  

2024 has decided that in addition to a snow storm, it would throw an equestrian mishap my way two weeks ago that put me in the emergency room.  With all the luck that my life could summon, I ended up being able to walk out of the emergency room (albeit 6 hours later) on my own two feet and with no further follow up or instruction than "don't forget to breathe deeply."  Truly a rollercoaster of events and believe it or not, Bryan was actually in town this time around to take me to the hospital.

The equestrian mishap (not a riding incident) resulted in two broken ribs, a fractured lumbar vertebrae, and a ruptured bursa sac in my elbow.  Here is where I throw in the disclaimer for all my horse and non-horse related readers: we (read: I) can't forget that horseback riding is a sport with another being involved - a much larger being with its own brain and will.  The sport will always have inherent risks, and we would be wise to acknowledge those risks are present in every single part of what we do around the animals, riding or not.

Following upon the accident, I spent the next day in a sense of profound gratitude for not being injured even worse and denial that I wouldn't be able to pick up my life exactly where I left off.  The days following that were spent in pain (surprise, surprise), which I muddled through by getting a lot of rest and extra strength Tylenol.

I am 2 weeks out from the accident and feeling a lot better.  I am able to walk more or less normally, sit with some discomfort, and lie down with minimal aggravation.  I can almost bend my elbow completely again.  In the order of things that bother me, it's my back, elbow, and lastly my ribs.  I did end up following up with a spine specialist who gave me the all clear on all activities so the only limiting factor are my broken ribs (oh yeah those) and how much pain I can tolerate.  What could have been a completely life changing accident is going to be a hiccup in an odd year (how are we only one month in so far) and I am endlessly grateful for that.

I hope all of you are staying well and being safe!