A Bad Week for Toes

People who know we well know that my favorite part of my body is my feet. I have so much love and respect for this part of my body, which takes so much abuse and punishment just so I can move about my daily life as a biped. This week, my beloved feet have received a couple of blows, which have probably left them wondering if they have fallen from the number one spot in my affections.

On Sunday James and I were shifting some furniture around the house. We were moving a purple sofa and I found myself maneuvering backwards, when I misjudged the speed at which James was moving. The sofa landed on my left big toe pushing on the toe-nail until it bent backwards, creasing in place halfway down the toe. I crumpled, flicked the toe nail back in place and then just lay in a ball clutching my toe until James went off and returned with ice. Then the girls dashed off to retrieve both tissues, to clean the blood, and the little band-aid dispensers they were given at their marathon this weekend. They were so empathetic about my toe but I’m sure in some deep, unconscious place they were delighted to finally have a use for those band-aids.

After a couple of days of recovery my big toe was starting to finally fine. Then last night, blow number two. I was excitedly moving through the kitchen to show something to James when, wham, down I go. I’d walked into the step stool the girls use to reach the counters. I took out the three middle toes of my right foot. Again, I lay crumpled on the floor, until James supplied ice and compassion. This time, with no kids around, I felt like I was going to burst into the same flood of simple, honest tears that I recognize in children when they just don’t know what to do about the pain. I did spill some tears, but I had my pride with another adult around.

After lots of ice and a couple of pain killers last night, two of my toes seem much better this morning. However, my middle toe is beautifully colored and aches quite a bit. So much so that, after I resettled Caitlin in the middle of the night, my toe nagged and nagged and made solid sleep impossible. I guess I’ll be wearing my Teva sandals again for the next few days. I’d been wearing them since the nail injury on Sunday and was just thinking I’d be able to wear my new runners/sneakers and finally go for a good walk this week. But sadly no, they sit forlornly in my shoe basket waiting for their big debut. I hope it’s soon