April 6, 2008
how was my trip? well …
This morning, while I was brunching at Rockerfeller Center and listening to HeatherB lament the stupidity of liquor laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol before noon on Sunday, Charlie was falling off the retaining wall in our back yard and breaking his arm.
This afternoon while I was waiting in the Newark airport and making a to-do list for tomorrow, Charlie was waiting at the ER to have his arm X-rayed.
And this evening, as I was making my peaceful way back to the house, Charlie was throwing up on the new sofa because the Lortab doesn’t agree with his stomach.
He’s broken both bones in his right arm, above the wrist. Tomorrow we have to get it set, which should be a hell of a lot of fun.
When I go out of town, which isn’t all that often, people inevitably ask if I worry about leaving the kids with Wade, and I say of course not! Because never once have I returned to a child with a severed limb. Technically, that’s still true. Tonight, after Charlie said, “Mama, I missed you when I was at the hospital” and my heart exploded into forty million pieces, Wade said, “I was glad you weren’t here to see the arm.”
“Was it bad?” I asked.
“Well,” he said, “it was BROKEN.”
Welcome home.
Posted by Susan @ 10:24 pm • home sweet home, fretful and worrisome
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April 6th, 2008 at 10:30 pm, BethanyWD Says:
Well, shit, then.
I hope he’s on his way to feeling better! Poor Charlie! (Poor Wade.)
April 6th, 2008 at 10:42 pm, jen Says:
Jesus Christ!
I am so sorry. Poor all of you!
April 6th, 2008 at 10:46 pm, Rhi Says:
My mom still hasn’t forgiven me for starting my period while she was on a business trip.
April 6th, 2008 at 10:49 pm, She Likes Purple Says:
Thinking of him, Susan! (And you too.)
April 6th, 2008 at 11:00 pm, Susan Says:
Rhi, that made me laugh.
And I would totally take having someone menstruate over a broken arm. Although Wade might not be so keen on that.
April 6th, 2008 at 11:11 pm, Jenn @ Juggling Life Says:
Well you do get to be there for the fun part.
April 6th, 2008 at 11:16 pm, daysgoby Says:
Poor guy!
April 6th, 2008 at 11:36 pm, All Adither Says:
Good luck tomorrow. I hope “setting” doesn’t involve what I think it does.
April 7th, 2008 at 12:04 am, Anna Says:
Poor Charlie! If I were in your place I think I would have been both guilt ridden AND totally relieved not to have been there! I don’t do broken bones well…
Did you at least have a good time while you were away?
Sending good thoughts your way for tomorrow…
April 7th, 2008 at 12:58 am, Angella Says:
I feel bad for you! And Charlie!
But not HeatherB - tell her to come to Canada - the cold beer and wine store opens at 10am
In all seriousness, I hope it goes well tomorrow.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:01 am, Kimberly Says:
Oh no!! I’m so sorry! Reading that just made my heart hurt.
It was nice seeing you Friday night. Sorry we didn’t get to chat longer.
Hope the setting goes well!
April 7th, 2008 at 6:02 am, Heather B. Says:
This still makes me so sad. I mean the liquor part definitely because WTF? Did you see me almost start to cry? But because of poor Charlie. Ugh.
April 7th, 2008 at 6:46 am, Shan Says:
ARGH! So awful! Unbelievable that it would happen the rare time you’re not home! Poor Charlie, and you.
April 7th, 2008 at 6:52 am, Erin Says:
Oh no! Poor Charlie - and poor YOU! Good luck with the setting this morning. I know how that goes - my now-husband broke both bones in his arm above the wrist 8 days before our wedding.
He wore a black cast to match his tuxedo. Clumsy but stylish, my husband is.
April 7th, 2008 at 7:49 am, blackbird Says:
Nothing like stepping right back into real life…perhaps you can reflect on your fabulous trip tonight. With a drink.
April 7th, 2008 at 7:54 am, jcristg Says:
oh man, welcome home indeed.
and heather b ought to come to south cackalacky — where in most places there is no alcohol sold anywhere period on sundays. the times they are a-changin’ but it’s changin’ kind of slow.
April 7th, 2008 at 8:13 am, M&Co. Says:
Oh no! Poor all of you!
April 7th, 2008 at 8:16 am, Busy Mom Says:
Ah, man! I hope he gets better quickly.
Don’t beat yourself up, sounds like there’s still plenty of broken arm stuff to be done and you get to do it.
Before you know it, he’ll be sporting a cool camo or black cast or something and his friends will be jealous.
April 7th, 2008 at 8:21 am, The Simple Family Says:
Why is it that we feel we are the ones who have to be there when this happens even though it could obviously cause some major emotional grief?
I broke my arm when I was 8 and nobody noticed for three days, so at least he got it taken care of quickly!
What color cast? Because, as you know, that’s really the most important question. Well that and did you get any cool shoes?
April 7th, 2008 at 9:02 am, Susie Says:
Well craptastic. Hope it goes well today! Thinking of you and Charlie!
April 7th, 2008 at 9:10 am, Sue Says:
Poor Charlie! I hope the setting is not as bad as it sounds.
This will be great fodder for Thanksgiving dinner conversation when they are grown up. “Remember when I broke BOTH bones in my arm and mom was off partying in NYC?”
But for right now, it stinks. Apply ice cream sundae (cocktail for you)… but no lortab!
April 7th, 2008 at 9:17 am, crockpot lady Says:
oh sweetie. lots and lots of hugs.
this will be funny in a few days and after a lot of drinking.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:22 am, Sheryl Says:
Oh no, poor Charlie! And poor Susan, because it might be worse to be the mom, maybe.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:30 am, the planet of janet Says:
i think we are in parallel lives. roo-girl just broke HER right arm this week. right above the wrist.
and the casting? oh the screaming. it’s documented in my sunday post. (yes, i shot photos of my child getting her arm casted. cuz i’m a good mom like that)
give charlie a hug from me. i totally get it.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:31 am, jenijen Says:
Oh no! Here’s to super-fast bone mending — xoxoxo
April 7th, 2008 at 10:38 am, slynnro Says:
Poor Charlie!
But I’m certain a cast will only add to his utter adorableness.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:17 am, Mandee Says:
Poor thing (you and Charlie. And Wade. And Henry, too for that matter). Broken arms and vomiting can’t be much fun for anybody in the house.
Hope things go well today.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:20 am, jen Says:
OH man! What a thing to come home to! Poor guy. Get him the Sharpie variety pack…the little ones with rings on the top so you can put them on a key chain and he can have friends sign his cast.
But now it’s Monday and I’m sure you can find a drink at this hour. Methinks you’re going to need it for the arm setting. ; )
April 7th, 2008 at 1:09 pm, Kian Says:
POOR CHARLIE!!
POOR WADE!!
POOR YOU!!!
I hope everyone is feeling much better today!
April 7th, 2008 at 1:52 pm, Aurora Says:
Oh no!!! So sorry, for all involved!!!
April 7th, 2008 at 2:18 pm, Friday Playdate » broken Says:
[…] « Previous Main […]
April 7th, 2008 at 4:35 pm, Mel Says:
A broken bone is one of my ultimate fears with my kids…give me blood, but I don’t think I will handle seeing an arm or leg going in the wrong direction at all. I’m so sorry to hear about your little boy!
April 7th, 2008 at 4:47 pm, ollka Says:
Oh my God, I hope he gets well as soon as possible.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:07 pm, Karyn Says:
Oh holy hell.
I went out of the country for ten days and did not breathe the whole time worrying about what the little ingrates were getting up to.
Nothing, as it turns out.
But this is every mom’s nightmare. Oof.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:07 pm, kat Says:
oh lord. broken bones and vomiting. not fun at all!
although i’m guessing for charlie, the appeal of a cast in a color and having people sign it will be a lot more fun for him than you..
April 7th, 2008 at 5:55 pm, Nina Says:
Oh! my heart goes out to the poor little guy. it seems that a broken arm is a rite of passage for little boys though…=(
April 7th, 2008 at 9:19 pm, KathyHowe Says:
My now seven year old son was called Head Trauma Boy for years because every time he fell, he fell on his head. Why? Because he refused to put his hands out to break his fall for fear of breaking his arm. He spent a LOT of time in the ER with the pediatric head trauma specialist from years 0-6. He even thought that the head trauma specialist was his pediatrician. OOPS. So last summer I had mixed feelings when he broke his arm. The E.R. doctor noted that the boy child must have FINALLY learned to put his hands out to break his fall. My sons comment? “Yeah. I’ll never do THAT again!”
Oh the joy of raising a boy.
I hope yours is feeling better soon!!
April 7th, 2008 at 10:31 pm, standing still Says:
Oh. f^ck. You will never leave your children, again. They will be forced to share a home with their wives and children. I see this being a problem in your future.
April 8th, 2008 at 6:22 am, Shit happens « It’s Not All Mary Poppins Says:
[…] unnecessary guilt, the assumption is that she will, even that she should. I know a mother whose son suffered a broken arm while she was out of town. She told a group of mothers about it, and the mom-to-mom support […]
April 9th, 2008 at 9:34 am, Suebob Says:
I have a delivery of guilt for Mrs. W.
Mrs. W., will you sign for this?