April 7, 2008
broken: the update
We took Charlie to the pediatric orthopedist today, which will easily rank forever as one of my Least Favorite Parenting Moments. The doctor reset Charlie’s arm, although it is possible that “reset” is the wrong word, as it wasn’t actually SET in the first place, just wrapped up and immobilized. I had given Charlie a teaspoon of Lortab on the way out the door, because I was afraid of what might happen at the doctor, and I guess that took the edge off, sort of, because Charlie was a total trooper and held still through the whole process of unwrapping his arm and rewrapping it and manipulating the bones back into place.
I should have slugged some Lortab myself. That might have made the whole thing less traumatic for one of us at least.
The scariest moment was when the nurse took the outer layer of wrap off and we all saw that the gauze underneath was bloody. Because maybe possibly the bone actually poked THROUGH the skin on the inside of his forearm — no one is really sure. When I saw the blood, I nearly passed out. Twice.
The doctor very gently and carefully set the bones, while Charlie watched and worked to hard to keep his composure. He barely cried at all, which I find amazing. Even the X ray tech, who had seen the original films, said, “I expected to hear some screaming from that room.” The new X rays show that the bones are set properly now, which is a huge relief.
Then there is that matter of the hole in his arm.
It’s possible that the bleeding was from the fall; it’s also possible that the bone came all the way through. Charlie is taking a megadose of antibiotics, and we go back Friday for a follow up and to have the real cast on; we also have instructions to call immediately if we even THINK he has any symptoms of infection.
I’m sure he will be fine. I also don’t want to let him out of my sight.
Wade came as Charlie and I were finishing the X rays, after the unwrapping and rewrapping and setting. And of course, because I am a grown up, I saw him and started crying. Because in a crisis Wade makes plans and I cry. We work well together.
After the splint had dried, they cut it open along the sides, so that his arm can swell and not cut off the circulation. And at THAT point, Charlie started screaming, probably because the cast cutter thingy is so loud and scary and when it touched his arm, it really hurt. So that was fun for all of us.
I am tired and stressed; I don’t feel guilty, but I am a little worried completely freaked out by the idea that he might have some kind of infection. I have been staring at Charlie all afternoon, looking for any sign that things are not right. He thinks I have lost my mind. I probably have. My neighbor called today and told me that she had broken her arm in the exact same manner, including bone poking through skin and her arm was at such a crazy angle that people were staring at her in the ER, and I said, “Oh my god, I’m so glad to hear that, not that I want you to have had a worse experience, but because you seem to be JUST FINE now and I need to hear that.”
She said, “Well I don’t know about JUST FINE, but my arm is okay.” And I laughed for the first time all day.
Posted by Susan @ 5:55 pm • fretful and worrisome, those damn kids
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April 7th, 2008 at 6:27 pm, Molly Says:
Just reading this makes me feel weepy and exhausted. Poor Charlie! And even more, poor Mommy!
April 7th, 2008 at 6:33 pm, Anna Says:
It sounds like a horrible day! I would have bawled my eyes out through the whole thing…poor Charlie! Just think how cool he’ll be with the kids at school, though…when all this is over. What stories he’ll have for the playground!
April 7th, 2008 at 6:47 pm, Alison Says:
Oh, poor Charlie and poor you. The part about waiting to see if he has an infection is a recipe for intense anxiety.
April 7th, 2008 at 6:50 pm, mamalang Says:
yup, I weep, hubby plans, then I move on and plan over top of him…lol
Praying for no infection.
April 7th, 2008 at 7:03 pm, Jenn @ Juggling Life Says:
It’s so hard to see one of your kids hurting. Your probably suffering more than he is.
April 7th, 2008 at 7:41 pm, Erin Says:
oh goodness… big hugs for both of you. How scary!
April 7th, 2008 at 7:59 pm, RuthWells Says:
There is nothing worse than trying to keep it together for an injured child. Bless your heart, and Charlie’s, too. (I was fine with seeing my 9-year-old’s blood, but I got woozy when they started stitching up his lip…)
April 7th, 2008 at 8:15 pm, Mama Bear Says:
Sending prayers and happy thoughts your way. A note on injuries from our side of the fence: Miss 14 broke her finger (when she was 9), it was slammed in a combine door, the pressure caused the skin to split open on one side and the need for stitches on both sides plus setting the finger, she was also on MEGA doses of antibiotics. She is fine.
Things will be fine for Charlie, too. This will give him something to brag about to his friends in future years.
Happy thoughts and relaxation being sent your way.
April 7th, 2008 at 8:51 pm, All Adither Says:
I think you are all brave.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:02 pm, chilihead Says:
Holy canoli! Charlie is some kind of super hero. Seriously.
(And my daughter just corrected my grammar. Because “seriously” is not a sentence.)
Drinks on me all around.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:05 pm, The Simple Family Says:
Sometimes, when I get a bit crazy about the infection thing, I like to take a temperature every 5 minutes or so. You know, to keep it real.
Also, just FYI, this post almost made me throw up but I kept reading. That’s what friends do. Keep reading when their friends posts make them want to vomit.
I hope you had a big glass of wine tonight!
April 7th, 2008 at 9:23 pm, KathyHowe Says:
Oh god. I would have passed out twice for real.
If it makes you feel better I got to watch my daughter (then 2 years old) be put into a straight jacket and TIED to a medical table and MILDLY sedated and HELD DOWN by 3 nurses to have her lip stitched up after she bit a hole clear thru it. That was fun but different.
Wanna trade kids yet? LOL
April 7th, 2008 at 10:41 pm, standing still Says:
After Child SHATTERED his FEMUR in December (those words must be screamed, just for effect), the school nurse and a para didn’t KNOW it was broken and had him stand to “human crutch walk” him from the gym to the nurses office. At which point he laid down and did not stand in a vertical position for over 3 months, because his leg was SHATTERED and patched together with screws and a bone from a cadaver. Just knowing that right after he SHATTERED it, the staff made him stand still makes me grind my teeth. And, the 8-inch scar on his thigh. And, the xrays which I still glance at to keep me grounded. Mega doses of antibiotics will keep him well. Milkshakes are a terrific source of calcuim, btw. I suggest you drink one made with vanilla ice cream and Baily’s. That helped me. Leave the Baily’s out of Charlies. It doesn’t mix well with the pain meds. (Also, be prepared for the muscle spasms … they might hurt more than the break.)
Holy Hanna woman. Take care of yourself and your boy.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:04 pm, Headless Mom Says:
Kisses to sweet Charlie-and the rest of you!
April 7th, 2008 at 11:33 pm, Velma Says:
You are the only person I know who had a worse day than I did. I spent over 5 hours combing nits out of my daughter’s hair, but you (and Charlie, the trooper) had a much worse day.
Hugs all around!
April 8th, 2008 at 5:18 am, cce Says:
Here’s hoping that your spirit recovers as quickly as his arm surely will. Those kids are superhero resilient, it’s their parents that take a while to heal.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:50 am, MaryP Says:
Hello! So VERY glad to see that you’re not feeling guilty. I don’t know why women do that to themselves, and I’m glad you’re not.
Meantime, that picture of him with his temporary cast is too sweet for words. You just want to wrap him in cotton wool and keep him cuddled and comfy forever. At least, I do.
April 8th, 2008 at 6:35 am, Rebecca Says:
This is one thing I hope I never go through. With 4 boys I’m pretty sure I will. Good for Charlie for being a trooper! Poor little guy & his poor mommy!
April 8th, 2008 at 6:45 am, Kyran Says:
oh, that sounds like no damn fun for anyone. hope healing is swift and life is uneventful for you long enough to catch your breath!
April 8th, 2008 at 8:35 am, MamaChristy Says:
“Because in a crisis Wade makes plans and I cry.”
Yup. Roger that.
So sorry to hear that it was such a crummy day. Hope that this is the end of the icky part of this and that once he gets his cast thinks it is way cool.
April 8th, 2008 at 9:32 am, robyn Says:
Wow… crazy when everybody has to grow up real fast in a crisis, including mom and dad. I can’t stop cringing over here.
April 8th, 2008 at 9:40 am, Janssen Says:
Thank goodness for a neighbor who can make you laugh.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:29 am, Ashley Says:
Exactly 10 years ago I broke my ankle in three spots. I was 12 and it was absolutely horrible. I was rushed into emergency surgery a week after the break and they tried to fix the break with three screws. It took months (literally) to recover but now, I am fine. I do not remember the pain, I only remember that it hurt and that it was terrible. Charlie will be back on his feet and running around in no time and you will be telling him not to hit things with his cast.
April 8th, 2008 at 11:44 am, kat Says:
oh boy. my dad’s retiring this year but worked as a pediatric orthopedic surgeon so worked a LOT with kids and their broken bones. he always said that kids tend to be a lot tougher and heal faster than you think. it’s perfectly natural to worry! and you have all of us to worry with you.
April 8th, 2008 at 12:11 pm, heels Says:
Ooooo… My tummy hurts…
What a brave boy, and a brave Mommy! I feel like passing out just reading about it.
Get well soon, darlin’! (Healing thoughts, healing thoughts!!)
April 8th, 2008 at 1:44 pm, Shan Says:
Oh my Lord, parenting nightmare. Sending positive vibes in the direction of Oklahoma City…
April 8th, 2008 at 3:57 pm, Sue Says:
What a brave little superhero! I think he needs a cape! (They have them on Etsy, you know!) And you too. Capes are in this spring I hear.
Thank God for antibiotics. And alcohol. (The drinking kind.) Hope he heals fast and no infection finds its way in there!
July 1st, 2008 at 7:57 pm, Friday Playdate » and you will know them by their cameras Says:
[…] the very first visit to the orthopedist, when his arm was still mauled and he was all jacked up on pain killers, Charlie had asked if he […]