Dear Journal, I am grateful for insurance.

Tuesday, late morning:
As I stepped up onto the chair with my left leg, I heard and felt a *crunch* behind my knee. I yelled out in excrutiating pain and then was immediately overcome with a wave of nausea. I truly believe it was by divine intervention that I did not fall; and by divine intervention we were able to get down safely.

I barely had enough strength to ask Pookie to get me the phone from the piano. Then I called Danny at work and gasped, "Please. come home... my leg. I think... I think I broke... my leg." Somehow Danny heard, "Please come home. Baby poked me in the eye." hmm... okay... I repeated, "My leg! It crunched." Then he said, "I'll be right there."

I hobbled over to the couch, got baby off my back and was able to sit down.

I called the clinic. They referred me to an off-base clinic since they were all full on base. The clinic downtown referred me to the ER (emergency room) since they were all full. I called everyone I could think of who might possibly be home to watch a couple of the kids. We spent a good four and a half hours at the ER. Luckily, my awesome friend Sylvia watched Pookie and Gabbers. We decided to take Bun and Ham since it was naptime and they'd likely sleep for part of it.

At the ER:
They x-rayed my knee and determined there were no broken bones. They referred me to see my regular doctor in two days to see if I needed an MRI to look at the muscles and ligaments. They also wanted me to use crutches to which I declined, "We have stairs at home and there's so much ice on the ground. I don't think they'll work out for me." I left out the bit about how if I sat down then my kids would likely grab my crutches and pretend to shoot each other or sword-fight.

Wednesday after a few hours at work, Danny brought home Motrin and lots of treats. I pretty much sat on the couch with my leg elevated, eating snacks, playing a game on the laptop, and beading a few pairs of socks. I did visit a few blogs though when I remembered that the laptop gets internet access. :)

Today, Thursday, we dropped off Pookie and Gabbers at my friend Ronda's home to play while we went to my appointment. We took Bun and Ham since they both need a couple immunizations. The doctor poked and prodded my knee and leg and determined all muscles and ligaments intact. He said what most likely happened was a subluxation of the patella. He said that would explain the crunch and the excruciating pain. He said the tissue behind my kneecap is noticeably swollen which is why I still cannot fully extend my leg or bend it. He prescribed 800 mg Motrin to be taken three times a day for 7-10 days. After 10 days if I'm still experiencing pain with regular use, then he'll recommend physical therapy. Thank goodness for wonderful medical insurance, I didn't have to pay for any of it: ER visit, doctor visit, Motrin, ace bandage. Most of all, thank goodness for a Heavenly Father who looks out for me, and my Ham.