Thursday, April 16, 2009

Beware of the microwave

For those of you who know me very well, I tend to have unusual circumstances around injuries: falling down a single stair = on crutches at camp, Spraining ankle because you got locked in your 4 yr olds room and dropped out 2nd story window, walking into side view mirrors of trucks, etc, this story is no less unusual. And it's a really good thing that I have super observant neighbors.

When I was little, and not so little, My mom used to tell me to "Be reware." I would walk into and trip over all sorts of things. I still have to pay really close attention or I walk into the wall when rounding a corner. Last Thursday, I was cooking dinner. It was something with rice. I had cooked the rice in the microwave with my handy dandy Pampered Chef Rice Cooker. I pulled the rice out of the microwave and placed it on the counter. I turned to get glasses out of the cupboard and without looking attempted to shut the microwave. I was also talking on the phone to Scott and I was not "being reware." I must not have pushed the door hard enough and it swung back and the handle hit me in the back of the head. It hurt really bad. But I was proud of myself and didn't say any naughty words. No I couldn't recreate the effect for curious observers.

As aforementioned I tend to get injured a lot so I didn't really think anything of the injury, UNTIL . . . I had a neighbor stop by. Now I have super great neighbors. I'm sorry to all of my friends and family but I live in the hands down best ward that ever could exist. We were chatting, and she looks at me and says "Are your eyes usually dilated differently? Did you just hit your head?" I mentioned that the microwave had swung and hit me in the back of the head, but it was no big deal. She was getting really concerned and asked when Scott was coming home. Of course, he was at play practice and wouldn't be home for another 3-4 hours. She gets more worried, and says that I should go get checked, and she was going to call me and check in on me.

I laughed it off. Oh whatever, I hit my head all the time. I'm always fine. I'll get the kids in bed and worry about it later. We ate dinner, and the kids got in jammies, and my doorbell rang. Apparently neighbor #1 had called neighbor #2 to come check on me. Neighbor #2 then proceeded to tell me horror stories of death with supposedly minor head injuries. I ask, "Are you sure that it isn't just the light. Are my eyes really different?" She says, "Yes they are different, and it's worse in the light." I tell her that I'll put the kids to bed, and find someone to come help me. She offers to either watch my kids or come with me to the ER. Yes I told you I have great neighbors.

So I put the kids in bed and call my Mom, who just happens to be kind of close at the Draper Costco. Then I call Instacare to see if they'll take me if I can get there 5 min. before they close. Guess what? With a head injury, you have to go to the ER - no choice. So I'm officially freaking out. I've looked at my eyes, they look different. I'm going to die. I call Scott and have him leave play practice. Now Mom, Dad, and Scott are all on their way to help me. I sit and watch 10 minutes of Life and begin to feel really stupid. It was just a microwave door. . . I'm not dying . . . this isn't a big deal. . . why did I bother everyone. . .

Well one hour and one blessing later, I'm on my way to the ER with Scott. One CT scan and 3 hours later, I'm on my way home. I have a regular old concussion. And I have a concussion from my microwave door. A week later, I feel back to normal. Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting all gone. Feeling like an idiot, still very prevalent.

I'm extremely grateful for my vigilant neighbors that worried about me over the night. I grateful my Mom and Dad were close and could watch my kids. I'm grateful for a husband to drop what he was doing, give me a blessing, take me to the hospital, and sit with me for the next 24 hours because I couldn't be left alone. I'm grateful that I wasn't hurt worse. I grateful for pain killer for went I felt hurt worse.

So now you know, if you are perfectly normal you can disregard this warning. But if like me you have ever gotten hurt in an unusual way, please beware of your microwave.