Broken Bones

It has happened...we have experienced our first broken bone in our young little family already...and it happened to our youngest. Last Friday (Jan. 2 - daycare was closed), I only worked a couple of hours. I got home to switch with Lance...so he could get to work. The girls were downstairs playing, as they often do, when all of a sudden, just before Lance left, Samantha comes crying up the stairs saying her arm hurt. The cry wasn't any more alarming then when she's fallen before and gotten a small bump/bruise. But still, I pressed every section of her arm trying to make sure something didn't make her jump. Nothing in-particular made me think it was worse than a bruise. (Oh, how did it happen, you may be wondering? The girls flipped over a jumper thing they got for Christmas...and were standing on TOP of it. Hayley jumped off, then pushed the jumper with Samantha still standing on top of it. She fell off, and the rest is history. An unfortunate mishap, that's all.)

She had a long-sleeve dress on, and she wouldn't let me take it off to see her arm because it hurt. So I just figured when the bit of pain wore off, I could get a look. It happened at about 10:45 a.m. By mid-afternoon, she was still just hanging that arm by her side, not moving it at all, and she still wouldn't let me touch it or take the dress off. I then touched her wrist, forearm and moved my way up her arm to check it. She screamed when I touched her elbow and yelled, "Don't touch it!" I started to worry then. I managed to get the dress off of her as she let out tears of pain. It was very swollen. I called Lance in a bit of a panic. Then I called the pediatric office and was able to get her in an appt. at 4 p.m.

(This is the day it happened...right before her first x-ray. It's hard to tell in the photo, but you might be able to see that her right arm is swollen)

Luckily Grandma Vickie was home and we were able to take Hayley to her house. Lance and I took Samantha to the doctor and x-rays indeed determined that there was a fracture. We just didn't know how bad it was...yet. On on-call orthopedic Dr. came and took a look. He said she would definitely need to be seen the next week by an orthopedic Dr. to determine if surgery was needed...but swelling needed to come down. He splinted it.

(Getting the first splint on)



The next few nights were long and tiring. She was given Tylonel w/ Codeine for the pain, which worked (works) great...but as soon as it began to wear off, Samantha would get a little pale and complain about her arm hurting.

(Jennifer and Georgia brought her flowers the next day)


(The Smiths came over for dinner and to give Mantha a blessing. Samantha went to bed right after the blessing and Hayley took this picture. Thank you Smiths!!)


She had an appt. on Tuesday the 6th for a half a day of more in-depth x-rays. Including a CAT scan on her arm. That big 'ol machine is quite intimidating...for anyone I would imagine. So think of how a 2-year-old would react to it...not good. The first two takes didn't go well. She was crying too hard and the pictures (x-rays) were too shaky. I actually had to put her in a timeout in the x-ray room to make her calm down and realize that she needed to be calm while getting the CAT scan. Sounds a little cruel, but it worked, and after I got done talking to her, my brave little girl suddenly said to me, "Okay, I do it. No crying." And she marched right over to Lance and hopped on that table and didn't move, didn't cry...SHE DID IT!

(Before the CAT scan)



Then it was on to the Dr's office for a few more x-rays and another splint...along with the decision to put her in surgery the next morning. I was scared...I mean, the thought of our little girl "going under" bothered me a bit. But I knew with prayers and the beautiful blessing given to Samantha from Mike, that the Dr. and medical team were making the right decision and she was going to be okay.

(In the Doctor's office)



Thanks again to Grandma Vickie, Hayley spent the night at her house since we had to have Mantha to the Surgery Center at 6:15 a.m. (on Wed. Jan. 7). Surgery didn't happen until 8:30. It was a long morning, but Samantha was in such good spirits and such a trooper. Before they took her to the OR, they gave her a little syrupy drink that helped to relax her. I'm glad they did. Because when the nurse took her, she did not cry, kick or scream (that would have killed me)...she just went. Her not crying helped me not to cry. I felt good and at peace.

(This is in the waiting room at the surgery center)

(In her surgery clothes)

(Talking to her sister in the a.m. before surgery - it was a very cute conversation.)

(Right after surgery)


She ended up getting two pins put in near her elbow. The break was an unusual one, I guess. Right above the elbow. The didn't full cast it - just splinted it. Pins will come out in 3 weeks...then she'll have a splint (or cast, not sure yet) for another 3 weeks.

She has adjusted well to her splint and sling...I mean, you can tell that it does bug her, but she manages. The special sling she wears is one she can't mess with...sort of like a straight jacket type of sling. It stinks to take it on and off...but we have to in order to change her clothes.

Samantha is such a busy body too - this thing isn't stopping her...although I wish it would just a little because it's nerve wracking when she starts running around. In fact she's already tripped and fell and ROLLED over her arm. She's okay, but I just don't want her alignment to be off.

She has another follow up appt. tomorrow morning for more x-rays to see how it's healing. I'll keep you updated. And again, thank you for prayers for a smooth surgery and a quick recovery. Good thing kids bounce back so well...she is certainly keeping us on our toes!