When Ethan was seven months old we first took a picture of him sitting in that tree. We have a picture from every year since. So, while visiting over the holidays we HAD to go take the boys' picture in the tree.
I woke up that morning with a splitting headache that was quickly approaching migraine status. So, I stayed at home while Mark took the boys and cousins to the Fort. They had great fun climbing all over the tree and we got some great pictures.
Those older boys are teenage cousins Dalton and Seth, whom Ethan followed around and thoroughly hero worshipped the entirety of our trip. Whether through some need to show off for them or just a sudden spurt of bravery, Ethan climbed one of the higher branches of the tree.And fell.
Eight feet.
Mark brought him home and carried him upstairs. Ethan was sobbing hysterically. Mark, in his gift of understatement, said “Ethan fell out of the tree. He says his arm really hurts.” In case you are wondering, hearing that your six year old has fallen out of a tree is an almost instant cure for a migraine.
We both fussed over him for some time, checking him for any obvious broken bones or large gashes. He had no bruises and except for a scrap on his head and the arm he was favoring, he seemed fine. He cried and moaned every time we moved his arm, but could move his wrist and fingers. After 30 minutes of being fussed over he cried himself to sleep. Mark and I both decided he was probably just sacred and concluded he would be fine once he woke up.
Except, he was crying again after 45 minutes and wouldn’t let us even think about touching his arm. Finally, after consulting with my aunt who is a nurse and who was worried he might have fractured his collarbone, we decided to head for the local ER.
Eight feet.
Mark brought him home and carried him upstairs. Ethan was sobbing hysterically. Mark, in his gift of understatement, said “Ethan fell out of the tree. He says his arm really hurts.” In case you are wondering, hearing that your six year old has fallen out of a tree is an almost instant cure for a migraine.
We both fussed over him for some time, checking him for any obvious broken bones or large gashes. He had no bruises and except for a scrap on his head and the arm he was favoring, he seemed fine. He cried and moaned every time we moved his arm, but could move his wrist and fingers. After 30 minutes of being fussed over he cried himself to sleep. Mark and I both decided he was probably just sacred and concluded he would be fine once he woke up.
Except, he was crying again after 45 minutes and wouldn’t let us even think about touching his arm. Finally, after consulting with my aunt who is a nurse and who was worried he might have fractured his collarbone, we decided to head for the local ER.
Once he had been assured that the doctors would not be giving him a shot and that they were only going to take pictures of his arm, Ethan was quite fascinated by the whole process. He joked with the doctors, completely charmed the nurses, and solemnly informed us that he knew all about X-rays because he had learned about them in school. He even said “cheese” when the x-rays were taken.
One look at the x-ray and it was obvious even to our laymen's eyes that his left arm was indeed fractured just above his wrist. The ER splinted the arm, gave him a prescription for Tylenol with codeine and sent us home.
The next day was New Years Eve. I called the local orthopedist but he recommended waiting until Friday or Saturday before casting the arm so that the swelling would go down. Once he heard that we were from out of town, he suggested just waiting until we were back home before having anything further done. Thankfully I called that day to get an appointment with a Virginia orthopedist, since the earliest appointment I could get was for the following Tuesday, 7 days after the injury had occurred!
By the time “cast day” rolled around Ethan had to be continuously reminded that he HAD a broken arm. He was constantly rough housing with his brother and forgetting that his arm was in a splint. The bone was already starting to heal when the cast was applied so he’ll only be in it until January 27. Ethan got to pick out the color- bright orange- and we shelled out the extra $15 for the waterproof version.
He’s happily writing with his right hand now (ARGH! Just when we got him to focus on one hand- his left- this has to happen!), has mastered the art of getting his shirt sleeves over his cast, and has had all his friends sign his arm. He told me a few nights ago that he wanted to keep his cast forever.
One look at the x-ray and it was obvious even to our laymen's eyes that his left arm was indeed fractured just above his wrist. The ER splinted the arm, gave him a prescription for Tylenol with codeine and sent us home.
The next day was New Years Eve. I called the local orthopedist but he recommended waiting until Friday or Saturday before casting the arm so that the swelling would go down. Once he heard that we were from out of town, he suggested just waiting until we were back home before having anything further done. Thankfully I called that day to get an appointment with a Virginia orthopedist, since the earliest appointment I could get was for the following Tuesday, 7 days after the injury had occurred!
By the time “cast day” rolled around Ethan had to be continuously reminded that he HAD a broken arm. He was constantly rough housing with his brother and forgetting that his arm was in a splint. The bone was already starting to heal when the cast was applied so he’ll only be in it until January 27. Ethan got to pick out the color- bright orange- and we shelled out the extra $15 for the waterproof version.
He’s happily writing with his right hand now (ARGH! Just when we got him to focus on one hand- his left- this has to happen!), has mastered the art of getting his shirt sleeves over his cast, and has had all his friends sign his arm. He told me a few nights ago that he wanted to keep his cast forever.
This was the same night he told me he wanted a motorcycle…..
I think my migraine is coming back….
I think my migraine is coming back….
1 comment:
LOL, you're going to probably have many migraines over the year with two boys. I feel your pain!
We still have Aaron's cast from his broken arm three and a half years ago!! He won't let us get rid of it.
As to the 8 foot fall?!?! Thank you God for angels for small children!
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