Friday, September 28, 2007



BEWARE OF THE AFRICAN GIRAFFE!

I had a very productive morning yesterday. My house was relatively tidy and the boys were doing their schoolwork. I had started working on the Christmas Program (I am the Children's Choir Director) and was practicing some songs I hope to be able to play by Christmas. By 11:00, the boys had eaten lunch (we get up absurdly early at my house) and finished up language, reading, and a small study on Vincent Van Gogh. I told them to take a break and I went to clean up after Felix. He had taken all the books off the bottom bookshelf. He's such a big helper. I plopped my fanny down and went to work, him handing me a book and me putting it back on the shelf. I had to hold up the books already on the shelf to put more on and so I continued to add and move books. All of a sudden - BONK - and I was holding my head in pain and looking around for whatever thing I was about to hurl into oblivion. Ah, the wooden giraffe Missy brought back for the boys from Africa. Can't hurl that into oblivion. Besides, Felix was already holding it saying "No, no giraffe!". Corin was watching me lie on the floor holding my head and screaming "Mama, what should I do? I should tell Mr. Clayton! I should call 911! Mama is this an emergency? Mama!". Woah. What happened? Did I really get knocked in the head by a wooden giraffe? Should it really hurt this bad? I told Corin to just "be still and let me think". Yeah, think about the last time I got a concussion.

Embarrassingly, this is my second concussion within a year. Last Winter, I was changing the sheets (cursed sheets) on the boys' bunkbeds upstairs and knocked myself UNCONSCIOUS by slamming my head on the ladder. I passed out several times and don't remember chunks of the morning. I called Quinn, who was out of town for the day, to ask for instruction (I knew something was the matter because of the huge bump off my eyebrow and the fact that I kept drifting off to sleep) and promptly forgot what he told me as soon as I got off the phone. Gladly, he knew I was incoherent and called Ginger Donahoo to check on me. She called and Corin told her I was asleep on the kitchen floor. I think that I was on the phone with Missy at some point in the morning. It is still a little blurry. Ginger came over and dressed me (oh yeah, still in pjs) and took me to the doctor. I slept for two days and had blurred vision for about a week.
So now I'm sitting on my living room floor, checking for blood, and wondering what should I do. I knew, from my last unfortunate experience, that soon I would probably be feeling dizzy. I finished putting the books on the shelves and loaded the lunch dishes in the dishwasher. Now what? Quinn was in seminary classes in Atlanta and I did not want him to worry. I called Crissy hoping that her husband would be with her (he's a respiratory therapist). No answer on her cell. I called the church and she answered the phone (weird) and said that she would send Chris over. By this time I was unable to walk without holding the wall and the light was hurting my eyes. (Felix was also still holding the giraffe and periodically coming over to me saying "giraffe hurt mama?"). My eyes were not dilated weirdly and I was coherent. I did not want to go to the doctor. Pay $30 for the doctor to say "Yep, mild concussion. Go home and sleep for two days." No Thank You. So I laid in bed all day and couldn't do anything. ANNOYING. Chris and Crissy came over for the whole day and took care of me. It was nice. Ginger came and picked up the big boys for soccer. Paige got my stuff I needed to teach my co-op class today. The gospel at work.
Quinn was slightly annoyed I did not go to the doctor, but I rationalized well. (Oh, sure, trust the lady with the concussion). This morning I woke up with a slight headache and was glad I felt almost fine. Nevermind that nagging cloud in front of my eyes. It was smaller than yesterday's cloud anyway. I did go to co-op to teach my music class. Where we made homemade kazoos. And danced. Dizziness and headache back by 11:00. It was a GIRAFFE. A small wooden carved, docile animal. Crissy said, "Thank goodness it wasn't a lion, huh?" Cute.

11 comments:

-C said...

The strangest things happen to you OR maybe you're just a great storyteller. Cuz, that was a good one. Sorry about the attack giraffe. Maybe you should send it to time-out at our house ... ulterior motive: my boys would love it and maybe we'd have an adventurous story to write to tell. Glad you're feeling better.

Missy said...

Stop yelling at me!!!! Like I knew that giraffe was going to fall on your head. Like I knew that the African Voo-doo Dr was going to place the Kim curse on it!

Oh, & really sorry I couldn't make it to class today. Glad it went well anyways!

Amy said...

Only you Kim!

By the way, that song "sway" was playing while the fam was in walmart and Keith asked me after I had been singing it for awhile..."how do you know that song?" I just laughed! I didnot know that while I was thinking of you, you were suffering from another concussion!

Stace' said...

maybe somebody near you will bake you one of those yummy triple chocolate cakes you posted the recipe for.

Get better soon...

Ginger said...

I like how you bravely fight through the pain to tell a good story about your misfortune. I still think your head traumas are crys for attention. Poor thing. The dramatic pictures were a nice touch! Love you darling!

Marsha said...

Dear Kimmy Sue,
I love your flair for the dramatic. It spins a great yarn. However, I am sorry you got hurt in the process.
Please don't blame the giraffe! He had no way of warning you he was coming since they don't have vocal cords and make no sound (for real).
Keep posting. Love your style.

Crissy said...

He could have whistled at least.

Kim you make it sound funny and silly but I know you were really hurting. I'm sorry you got hurt and I'm glad I could help. But seriously, consider the helmet suggestion. You'd only have to wear it around the house and we could glue faux jewels on it. Pretty!

Paige M said...

So,what is the most comments you have ever had from one post? You must be feeling pretty good about this one. he he

(affirmation....check)

Jennifer said...

That is an amazingly crazy story. I apologize for laughing. I'm really sorry for the double concussion year. Please take care of yourself! I guess this means you should avoid housework at all costs, because it's hazardous to your health!

Michelle said...

WOW!!! Good night! I am so sorry. That is absolutely crazy.

Marsha said...

Gotta question for you. How did you get the second picture down at the bottom of your blog entry? I tried to do that and the picture won't move. I can size it, but it won't move. What am I doing wrong? Please teach me oh BlogMaster.