It's been a long time since I last posted! Back then, this adventure we're about to embark upon was as real as it is now, but it didn't seem that way to me at the time. Back in February, it was something we were going to do at the beginning of August, after Meredith turned three, after we finished another school year, after a trip to Milwaukee, after an anniversary trip, after Ryan finished another summer of grad school...the list of "afters" could go on and on. Today, as I write this, I feel that I am out of "afters", other than those which are directly related to our big, game-changing move, save one (which I will talk about in a moment). We will board a plane bound for Stavanger, Norway, next week Wednesday, after we have finished sorting through things in our house, packing our suitcases, and saying our last tearful goodbyes to dear family and friends.
I am almost completely consumed with thoughts of Norway and the many ways our lives will change just days from now. All of the afters I've mentioned have been expected and planned for. The one I haven't yet mentioned was not expected, planned for, or welcome, but it's here, and has been here for nearly three weeks. We will leave for Stavanger just days after I have had an appointment with the elbow specialist at Sanford Orthopedics to determine whether or not I need to have surgery on the two ligaments in my elbow that are torn.
Yes, as if we needed to add one more "after" to the already lengthy list, this one has joined the bunch. About three weeks ago, I fell while running, and immediately knew that I had injured my elbow or arm in some way. I was running with my sister in law and a friend of ours, both of whom tried to convince me after the fall that we needed to just turn around and walk home. We were only about 3/4 of a mile into our four mile run, and I was determined to run those four miles, so instead of turning back, we continued on once I'd had a little breather, because while I knew something didn't feel quite right, it didn't really feel wrong yet. We finished the run, and by the time we got home, I knew I was in trouble.
The next day, I saw my doctor, and while he couldn't find a break in my elbow, he said that the swelling around the bones was a strong indication that there was in fact a break somewhere. He put me in a splint and sling, and instructed me to return in a week for another x-ray. The second x-ray showed a marked decrease in swelling, and the break was still not visible to my doctor, so he sent me home without the splint. The next day, however, he called with news that the radiologist was concerned about a possible break somewhere in my arm, so I was to go for an MRI the following week. At this point, I was starting to panic about the amount of time I had before our departure, but I kept thinking that the MRI would show nothing more than a sprain. After all, even in the splint, I'd been using the arm, and once I was out of it for those days between my second appointment and the MRI, I used it as if nothing were wrong.
Unfortunately, and a bit shockingly, the MRI showed two breaks in my arm, and two torn ligaments in my elbow. A visit to the orthopedic clinic eased my mind somewhat; even the orthopedic physician's assistant could not see the breaks in my arm on the x-rays, because they are so small. The concern, however, is with the torn ligaments, and last week I learned that they may require surgery to repair. I continue to wait, however, because my appointment with the elbow specialist (he must be the best, because he's ridiculously busy) is not taking place until this Thursday. Since my first doctor's appointment in what may someday become known as The Saga of the Elbow, I have been telling every doctor, nurse, and receptionist who will listen that we are moving to Norway on August 1st. Perhaps this doesn't matter to anyone because a) the elbow really isn't in as much trouble as I fear it may be; b) Dr. Hurd at Sanford Orthopedics really is the best and is impossible to get in to see; or c) no one believes that we are actually leaving the country, not to return before the middle of June, 2013. I'm guessing it's probably b), but I'm hoping for a), because I'm fairly positive that surgery six days before flying across the Atlantic Ocean will not be happening. I'll have an update on Thursday afternoon!
So...we will leave for Norway after I have met with the elbow specialist, and when we board the plane, I will know whether or not I will be having surgery on my crazy elbow in a country where I do not yet have a doctor. We will leave after we've finished cleaning and organizing our house, after we've finished packing the too many suitcases that will accompany us on our journey, and after we have said these last difficult goodbyes. I hope that after we get on the plane, I can take a deep breath, relax, and know that we have done all we can to prepare for this amazing adventure...that is, after we've gotten the kids to go to sleep!!
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