Monday, July 9, 2012

Best laid plans and all that

When last we left our little hellion, er, heroine, Bella had just graduated from Ruffians 101 and we were looking into "Agility for Reactive Dogs" classes circa Fall 2010. We were looking forward to it but were waiting to get through the holidays before beginning this new journey.

But before we get to that, we need to take a little detour. Bear with me as this does have relevance down the road.

I'm never gonna get to agility class, am I?
But first...

I think I've mentioned here or there that Bella's mom isn't really the most graceful creature on the planet (read: she's a down-right klutz most of the time). And shortly after the holidays when we were just about to sign Bella up for the new class, I had a little coordination altercation.

When we got Bella, Jan was unofficially retired and has always taken care of her during the day. Even when he went back to work, he was able to work from home and Bella was seldom without him. Every once in a while, he had to go to the office for a meeting or something but as a rule, he was home.

January 11th 2011, was one of those days he had to go in to the office (about an hour away) to meet with some out of town clients and Bella and I were left alone in the house while I finished getting ready for work. After taking my shower, I made the brilliant decision to step on a chair to open the blinds in the bedroom.

This chair. "That's the one officer.
It just jumped right out and attacked me."
While I was standing on the chair, my left ankle buckled and sent me tumbling off said chair.

Onto the carpet-covered cement slab that is our bedroom floor.

That chair ------------------------------->

I don't actually remember hearing the snap but I knew before I stood up that I had broken my wrist. (And by wrist, I mean, both bones in my forearm and by broken I mean snapped - right in half. Sweet.)

I do recall, as I was all alone in the house and obviously in need of medical attention, thinking "Oh don't pass out. Don't pass out. Don't pass out." If I could only get to a phone before passing out...

And then I looked down at my arm and changed my mantra suddenly to "Oh don't throw up. Don't throw up. Don't throw up." My arm was bent where arms don't bend.

What does this have to do with Bella, you ask?

Well, Bella was alone in the house with me when this happened. Bella who is afraid of people. Bella who is already somewhat over-protective of me. Bella who stood by after watching me suffer some rather obvious trauma then watched as my neighbor came in and took me away.

And all the while, no Daddy at home to make things better.

She was left alone from about 8 am when my neighbor whisked me off to the hospital until about 4:30 pm when Jan was finally able to break away from his clients and get home to her.

Uh, about that agility class, Bella...
I returned home around 5:30 and staggered into bed. They gave me some medicine at the hospital that made me horrifically ill and by the following morning, I not only had a broken arm, I had a migraine and was finally giving in to the second half of my mantra to relieving my stomach of what little food I had eaten the day before.

For 3 days Bella left my side only to eat, pee and poop.

We thought it was cute.

Tune in next time to find out why it wasn't.




So, I know for a fact we have our share of walking wounded among us (I'm looking at you, Kim, Kristine, Lauren and Pup Fan... ;) Anyone else want to step forward and share some of their less-than-graceful forays into the Kingdom of Klutz?



22 comments:

  1. Dachshund Nola and her MomJuly 9, 2012 at 10:17 PM

    Oh god you're poor arm! Okay, kluz confession. About three years ago I was getting brownies out of the oven. I had one had in a pot holder and lifted them out like that. Well, they were on the edge of the cooling rack so naturally I moved to push them back. With the hand that didn't have an oven mitt on. To this day I can't bend the thumb I burned as well as I can the normal one

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like Bella was pretty cute to me, interested how it possibly can't be cute :)

    I thought I was gonna pass out just by reading your story :)

    My Mum is also a big Klutz, she's been to A&E more times than she can even remember - one time she moved into a place and decided to climb on the counter to climb over the back of the fridge to get the power cord that was hiding there unplugged - when she whacked her head on the whirring ceiling fan and fell down she finally remembered it was there - oh yes, lottsa blood!! 

    I'm sure careful to stay out of her way :)

    Wags to all 

    Your pal Snoopy :) 

    ReplyDelete
  3. Muh-oh. I think I might have a notion as to where this is going...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yikes!!! I am certain I would have passed out! I'm definitely clutzy (my husband calls me a spaz) but luckily (i'm knocking on wood) I have never broken anything!! Very interested in reading the rest of the story!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Agility specifically for reactive dogs? I have never heard of that but that's really cool. Sorry your Mom got a boo boo so you couldn't go out.

    ReplyDelete
  6. OMG! I don't know how you didn't pass out! It sure does sound cute how Bella stayed with you, but I wonder where this is going.  That is such a sweet picture of Bella. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Awww. That's sweet of Bella to not leave your side. I am truly touched that her attachment to you is like that of a worried mom.

    I was wondering, this was back then, how about now? Fractured/broken bones are the worst. It reminds me of how I sprained my ankle and was on bed rest for two days because the pain was unbearable.

    Well, can't Bella really join the Agility course for Reactive Dogs now? Can't Jan take her? I know it must be a long shot to ask.... but you could try practicing your puppy pout and glittering eyes and maybe that would help, Les.

    Well, if not, then maybe next time. In the mean time, maybe Bella could play catch and mini-agility in the backyard.

    Huggies and Cheese,

    Haopee

    ReplyDelete
  8. Funny how we can tell when you hoomans ain't well.... Mum says even KC attacks less often when she is ill... hehe! Deccy x

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am SOOOOO Sorry! I just noticed you started following me! Thank you!! :)  We love love love love love love (to infinity) meeting new peeps! We have added you to our Googley Reader and clicked the Friend Connect so we are officially FRIENDS! :)

    We can't wait to get to know you!!

    Shelle, Milo, Dixie and Newby,
    http://simpaticodreams.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ouch! While I consider myself a complete klutz with zero body awareness (I think I walk into the doorframe of my office at least three times a week) I am lucky in that I have not had to visit the hospital for quite a few years. Not since I broke my collarbone, anyway, and that story is too long for a comment.

    Poor Bella. Poor you! I hope you both recovered well after those first few days. I am a little afraid to hear the rest of the story!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Georgia Little PeaJuly 10, 2012 at 3:52 PM

    OUCH!! When did this happen? In 2010? Is your arm fully healed now? I can't imagine the pain you must have been in. You're very good not to have fainted right away, I think I would have! Wasn't Bella a good girl though? I'm sure there's a twist to this story, but I don't think Georgia would've kept me company like that unless her comfy bed was next to my broken body ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a good girl Bella!  It's awesome how dogs can sense when you need comfort and support.  Linus is great at this and when I'm sad he always comes over and gently puts his head on my lap.

    Have a great week!
    Colby

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sheesh, you did make a mess of yourself!  We hope it doesn't hurt too much and that you heal fast. We think Bella is a sweetheart to nurse you so well.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh dear!  Hope you feel better soon!  Hope you have a speedy recovery!!!  Brando, Humphrey, Ziggy, and CoCo send you some healing puppy kisses.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ouch ouch ouch! It doesn't take much. My mom broke her shoulder just by tripping over the dust ruffle of the bed and falling to the carpeted floor. I can see why you're hesitant about agility. But....I bet you'll try it anyway! The things we do for our pooches. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh my, bless your clumsy heart.  I'm sure Bella just didn't want you to break the other wrist hehe.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Am I officially a klutz if I sprain my ankle every year while running? I finally figured out that it was sneakers that caused the injury. Now that I'm living my dream to be barefoot and braless, I expect to never be injured again. :)

    BTW, way to write a cliffhanger. I'm dying to hear the analysis of Bella's behavior and the rest of the story.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I agree with Pamela! Have you tried agility? It's been a challenge (for me), but the rewards of the bonding with your dog far out-ways the klutziness of her handler (that would be me). 

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh dear, at least I don't have to wait to read the sequel!  I can't imagine either Frankie or Beryl staying by my side if I was bedridden.

    I'm not a huge Klutz but I'm finding as I grow older I am getting less surefooted and my big fear is that I'll have an accident at home and not be able to get help:(  One of the joys of living alone, lol.  Hopefully I haven't just jinxed myself!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dang! That really must have hurt! Glad you're okay. Bella very good of you to stick close to your Mom while she healed :)

    Waggin at ya,
    Roo

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ahem, ahem...

    I know not what you speak of...

    ...

    Anyway, wowzers! You should really invest in a step-stool. Or just make Jan do stuff instead. :-) I completely understand about Bella. Desmond cowers and/or goes running out of the room when there is any sudden noise or extreme change in mood. If this had happened to me, I'd have screamed bloody murder. Des would have peaced out and been stressed for a while.

    I'm very curious about the rest of this story!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Apparently we dog bloggers are a klutzy sort. ;)

    ReplyDelete