• Home
  • Blog
  • Start Here!
  • Free Printables
  • About
    • Products we love & Support
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
    • Disclosure
  • My eBook
  • Subscribe

Wildflower Ramblings

Home education resources and encouragement for moms & caregivers

  • Homeschool
    • Kindergarten
    • Charlotte Mason Method
    • Reggio Emilia Approach
    • Montessori Learning
    • Waldorf at Home
    • Classical Conversations
    • Early Literacy Stages Series
    • Curriculum choices
      • Tot School (2 years)
      • Preschool (3 years)
      • Pre-Kindergarten (4 years)
      • Pre-Kindergarten (4 years – 2017)
      • Preschool (5 years)
      • Kindergarten (5 years)
      • Kindergarten Homeschool: a gentle and slower year
      • kindergarten secular curriculum suggestions (free printable)
      • First Grade (6 years)
      • Charlotte Mason Schedule: Year One
      • First Grade in our Charlotte Mason Homeschool
      • Charlotte Mason Homeschool: Second Grade Curriculum
      • Third Grade Homeschool Curriculum
      • Third Grade in our Charlotte Mason Homeschool
      • Charlotte Mason Homeschool: Fourth Grade Curriculum
      • Fifth Grade Homeschool Curriculum
    • 12 Months of Sensory Dough
    • Sensory Play
    • Bible Crafts & Bible Cards
    • Practical Life Ideas
    • Before Five in a Row – ISH
  • Baby
    • Montessori Baby Room
    • Treasure Bins for Baby
    • 21 Activities for One Year Olds
  • Tot School
  • Preschool
    • What is Number Sense?
    • ABC Felt Animals
    • Preschool Alphabet Book
    • Our Preschool Notebook
    • Preschool Circle Time Schedule
    • Free 24 Preschool Chants
    • Free Preschool Songs
    • Our Preschool Plans
  • ABC
    • Letter A
    • Letter B
    • Letter C
    • Letter D
    • Letter E
    • Letter F
    • Letter G
    • Letter H
    • Letter I
    • Letter J
    • Letter K
    • Letter L
    • Letter M
    • Letter N
    • Letter O
    • Letter P
    • Letter Q
    • Letter R
    • Letter S
    • Letter T
    • Letter U
    • Letter V
    • Letter W
    • Letter X
    • Letter Y
    • Letter Z
  • Toys & Resources
    • 20+ Tools for Hyperactivity
    • What is Sensory Processing?
    • Best Workbooks & Readers {Ages 2-5}
    • Essential Preschool Tools
    • Essential Craft & Homeschool Tools for Mom
    • Best Art Utensils for Kids
    • Bible Resources for Kids
    • Our keeping and recording memories series
  • Health
    • Online Safety Resources & Safe Links
    • Herbal Remedies
    • The home birth of my son
    • The water birth of my daughter
    • her waterbirth
    • When your baby has a fever
    • Example of Hospital Birth Plan {free printable!}
  • Books
    • My Book Store
    • Free Phonics Readers
    • Early Literacy Stages eBook
    • Books for Children
    • Pop! Squirt! Splash! eBook
    • Learn with Play Book
You are here: Home / life / breaking my left arm…. a year later

breaking my left arm…. a year later

So, today.  I have so many mixed feelings.  Gratefulness, pride, terror.

Today is the one year anniversary of my breaking my arm.

I know, I know.  IT’S JUST AN ARM.

I have been walking sloooowly on tiptoes all day.  And no, I don’t believe in deja vu, it’s just a thing.

But breaking my arm last fall was life-changing for myself and my family.  I could no longer hold my babies.  I could no longer shower without assistance.  I experienced helplessness.  I embraced God’s mercy and grace.

And now?  My arm is about 95%.  Beyond what I could have hoped for or imagined (besides wishing I had just SLOWED DOWN and not ran in my kitchen that afternoon one year ago.)

I can grab my left shoulder with my left hand at the same flexion as grabbing my right shoulder with my right.  This took so much work and perseverance and gritting teeth and grunting and screaming.  But my scar tissue loosened, along with my heart and my pride, and I am there.

My arm does not extend the way my right does.  This is due to my right arm (and former left) over-extending.  The only time I feel my deformity is holding my arms straight in front of me.

DSC04846

I thought I’d include an x-ray of my arm, for those who have wondered and those who have written.  This hardware is my new permanency, my new normal…  And I am so blessed to live in a country and in a time where these things are available.  I am grateful for this place where I can share my heart, alongside my kids’ playdough and alphabets and bible verses.  And I am grateful that my experience and this place have provided valuable encouragement to some very lovely women who have experienced the dreaded elbow break.

I no longer have lifting restrictions, though I can’t hold my daughter for more than a few moments because my left arm is still very weak.  I can hold my own bags, though with some pain that I just grit my teeth at.  I now have a push up profile with the Army Reserve, which is best, because my arms do not straighten equally, and I certainly could not carry my own weight in a push up… probably ever again.  This is something I can live with (maybe even a silver lining).

DSC04596

So, to strengthen myself, I have become BRAVE.  I have begun kettlebell work again.  Swings, lunges, squats, and slowly but surely, yes, some arm and tricep work.  I can be strong.  I do believe it.  I have to live it.

I also have pain.  Intense bone pain.  And it comes and goes as random as I can describe.  During rain?  Not really.  After drinking a glass of wine, yes.  No more Riesling for me.  If I have just one glass, my arm throbs for at least a week.  Weird.  And also mostly after my workouts.  But I keep moving it, and pushing it.  I don’t want to feel, or become, complacent.  I can grit my teeth and be thankful to be alive and healthy and full.

And that’s that.  My scar is a beautiful reminder that I am broken and in a fallen world, but I have a Redeemer who has made me whole.  And I am thankful to feel whole again.

DSC03797

 (This is on a rare night out, at a summer wedding.)

And my love and my rock through all of this.  The road has not been perfect.  He is not and I am not.  But I am so grateful for my love and his support and strength.

God has taught me so much throughout the year.  I shared here:

85 things I’m thankful for {after breaking my arm}

On hating to wear pants

Mercies anew: a song {amidst deployment, death, and a broken arm}

Lessons from my arm break

My arm will be new again

Perspective about a broken arm

Related Posts

  • Charlotte Mason Reading Lessons: The Alphabet & Building WordsCharlotte Mason Reading Lessons: The Alphabet & Building Words
  • Home Preschool: Letter CHome Preschool: Letter C
  • Perspective about a broken armPerspective about a broken arm
  • Tot School: Letter STot School: Letter S
« harvest outdoor learning
Montessori Thanksgiving Activities »


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Connect

Amy is a former Kindergarten teacher, M.Ed., turned homeschooling mom. Sharing her imperfect life and her love of teaching & learning, reading, herbal remedies, parenting and more.
Read More →

Search

follow

I heard about Wim Hof “Iceman” from a convention last June. Simple and free ways to improve my health, yes please!
Happy Monday friends! I'm so glad I can brighten your Monday with another giveaway!
Who else is enjoying the beautiful snow?! My son found Narnia! ✨ #snow #childhood #family
Did you know that we have a FULL tab dedicated to alphabet resources? This is a gold mine for any parent who is ready to start teaching the alphabet. There are plenty of articles on teaching techniques and activities for every single letter! Head over to the blog and click the ABC tab today!
Happy Monday friends! I'm so excited to share a copy of this lovely book with one of you.
Art is not something I’m familiar with. Growing up, I thrived in theater and music, but never art. Unfortunately, I always felt like “I wasn’t good” or “that’s not my thing.” I’m sad about this! Since homeschooling my children, I’ve come to realize that I’m indeed a wonderful artist!! I can draw plants and bumblebees and even an octopus! I just need a bit of time, good materials, and a good teacher.

<script>” title=”<script>
<script>

banner-001

Favorite Posts

1legos 1quiet memories 1act 1chants 1closet hyp note classical dots 15act 1reggio 1turtle 1around 1bible1 sidebar bible1 crafts reggiomath essentialoils print

Note

Unless otherwise stated, all words and photos on this blog belong to Wildflower Ramblings. You may pin from my site, but do not use a photo, or any text, without my permission. All content is copyrighted. This is a for profit blog. I use affiliate links on the sidebars and in posts. I only share products that I love and enjoy with my family. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I receive a small commission. Occasionally, I will receive products free of charge and share them here.  Words and opinions expressed will always be my own. Please email me with questions or comments. Thank you for visiting. Amy Smith, M.Ed. wildflower ramblings @ gmail . com

instagram

I heard about Wim Hof “Iceman” from a convention last June. Simple and free ways to improve my health, yes please!
Happy Monday friends! I'm so glad I can brighten your Monday with another giveaway!
Who else is enjoying the beautiful snow?! My son found Narnia! ✨ #snow #childhood #family

Facebook

Facebook

More

Categories

Archives

search

Copyright © 2023 · Wildflower Ramblings [footer_backtotop] · Genesis Framework · WordPress