Sunday, November 9, 2008

Green Arm

He fell down the stairs. I had my friend's kids over and they were all playing so well together (5 kids total). I was happy to have some older kids here to entertain Easton because I haven't been feeling well all week. We have a small balcony at the top of our stairs and kids love to play there, but it's really close to the stairs. Claire and I were downstairs and the big kids were upstairs. All of a sudden I hear a body rolling down the stairs. All I could think was "please don't let it be one of the kids I'm taking care of." Not that I wanted it to be Easton either, but, you know. I'd rather have it be my kid at my house. My husband's a lawyer and thinks about law suits.

So anyway, the crying I heard definitely belonged to Easton and he cried good and loud for awhile and mentioned that his arm hurt, but after awhile he seemed totally fine. I actually thought he hit his head because he was instantly tired and wanting to go to sleep. After awhile he seemed okay and wanted to play again. I gave him some motrin because he said is arm hurt and called it good. The whole rest of the day and at night he was holding his hand while he was sitting, and while playing, he refused to use his right hand. I thought it was weird, but didn't think it was broken.

A whole day and a half later, when Steve came home from work he told me that it looked swollen and we should take him in. I still wasn't convinced, but agreed. Sure enough the x-rays showed a crack right along his growth plate on his wrist. MOTHER OF THE YEAR. I just let him walk around for a day and a half with a broken wrist. He could have fallen again and hurt it even worse! I felt like a champ the next day when we went in to get his regular cast on and they asked me when he hurt it, and when we took him in, and why I waited so long.When I posted those pictures I was a little too emotional to tell the story. I beat myself up and was sure it was all my fault and that child services was going to come knocking at my door. Easton however was so brave and is barely bothered by his cast. When we left the dr's office I just started bawling because not only did I let my baby break his arm, I waited to take him in to get it fixed! While I was sobbing like an idiot he was in his car seat saying, "sorry mommy...sorry mommy." He's just so forgiving...if it weren't for this blog he might not have ever known I was so neglectful.

I don't think he's in any pain so I'm glad about that. I figure this is just the first of many injuries that he will endure throughout his life, but he's just so little... I was pretty sad about it.

33 comments:

Alifinale said...

I would have done the same thing. If bones aren't sticking out or in weird places I wouldn't know it was broken. He is so cute with his cast and I am glad it doesn't have to stay on too long!

Christi said...

Me too! I would have done the same thing. I love that he says Sorry mom! It's because he loves you so much you Mother of the Year :)

Kim said...

Emily, it is not your fault that he got hurt. And don't blame yourself, either! I wouldn't have taken my kids in to see the doctor if they were playing fine and not crying. Don't be so hard on yourself! You're a great mom! And he looks so cute in his little cast. ;o)

Brandi Harty said...

Just remember Emily, when Easton begins to play sports this stuff could happen also. So, no matter what you do he might get hurt. You are a good mom and you are doing a wonderful job raising him. What child is that forgiving!

Lizzy said...

Like Alison said, if bones aren't sticking out, how do you know it's broken?? My cousin with the daughter who broke her arm waited about a week to take her in, too.

He really is so cute with the green cast. If he gets any redness or rashes from his cast rubbing his hand all day, nail clippers work great to clip down his cast so it's not in direct contact with his skin.

Our Pratt Pack said...

We've all had those moments, I;m notorious for coming close to strangling my kids only to find out later they've been horrible because they have temps of 100. When Kya was 16mos Todd took her out of the shower and she slipped back towards the shower and split her lip clear up to her nose whe had stitches inside and out it was awful and then she got older and I'm shocked we've only had stitches once... kids are crazy and things happen. Oh heres another one Kya fell down the stairs 2 days in a row when I was pregnant with Mia so she was younger than 18mos, the 1st time I had to drop her off at daycare and tell the story day 2 I just stayed home and felt like "Mother of the YEAR!" Luckily we had no blog back then so this story may stay a secret until one of her kids falls down the stairs!

Jenni said...

you are a WONDERFUL MOM!!! I really mean it! I'm so sorry about all that Em, but oh man that is just the cutest thing ever that he was saying sorry!!!! and he looks like a stud in that cast! I'm glad he's not in pain. I was just wondering today what they do for baby pain. Luckily- he's on the up and up now :) love you!

Margaret said...

You know I feel your pain! Somthing about watching them be in pain after being on your watch is hard to go through. But they forget and so will you.☺

Lara said...

With it being a fracture, its hard to tell Em. Ashlynn's Ortho Surgeon wouldn't have even casted it for three days after the break to let the swelling go down.
And it wasn't like Ash's arm, bones hanging down and obviously broken (it makes me cringe just thinking about it!!!)
I've seen my daughter in a lot of pain many times, but breaking her arm was the worst, and then a second time. Before she did it the first time, I just had a sick feeling for about two weeks that she was going to do it. I kept telling her, "be careful, your going to break your arm." And then it happened...
E's fine. Your an awesome mom to my awesome nephew.
Love ya, Can't wait to see you all.
Lara

The Grahams said...

Ok, could have happened to anyone...... kids fall all the time- and i would never have known to take him in either. That is so cute that he kept saying sorry mommy. He really doesn't seemed that upset about it! And at least he has a sweet cast! Love the color- i broke my arm when i was in 2nd grade and got a hot pink cast and thought i was just so cool. :)

Jessett said...

I totally would have done the same thing too. You are a awesome mommy Em.

He is such a cutie pie even with that green cast.

Sisters: Chunky to Skinny said...

Emily,

Don't beat yourself up. Kids get hurt and there is nothing you could have done to prevent it. He was just playing an accidents happen. Most parents would have done the same thing...sake it off, he will be fine. You did the right thing. He will be fine and probably never remember it. Don't worry, you are a wonderful Mother. And dang, can I just say he is so freakin cute. Can he marry Addison when she grows up?

Tara said...

At least he looks so cute in that cast!! I am so sorry you had to go through that. Don't feel bad though - there is no way you could have known. Especially if he was sleeping fine and everything else. You are an AWESOME mom!!

Matt and Shannon said...

I don't comment often but I'd like to add 2 cents... Easty is way lucky to have you guys as parents and Claire is so lucky to have you watch her(me and Shan too). I broke my leg in high school and thought I was okay until I told my Mom. Who then began to cry-which made me cry... good ol' Moms!
-matty

Kara said...

Emily, you could not have known it was broken. And I'm sure Easton could never be mad at you- look how cute he was when you were crying. What a sweetie! I LOVE him and his cute green cast. Nathan's already talking about it. You're an awesome mom- why do you think you are always asked to babysit everyone elses kids?

Teresa, mom, Deitz, Aunt Dee Dee said...

Oh Emily, you are a great mom. Accidents happen and boys will be boys. Rough and Tough and able to withstand much more than a tumble down the stairs and a broken arm. Don't beat yourself up over small accidents. Easton is so tough and awesome. You are raising a wonderful little boy, not to mention cute as a button. (But then how cute really, are buttons?) He is sooooo cute!!!!

Aimeeable said...

You have passed yet another rite of passage! Easton looks like such a tough kid. I too know someone else who waited days until they brought their kid in to get looked at only to find out that her arm was broken. Now when it happens to one of us, you can let us know you've been there too.

Megan and Greg said...

Oh Emily. Easton is not the first kid to break something. And he didn't break it, it cracked. Is that different? It's totally ok. You're not neglectful, and honestly- I would've done the same thing! How were you to know! Kids fall down all the time. And he seemed fine. Don't feel bad. It just happened. When I fell down the stairs with my nanny baby I thought the Dad was overreacting bringing him to the hospital and he ended up staying there 2 NIGHTS!!! So I'm right with ya there, babe. We've all been there. Love you.

Brynne, Aaron and Cade said...

Despite a crazy cast he has to carry around (that might get itchy), he's taking it like a champ. Or at least the pictures make it look like it! Em, I'd feel the same way if it were Cade (and so would any other mommy) so I hope you're not beating yourself up anymore. Smile, he's doing fine and is still happy! :)

*Stephanie Lance* said...

NO WAY EM!!! You're the BEST MOM EVER!!! and don't worry, when i broke my arm, my mom didn't take me in for a whole day either and she's the best mom i ever had :) And how were you suppose to know, you're no doctor! I'm sure if i was in your shoes i would do the same thing! Don't beat yourself up! you're the BEST! AND you looked SO cute for Halloween!!! AND it was so fun to see your disneyland pictures because i was just there too and it was just fun to see them! Too bad we weren't there at the same time! that would have been so totally cool!!! Any way, love ya grel!

Jill said...

Oh, I'm so sorry, Emily. But I would have done the same thing. Kids are so dang tough. The doctors weren't giving you a very hard time, were they? Shame on them!

Mary said...

When I was 11, I double bounced my 3 year old sister off the trampoline. A few days later, I did it again.

A few days after that (so probably a week after the first incident), my sister was complaining about both arms. My Mom took her in. My three year old sister had the same thing on BOTH her arms.

Easton's response is proof you are a great Mom--sweet and worried about you. You do the same for him all the time.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Ouch!
Get him some ice cream...and one for you too.

Ben & Diane said...

Emily! It's so not your fault. My rule of thumb is.....if the crying stops they must be okay. I would have done the same thing as you. Plus, remember from this summer when Dallin ran into the wall and needed stitches. Then he cracked it back open the next day. I blamed myself too but what could I have done to stop that? You couldn't have either. I'm sorry that happened. Easton looks really cute with a cast:)

Lawther family said...

Its a hard call to make, don't feel bad. I think every mother would have done the same thing. He is so cute and it doesn't seem to bother him. :)
About the shoes... I love them. I have bought two pairs so far and both are cute and comfortable... and cheap! Love it.

Chrissy said...

So sad! I'm sorry you had to go through that. Don't worry, I won't call Child Protective Services (this time).

Carol and Bruce said...

Amen to all the comments! About the itching, I used to stick a ruler down inside my cast to scratch it during school, it really did itch bad. Hope he doesn't have that problem.
hugs and kisses to you all! How long, by the way, does he have to wear that?

Ilene said...

That is so dang stinky!! Glad you went with a nice U of O colored cast though.

Oh, I did something similar with Jackson. I grabbed his wrist and he wrenched away and popped his shoulder a bit out of socket. I didn't believe he was hurt for real and sent him to take a nap. Finally, after screaming in pain I took him to the Urgent Care. I felt like such a loser telling the doctors that I caused his injury.

So, I have been there. And I think you are a great mom. This is something any one of us would do.

Oh, and I am just making a novel out of this comment but I will be in town at Thanksgiving. However, my family will be up at my house too so I am not sure the logistics of seeing each other yet. Let me know your travel plans because I really want to see your cute face!!

WASHINGTON SOUTHWORTHS said...

Oops! I meant to comment on this earlier. DO NOT beat yourself up about it (of course, easier said than done - I know I would be doing the same thing) - accidents happen. And Easton seems to be doing great! He's smiling in all of the pictures.
It'll be great for when he's older and does the whole scar/injury comparison. You know, "I got this scar from..." and "Yeah? Well I got this scar from..."
Hope he (and you!) heal quickly!!

Simon Family said...

That was a very sad story! I'm glad he is ok! He looks pretty awesome though, with that green cast, so no harm done! You're halloween costumes were super cute, by the way!

Lindsay said...

Poor little guy. He sure is a little sweetheart though, more concerned that you're upset then about his own pain. What a darling boy. For reals don't feel bad. If i had 4 hours to read this big old list of comments I bet every single other person says the same thing, that they would have reacted the same way. You ARE mother of the year. You should give him a little "tattoo" on his cast that says "MOM" with a heart around it. Then he'd be seriously hard core. :)

Chelsea said...

I think it was totally fine that you waited. A day and a half is nothing. You are the best Mom ever of the cutest little boy. He's darling with that bright green cast. Don't beat yourself up. Kids are the best healers too. He'll be back to good in no time at all.

Lauren said...

Don't beat yourself up, I too would have done the same thing!! He looks like he is doing just fine with his "green arm" :)