We all knew it would happen, but I'd hoped not QUITE so soon, not at 2 1/2 years old. Parker landed in the hospital with a broken arm last week. The part I find funny is that she didn't do it jumping off the 5th stair in our house, or climbing the fence, or even falling off the top of the playground equipment. Nope, she did it innocently (I'm told) sliding off the bottom of the slide at school.
The story goes something like this. 3:45 p.m., my phone rings, it's the school saying Parker fell off the slide and is now favoring one arm over the other. They didn't exactly say come get her, so I didn't think too much of it, said I was going to finish the errand I was running, then I'd come over. I headed to the school about 15 minutes later, and as I was pulling in the parking lot the phone rings again with the teacher suggesting that I need to contact the pediatrician right away. I'm thinking, seriously, she bumped her elbow people! I head inside to find a bawling little girl, but I'm still not convinced. I pick her up off the assistant directors lap and tried to sooth her to no avail. I'm starting to buy into the hurt theory, but not serious injury. The whole time the director is telling me she needs to be seen, she needs an x-ray. It seems she could sense I wasn't buying in, so she made a point to tell me that they'd be footing the bill. This made me a bit more willing, but I still wanted Jason's 2 cents before jumping into the excitement of it all, not to mention the details such as what to do with the OTHER sister, Jason's 5:30 final walk-through in Lehigh and who's gonna do anything with her at 4:30! So, I loaded the girls up in the car and headed home. Here's where I need to offer my poor baby a public apology that she can throw in my face as an adult. Remember sweetheart, I really didn't think it was broken. In loading the girls in the car I had to finagle Parker's arm into the car seat, and it sickens me now to realize how much that probably hurt her, I'm so, so, so, so, sorry honey. I hope that I was gentle, but I'm certain it hurt a bunch. From there we headed to the house and as soon as Jason saw it swelling he sent us on to see someone. Payton headed to the Pabst for the evening, Jason to Lehigh, and Parker and I to Bonita Community. I am so thankful that A. they got her in quickly and B. Grandma Jackie dropped what she was doing and came to help. We were in and out of there in an hour with an xray and diagnosis of a broken humerus, right at her elbow. The bad part is that they sent us to Heathpark where we ended up spending the night. Poor kid cried for what seemed like days, but it was only hours. She was scared and hurt, and no one was making it better. It was after 9 by the time the nurses got around to giving her anything for the pain. Looking back, I feel really bad that I didn't fight more for her, but once we were in our room (at 7) she calmed down and seemed happy to watch cartoons. Eventually they did come in and started and IV, which seemed to make her more mad than the broken arm itself. She had her broken left arm in a splint, and her right arm/hand all tied up with the IV and the hand taped to a pillow/pad thingy so she couldn't use either hand. The night went pretty well and in the morning they took us down for surgery. It was pretty quick, and within 30 minutes or so the surgeon came out and told me all was well. A few minutes later the nurses took me back to her in recovery. You always wonder how you will react to anaesthesia. Well, Parker is a violent one! She woke up kicking and punching! ME! I feel a bit bad admitting this, but I was very thankful for the nurse who gave her some more something to calm her down, something went into the IV and she was suddenly happy to snuggle in my arms. Daddy arrived shortly thereafter and we all headed upstairs to wait for her to wake and head home. She was released that afternoon and we headed home for a LONG weekend. Parker was whiny and demanding, Payton was pouty and demanding, Mommy was fussy exhausted, and Daddy, well, he was trying. Eventually we all got the swing of it, and now it seems our only big frustration is bathing. So, we just avoid it! Not really, but maybe a little. I have a countdown in my head of days left to getting her really clean, and we're at about 14 days, can't wait.
So, I've learned a few things from this. First of all, I am my mother. I feel like I underreacted just like my mom would have (I do mean that in a good way). I didn't freak out at anyone or about anything, I didn't cry (not until she was in surgery and couldn't see me) and I didn't really think anything was wrong until I saw the x-ray. Love ya mom, thanks for the cool head. Also, I learned that if you have to take a kid to the hospital, unless it's a dire emergency DO go home and grab some basic items (computer, phone charger, toothbrush, FOOD) cause you're just gonna sit and wait for a really long time so you might as well take 5 minutes to prepare. I've learned that washing a kid with a cast is misserable, but that otherwise they jump right back into life. Oh yeah, one more thing, I learned that Tylenol with Codine seems to be the one thing that will make Parker fall asleep when put to be at 8 p.m.. Sure wish we had more of that stuff!
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