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I have been way behind on my grading for weeks. Grades are due Monday. eeep! So, the plan was that I would spend most of tonight and tomorrow grading papers -- with a few hours' break tomorrow afternoon, to meet littlemissattitude for lunch.
That is still the plan . . . although the location has changed. I will shortly be heading off to the hospital, so my ex can head home. He's been there since late morning Friday (except for a couple hours right before Shabbos, when I came so he could run home (in post-Thanksgiving traffic! ) to get some things) with our son.
I was working Thursday and Friday, while the ex was not. So he had the kids (my son had no school, the girls had half days). And Friday morning, shortly before he would have gone to pick up the girls, he and my son were in a parking lot. My son hopped out of his dad's van a bit too enthusiastically -- right into the path of another car. Thank God, he's ok. But his leg is broken (and having seen the x-rays, even this layperson could see the break was pretty bad), and he won't be released until tomorrow morning. Then it'll be 6 weeks in a full-leg cast, and 6 more in a short cast. Ah, the fun of crutches. >_<
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(((((rivka and son)))))) He'll probably have fun with it, I can't remember how old he is, but lots of boys like being on crutches it's a challenge they are up to (quoting a friend who's broken his leg twice)
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He'll be 8 in January. He liked the wheelchair, but is unsure about the crutches. I hope he decides they're fun.
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Yep, he'll probably start trying to race anybody with 2 good legs in a while. My friend in catholic school did. At least he won a few races. Then after time he'll probably call it his "war wound" for lack of better words.
((Rivka)) because you are more worried about him than he is. Therefore you need it.
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my friend ran the mile at school with crutches, not really a good idea, was also racing people and playing on stairs.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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I'm thinking he probably will remember this as being not so bad, but I bet he gets irritated and itchy while it's actually going on. 8 is a little young to be completely stoic and/or enthusiastic about it. (((rivka))), 'cause you're going to need it.
Of course, he's probably too young for you to have the experience my mother did... opening the garage door and pulling in to find me on the back steps taking my cast off my leg with a hacksaw and a claw hammer. You can be glad for that.
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Good Grief, Hatrack is having a terrible run of luck lately. I wish the best for your son, rivka. I will send positive thoughts winging your way. I hope he heals well and quickly. It's a good thing that we have a deep supply of good vibes. Here's hoping that there are no more illnesses or accidents for a good long while.
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Breyer's friend is my brother. I don't think that he was all that upset about the break, except it took him out of soccer his freshman year. He was going to be Varsity. He was going to recover, and keep on playing, but then he broke his leg again, a few months later, taking him out of the spring soccer season as well, and he never managed to catch up.
However, I believe he enjoyed the attentioned lavished on him by all of the girls at school. He did have fun playing with the crutches. Since your son is eight, and won't have any of the negative consequences my brother had, I think he'll have fun playing around on crutches and being the special one in his class. I'm sure he'll take advantage of having a legitimate reason for everyone to wait on him hand and foot. Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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Yeesh rivka, thank heavens he's ok!! You're a stout-hearted woman dear and I admire you AND your enthusiastic son. (((rivka and family)))
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I could have other friends that have broken their leg twice. That year like ten people at school broke their legs, maybe I was friends with one of them.
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Wow. When he grows up, he can say he had a cast on for two years! 2004 and 2005. or when he was 7 and 8.
Here's a handy suggestion. Get him a plastic back scratcher. (Like this, only don't let him stick the fingers down there, just the shoehorn part.) Once the swelling goes down, he'll start for find all kinds of interesting things to stick down there, but if you give him a back scratcher, he shouldn't be able to do too much damage to the skin. If they change the cast ofter, it won't be as bad. Also, if it's really itching, have him lay down and elevate his leg over his heart. (Sitting upright and elevating his leg won't be as effective.) This will help reduce swelling and should help with the itching. Also, get some generic benedryl. Not only will that help with the itching, but also if you give it to him in the evening, it will help him sleep through the night without waking up itching.
I think my son had 3 casts in 6 weeks plus 2 weeks of a brace, so he didn't have too much of a problem with itching. But even after only a couple of weeks, my lord those things reeked when they were taken off. I kept wondering why they hadn't come up with some type of anti-bacterial/anti-smell wrap. I mean, they wrap the body part up before they cast it anyway. Why not wrap it in something that will kill the smell? Posts: 9871 | Registered: Aug 2001
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And yes, I know you shouldn't scratch under a cast, but trust me, unless you watch him 24 hours a day, he will find things to stick down there. And I mean, eyes on him 24 hours a day. My son would be sitting in the same room with me and if I'd stare at the computer, and not be looking at him directly, I could look up suddenly and find him sticking things down there. I finally told him the only thing he could stick down there was the shoehorn end of the back scratcher. It kept him from sticking anything else down there and it was round and smooth so he didn't get cut that could get infected.
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Back briefly, before I head off for lunch. (I'd cancel, but I've really been looking forward to meeting lma!)
Crutches are a bit hard for him, so he'll be starting with a walker (now THAT he thinks is fun). There was some debate about whether the cast was too tight, because he still seems to be in more pain than would be expected . . . but after another check by the orthopedist, he was pronounced good to go. (Of course, as of 40 minutes ago, he was still waiting for the actual discharge papers and such, so his dad took over so I could leave.) But he should be home soon, and a bed on the first floor has been made up for him.
Thanks so much for all the hugs and good wishes. It means a lot! Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Keep us updated. Make sure he doesn't bear the weight on his armpits if and when he moves on to crutches -- can do some nerve damage in the long run. He has to bear the weight on his hands.
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*grin* Yeah, he has been told that by his dad, and my brother, as well as the PT. It seems to have taken a bit too well -- he seems to be a bit afraid to keep them under his arms now.
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!! Wow, I didn't see this! Good Lord! I hope your son feels better, and good luck dealing with him.
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Well, we'll see how his first day at school goes tomorrow (*crosses fingers* -- parent-teacher conferences are tomorrow morning before school; think his teacher will be startled? ), but he was doing significantly better tonight. Even got the majority of his homework done.
And he and I are working on him saying, "It hurts when you do this (or whatever)" instead of whining. Slow but steady progress on that front, I think.
And I canceled my dental appointment for tomorrow. Between the lack of sleep and stress, I just don't think I'm up to having two wisdom teeth extracted tomorrow. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Man, I hope he gets better fast. That is a rough one. I remember the first time anyone recomended I walk with crutches. I outright refused. I was like 5 at the time. For some reason, I had confused the word Crutches with the word Coma. I didn't want a Coma, cause I knew that was a bad thing. Don't ask me how I got those two confused. I don't remember. Good thing is, I haven't ever had to use crutches. But I imagine your son will be okay. (And he got to use a wheelchair?! I would have LOVED to use one of those when I was little.)
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*giggle* He loved the wheelchair, although he was pretty slow in it. But the walker is working out fairly well, and he's getting rather agile with it. (I guess we'll find out by whether there are any THUMPs in the night just how agile. )
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I'm very glad it was nothing more serious though. (((Rivka and Rivka's boyo))))
I broke my leg when I was 6 (Technically my uncle broke it when he jumped on it - entirely accidentally - during a game of tennis) and I didn't mind the cast too much. Except for having to shower with a plastic bag. My recollection of the whole event is probably coloured by the fact that I wasn't allowed coke when I was little. And the hospital gave me a can before the x-ray and I got to drink it all.
My parents had first child syndrome. Such health conciousness had well and truly died by the time my brother was born.
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You're doing *way* better than my parents then!
Of course, the fact that I am the only one of us three kids with no fillings whatsoever means I am grateful for their strictness. <-- such beautiful teeth.
The other time I had to go to hospital as a kid I got icecream. I really liked hospital.
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*eyes credit card bills for past couple months* Could we not discuss fillings, please? See, my parents also weren't big on soda -- but as an adult, I made up for that a bit too enthusiastically. Combine that with frequent sucking candies (to combat the allergic cough I get) tucked into my mouth, and it's a wonder I have any teeth left at all. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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He was doing much better this morning. I failed to budget ENOUGH extra time to get him in and out of the car, so his dad did most of the conference with the teacher without us, and we caught the end. He's been steadily improving in school (YES!!!) in all areas, and she was quite sympathetic about the cast.
And then we found out he needs a doctor's note to be allowed into school. Will the form from the hospital that we were given when he was released work? Yes . . . so back home I went to get it, while he stayed with his dad. Which meant both of us were late to work, in spite of having carefully scheduled the meeting so that should NOT be the case.
Ah well, such is life.
But he was really doing MUCH better this morning, so that's really good! Now we just got to get him moving a bit faster . . . and with fewer falls on the way.
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I'm glad that he's basically okay, and that he's lucky enough to live in an era where this kind of thing isn't that big a deal (not that broken bones weren't commonly survived in the past--just that if an infection were to have set in 100 years ago, it would have been a much worse thing than it would be today).
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Yikes, poor kid. easy fast healing to him, sanity for you. FWIW when matthew had a broken bonw we didn't let him have anything carbonated ( we don't do much soida anyway, but usually a root beer on Saturday) and we gave him a calcium/magnesium supplement. I don't know how much it helped but it made us feel better.
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My word! Rivka! Hugs to you for your calm, levelheaded, loving mothering! Hugs to your son for good healing! Hugs in general to the rest of your family!
Nathan loved puzzles while he was castbound.
If your son wants a pen-pal during this time . . . they could probably exchnage stories!
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Thanks, guys. Erik, it REALLY wasn't the driver's fault -- sounds like my son all but jumped against his car. He was only driving about 10 mph. Not unreasonable for a parking lot.
Then again, the paranoia part I agree with!
His first day back at school went fairly well. He has to spend lunch and recess in the office (so they don't have to worry about him compounding the injury in the yard). But that's ok, because he likes the women who work in the office. Turns out there are two OTHER kids in casts -- it's been a bad couple weeks for breaks in his school, somehow or other. (Three out of 350! Yikes!)
He came home really worn out and more than ready for his next dose of Tylenol w/ codeine; but also with a cast full of signatures and pictures.
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Shan, I'll have to ask him. He's not a big fan of writing (reading yes, writing not so much), but maybe if he had someone to write to . . . ? And if he is interested, sounds great to me. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:Now I see that my paranoia with kids in parking lots is actually a valid fear.
I've stopped kids (strangers' kids) I thought were getting too far from their parent in a parking lot.
No one's ever gotten mad at me, but I wouldn't let that keep me from doing it in the future. I once stopped an inch from a kid who literally leapt in front of my car in a parking lot. Probably the most scared I've ever been in my life, including the time I was in a class 5 rapid with a rope taught around my neck and three people hanging onto the ends.
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) to get some things) with our son.![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Thank God, he's ok. But his leg is broken (and having seen the x-rays, even this layperson could see the break was pretty bad), and he won't be released until tomorrow morning. Then it'll be 6 weeks in a full-leg cast, and 6 more in a short cast. Ah, the fun of crutches. >_<
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I am so glad he is ok. How scary though.
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!! Wow, I didn't see this! Good Lord! I hope your son feels better, and good luck dealing with him.
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