Lily's Broken Arm

So Lily broke her right arm two weeks ago--we're not exactly sure how. What we do know is that she was running down the hall with Madeline and that the type of break (a "buckle" fracture) comes from falling onto an outstretched hand. She walked out of her room screaming so hard she was hardly breathing and wouldn't really calm down. She finally stopped crying when we got some ice on her arm and cuddled up next to Justin watching "Let It Go" music videos on his computer. After about 10-15 min of ice, I gave her some Tylenol and we had her try to move her fingers. She was doing okay but wouldn't do much and really screamed when she accidentally turned her palm up. We considered our options for medical care (thanks to those who offered perspective and advice!) and were about ready to take her to an urgent care (though we really wanted to avoid that option if possible) when she started to do better (the Tylenol was kicking in). She would mimic Justin's movements mostly and actually let him press on the bones in her arm where the swelling was (an inch or two above her wrist). He couldn't feel anything out of place and she was calm. She was even tentatively and carefully using her arm. We decided that it would be okay to wait until Monday when we could take her to her regular doctor and avoid a Saturday night emergency room visit. She went to sleep fine and we breathed a sigh of relief.

 Sunday we went to church as usual and Lily seemed fine. However, she was excited after taking the sacrament and started swinging her legs on her chair (of course my back was turned to give the sacrament tray back) which caused her to overbalance and fall onto the floor. She caught herself with her hands and started shrieking. Those who know Lily realize that she is really easy going and bounces back from bumps and bruises really well. She kept crying off and on for a good hour (Justin relieved me after a few minutes but we had to switch back later because she just wouldn't stop fussing). She loves her nursery class but refused to even walk in the door. She came with me to Sunday School and then Primary and even sat on my lap while I played the piano. We knew something was very much wrong but since she was able to sleep we figured nothing would get worse overnight to wait until Monday morning.

Monday morning I got her into her doctor at 8:30 am. The doctor ordered an x-ray. Since the office doesn't have x-ray capabilities we traveled to another clinic that does (in the same health system). Though we arrived by 9:20, it was noon before we had the x-ray taken and could leave.

Lily waiting for her "picture" of her arm--so taken to help her calm her nerves, not helped by the 2+ hour wait.

I held Lily while she got her x-rays (she didn't cry once and cooperated really quite well). Madeline was a trooper and stood patiently out in the hall with my purse and other bags while the x-rays were taken.

They love their princess things from the treasure chest!

The ladies were so impressed that the girls were so great (including Madeline) that they both got to choose things from the treasure chest--and Lily got the "I Got an X-Ray" sticker.

After we had the x-ray, we went home and had lunch. The doctor had expected to have the results by noon. I called a few times to check on the results, but the x-ray didn't get read until 4:45 pm. Lily's doctor called to tell me that Lily's arm (ulna) was broken and that we needed to take her in to the ER--precisely what I'd been trying to avoid. I called Justin to let him know then loaded Seth, Madeline, and Lily into the van and headed for the ER in Oxford. I checked Lily in and tried to make sure that they did know we were coming and had the x-ray. Justin picked Benjamin up from strings and then met us at the hospital. He took the three oldest to McDonalds for dinner. Lily was really upset she didn't get to go with Daddy. Right before they got back, a nurse called us back. As we were walking back she talked about going to take a picture of Lily's arm. I told the nurse we'd already had x-rays taken and we got to head back to the waiting room while she figured all that out. Justin came back with the other kids and decided to take them home for bed while I stayed with Lily. Almost right as they left, we were called back to a room. Lily was examined briefly (we were told both her ulna and radius had buckle fractures) and her arm splinted. We got a sling, a referral to an orthopedic doctor, and we got to go home by 8 pm.

Though I left her in her clothes, she got up in the middle of the night crying for her jammies. She loved her hospital arm bracelet (though she'd hated it at the hospital) and didn't want to take it off. When I misunderstood her and cut it off later, she cried almost as hard as when she broke her arm! I taped it back on and she calmed right back down. We were able to get into the orthopedic doctor Tuesday afternoon.

After the orthopedic doctor had taken off her splint, Lily was laying on the floor coloring with her broken arm and not even flinching. Lily of course picked a pink cast and LOVES it! We tried using her sling but she kept wanting to use her arm and see the pink cast.

Loves doing everything she normally does!

Having a cast is tiring!

She has been cheerful and happy through the whole thing but it is definitely tiring--she keeps napping off schedule and trying to get healed. She probably isn't sleeping very well with the cast either.

She loves to play with her cast but is so ready for it to come off--the doctor put a long arm cast to make sure she couldn't wiggle out of it. It was a good thing too because she has tried to take it off!

Luckily it comes off on Tuesday! Thankfully young kids heal quickly and her break wasn't a bad one! We are so happy our sweet Lily is part of our family!