Sunday, December 9, 2007

Could-of, Should-of, Would-of...



Could-of...
...taken two seconds to get a stool or step ladder
...seriously injured, lamed or even permanently incapacitated myself
...endangered one of my children

Should-of...
...been more safety conscience
...not been so damn lazy
...thought of being a good role model for my kids

Would-of...
...killed myself if the chair was a few inches to the right (note the stairway)
...died if I had injured one of my kiddies
...been pinned there for hours if my two boys (3 years +1 day old and 3 years+361 days old) had not used team work and freed their bruised, battered, and dumb-ass mom

On Friday I was cleaning up from the huge double birthday party we had on Saturday for my boys. (yep, 6 days later still cleaning!) In order to remove some party posters from the wall I climbed up onto a chair. I removed the poster and when I returned from pinning it up in the boys' room, the boys had commandeered my chair and were helping by taking down balloons. Instead of going to get another chair - or even a proper stool - or even instructing the boys to get off the chair - I grabbed our "bad boy's chair". This is a dinning room chair with a booster seat. BAD MOMMY! In the heart beat I was badly injured.

Upon yanking the poster down the chair tipped backward throwing me back against the fireplace brick wall. The back of the metal chair actually pinned me up against the wall - 4 inches above the ground. Every movement I made caused the chair dig further into my stomach. The pain was excruciating. With tears streaming down my face I had to instruct my little boys on how to free me. It took over 5 minutes!

I have been left with a bruise that is four-inches wide and runs from one hip bone to the other. My entire tummy is varying shades of red, black and blue. Walking, twisting, lifting and sitting are all very painful.

All because I was too lazy to get a proper stepping stool.

This is a warning to everyone out there. Accidents can happen at anytime. In a blink of an eye.

I could have been seriously injured. I could have become incapacitated while home with three young children.

I am so ashamed.

Take care. Be smart. Think safety.

7 comments:

Family Adventure said...

OMG! Laura...that's *terrible*. I thought was going to be a light-hearted post...but I was shocked to realize that you were actually hurt.

It is a good reminder -- I could easily have done what you did. Thank you for posting about this!

Hope you feel better!

Heidi

Don Mills Diva said...

What a freak accident - so sorry. Hope you're feeling better. Don't beat yourself up too much.

InTheFastLane said...

Wow! That sounds aweful! That being said, I have done dumb things like that too. Like the time I stood on a chair WITH WHEELS in my office to reach something. I came down hard on my desk and narrowly missed hitting my head. But, the bruise on my arm was atrocious.

Emily said...

Oh, my. Maybe a good idea to use a step-ladder.

I am so careless sometimes, and I shouldn't be. What's the 3 year old going to do? Call the hospital?

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

I'm a total clutz and can totally empathize.

Whoa, how awful. I can't imagine instructing kids on how to free you. I'm sending virtual get well wishes your way.

Katy said...

oh my goodness!!! I am so glad you are OK!!! I am so sorry that happened! How scary! Such a good lesson for all of us though, thank you for sharing!

Pregnantly Plump said...

I'm glad you're ok! Thanks for visiting my blog and sharing your experience. I hope your bruises heal quickly and I will try to remember that the next time I go climbing on our kitchen cabinets to get a box of cereal.