Ouch!

Isn't that a beautiful picture of a thumb? Well, that is my thumb. Actually, I think it looks GREAT! If you'd seen how it was gaping open after I cut it yesterday afternoon, you'd agree! That cut is exactly 3/4 of an inch long which doesn't sound long, but look how long that is on your ruler.

I was cutting oranges up to take to a weenie roast our SS class was having at our teacher's house. One slip & I knew I was in trouble. I felt the knife hit my bone. I was hoping it was just a good jab with the tip of the knife. When I looked at my thumb, all I could see was lots of blood, so I immediately grabbed a paper towel and applied pressure. At the moment it wasn't hurting too bad. I didn't know if that was good or bad. Dano was out at the barn behind the house putting away stuff where he'd been mowing & blowing. He was about to come in so we could leave in about 45 minutes.

I was kind of afraid to take the paper towel off to reveal the damage. I waited til Dano got back in the house. It was still bleeding but not as bad. When I pulled the paper towel off, it was kind of together already. That was good. I wanted to see how deep it was, so I moved it a little. Yikes. It was a good cut... nice & deep. Thankfully, I was using a nice sharp knife... not serrated! I applied more pressure. I was thinking maybe I should get stitches (and you know how I hate to go to the hospital), but Dano thought it would be fine.

After a few minutes, it seemed to stop bleeding. I put some good ole tea tree oil on it to kill anything that might be in or around it. I let that dry, then we put some liquid bandage* on it (which burned like FIRE). Then after that dried, I put a big bandaid on it that is the length of my thumb to try to help me NOT bend it.

This morning after my shower, I decided to take a picture of my wound... you know, like a kid who has to show you his boo boo! Well, there it is. It is ouchy, ouchy still. Not nearly as bad as it was. It hurts when one of the kids grabs it! It hurts if I try to open a ziploc! OUCH! Impossible! So basically, if it gets hit or grabbed or I try to use it, there is pain. Thankfully the throbbing pain is gone. I can almost forget that it is hurt... until I try to use it or wash my hands!

Thank you, God, for thumbs. I sure like them. They make my life soooo much easier...when they're not cut!

So for now... I guess I go back to peeling oranges!

Will you say a quick prayer for my thumb to heal quickly & painlessly & stay free from infections? Thanks!!

Hope you're having a great Monday.

PS We made it to the cookout & had a fun time! I left the oranges at home!

*A plug for any liquid bandage stuff. I'm sure this stuff has saved us hundreds of dollars by NOT going to the hospital on a number of occassions. If you go there, they use the same stuff except they charge you LOTS of money to do it! Plus you have to WAIT forever before you see anyone. I suggest keeping it on hand. We now need to get some more!

note... in case you wonder, I didn't actually post this until after 4 pm today.