We Can't Take Her Anywhere...

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Around us, Arlington Park does a family day on Sundays. While I'm not a huge fan of horse racing (or pony rides or petting zoos, for that matter - but those are entirely separate issues), it can be a lot of fun heading to the racetrack on the train and watching the horses.

And oh yeah... my dad and my husband love to bet on who's going to win.

So we all trekked down there, the wee ones, my husband, my parents, and I. With the train schedule, we arrived there slightly before the third race, so we got to see the horses being prepped for the race (where I correctly predicted the favorite wouldn't win, as I could see that he was slightly off in his left hind), which the wee ones thought was just a blast. They now want to know if I can use a hose to give them their baths, too. I'm tempted, let me tell you.

We made it into the concourse where my husband and father placed their bets (me, I'm content to just watch) before heading down to the rail to watch the race. As we were in a crowded public place, my focus was on the wee ones and whose hands each were holding. I had Little Miss, and my dad was with Mister Man.

As we got near the rail, my mom tripped. She missed a step, as those giant yellow lines they paint across them are pretty hard to miss (if you walk with your eyes closed). I grabbed her and kept her from falling all the way, but with Little Miss on one hand, I wasn't as quick as I usually was.

She insisted she was ok, but Mom-the-Martyr was not ok judging by the look on her face. She insisted on watching the race, so we settled her on a bench. I could already see that her foot was swollen, so off I went to find the first aid station and get some ice.

That was the first race I missed. Oddly, they hide the first aid station wayyyyy far away back behind two doors, but I eventually found it and got her an ice pack.

We helped her back up into the concourse where we set her down while we got lunch for everyone, gently lifting her foot into a chair. As the next race neared, she insisted we all go to watch it and that she would be fine walking to it. But she wasn't.

That was the second race I missed, as I helped her hobble down to the first aid station for them to look at it. They immediately wrapped it after determining that they couldn't feel any bones out of place.

My mom remained in that poor chair in the concourse - not even facing one of the monitors so she could see what was going on - for the remainder of the race schedule. She refused to go home and ruin the day for the rest of us, but she was obviously in pain.

Of the remaining five races, we had to leave before the last one, two I missed while doing the family activities with the wee ones (the aforementioned pony rides and petting zoo), and the last one I missed while tracking down assistance to the train station - and yes, they did provide a wheelchair and then car ride to it or we would never have made it). I vaguely remember the racetrack being more fun when I went there with work folk on outings.

The verdict from the orthopedist is that yes, she did sprain it so she's in a soft cast for now. If she's still in pain in two weeks, she's to return to see him for an MRI to sniff out any additional damage. My guess? There's no way she'd admit to further pain and won't go no matter what.

But the next time we go to Arlington? I think we might leave her at home. That or she's going to be assigned to hold someone's hand, just like the wee ones!