35 Weeks: The Ring Comes Off

I've worn my wedding band constantly since our wedding almost nine years ago. Most of the time, I even wore my engagement ring, too. They aren't fancy. In fact, the ring I had had my eye on was a $35 silver band from James Avery. Jay got me one that looked identical, but was platinum, which is Greek for "looks like silver at ten times the price." I love it anyway. They're nice and plain, just like me (insert my husband saying, "You should sell yourself better" here). Anyway, my point is that I have the perfect plain wedding band that never has to come off. I've worn it through medical procedures and manicures galore. Until today.

This is my lovely, swollen hand after removing my ring. Until the last few days, the swelling had mostly been in my feet and somewhat in my right hand, but it has increased and moved to my left hand, too. Yesterday my mother-in-law asked if I was a little edematous. A little?! I was hoping she was being tactful and that she didn't really think I look like this all the time. Someone please tell me if I do! Or don't. I am a little hormonal and I need to believe this will go away in a few weeks.

Last night I decided I should probably try to take the band off rather than let it go and possibly have it cut off. This morning I soaked my hand in ice water, oiled it up, pulled like crazy, and nothing happened. I thought I was in it for the long haul. This afternoon I tried again, but I had Jay do the pulling. He pulled for a while and pronounced it hopeless, which made me panic, because how was I supposed to know when I should give up and have it cut off? What if I had it cut off one day and the next day the swelling went down some and I could have taken it off normally? So he pulled some more. I was fairly sure my finger was going to break. And at last it came off!

I'm waiting out these last few weeks with my band on a chain around my neck and with the hope that my cankles will be a distant memory by the end of June!