We’ve had a heck of a lot of snow (accompanied by bitter cold temperatures) over the past several days, and it seems there’s a lot more on the way.

So, any takers?

It’s Foto Friday and you know what else that means? 2 weeks down and 5 to go (til hubby comes home).

If there’s ever a good time to be laid up with an injury in Ontario, it’s January and February. But don’t get me wrong – I’d do just about anything to be outside freezing my butt off and trudging through the snow.

For now, I’m putting in some serious couch time, reading some great borrowed books (Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert at the moment) and memorizing the daytime television schedule.

Thank you for your continued care and concern. Your comments never fail to make me smile. Have a great weekend and run a mile or two for me, would ya?

-The mobility of my right shoulder/arm to open a jar, wash my hair, use a mouse, drive a car, get dressed, play Wii, apply lotion, cut vegetables, sign my name, blow my nose…

-The ability to go for a run, or perform any exercise whatsoever. It’s painfully difficult for me to sit around on the couch all day long.

-The option of sleeping in my big comfy bed (I can’t lie down).

I’m frustrated that I can’t take care of myself and have to idea how long this could go on for.

I have been more or less stranded on the couch since Saturday. I can get up and down as long as I am careful not to jostle the shoulder, but there’s really nowhere to go except the washroom since I can’t do anything.

All I can say is thank goodness for my family and friends or I would be starving to death and rotting in my own filth, not to mention bored stupid.

I have my moments of stress over work, money, my weight or running and other moments of helplessness, loneliness and self-pity, but I am trying to just focus on resting and healing. I’m hanging in there.

I hope to get some more answers at my appointment on Monday, but for now the pain seems to be about the same. It is manageable, as long as I don’t move too much.

Thank you so much for all of your comments – I have been overwhelmed by your outpouring of care, concern and support.

First, thank you for all of your kind comments on yesterday’s post.

Unfortunately, I did not get good news at the hospital this morning. After a series of painful x-rays where I had to hold heavy jugs in my hands to ‘open’ the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, it was determined that I have a separated shoulder, or a disruption of the AC joint, which is where the the scapula (shoulder blade) and clavicle (collar bone) come together. I will be seeing an orthopaedic specialist next Monday and until then, I am in a sling.

The good (?) news is, the doctor rated it a 2.5 out of 5, and typically surgery is only required for a level 5. It could be worse, right?

Interestingly, I seem to have placed first in my age group at the Robbie Burns 8K Road Race today. (I offered my bib to a [fast] friend.) Thanks to Marci for pointing that out!

Please keep the good vibes coming and hopefully I will be on the road again sooner rather than later.

Looks like tomorrow will be my first DNS. I went cross-country skiing this morning; seriously, who gets injured cross-country skiing??

Me, that’s who.

We took a trail that was perhaps (in hindsight) too advanced for a first-timer. We encountered a steep downhill. I should have turned around.I didn’t. Next thing I know, I’m flying through the air, limbs, poles and skis flailing, and I land hard on my right shoulder. It hurt a lot. With some help I was able to stand up and walk back to the chalet. They had an excellent first aid trailer and I was able to see a sports therapist. I was (am) in agony. She checked me over thoroughly and believes it’s a sprain in the AC joint ligaments. She helped me slowly and painfully out of some layers (it was -30C with the wind chill), rolled up a blanket under my arm (shoulder hurts less that way) and put a sling around me for stability on the car ride home.

And then we got caught in a horrible traffic jam for 2 hours behind a multi-car collision on the way home. Talk about adding insult to injury.

I eventually made it home where family and friends have helped me get into jammies (although I will not be getting this sports bra off any time soon without scissors), positioned me on the couch, given me wine and painkillers (good combo) and fed me dinner. All I need now is a bed pan – and someone to empty it. Any volunteers?

Mom is taking me to the hospital tomorrow to have it checked out and hopefully get a prescription for an anti-inflammatory and pain killers. I have to say, I have not experienced pain like this in my life. Not sure what this means for running; I guess I will have to take it a day at a time. Good vibes would be appreciated.

I’ll update when I can, but this has taken forever to type with just my left hand. Comments on your blogs may be sporadic (and laden with typos), but I’ll be reading your posts and counting on you to keep me company.

PS – Who wants to come shovel my driveway?

My contribution for this week’s Foto Friday is a shot that my sister snapped of hubby and I approaching the finish line at our first half marathon (and first race ever) in September ’07. Notice how beautifully she captured our matching stride and hand-holding. I absolutely love it.

Speaking of hubby, his business trip has unfortunately been extended from four to seven weeks, so he won’t be coming home until March 7th.

One week down, six to go…

Thankfully I have a wonderful family and truly amazing friends who are doing their best to keep me busy and make me smile. Special thanks to Sarah who had a beautiful arrangement of flowers delivered to my office yesterday and totally made my day week.

I hope everyone’s weekend gets off to a good start. Today is my rest day and I’m going out to dinner with my Mom. Tomorrow I’ll be cross-country skiing (for the first time in years!) with one of my running friends and Sunday I’m running the Robbie Burns 8K Road Race with a couple guys from my clinic (just doing it for fun… and the tartan PJ pants). Hope to see you there, Marci!