Nov 20 2009

Catching a Break

How ironic the last title post has come to be. Shortly after I took some pictures of the kids, Claire fell off the red chair and landed in the grass. The fall looked soft, and while she cried hard, I thought she was scared and not too hurt.

All through the night baby Claire cried. And cried. I took her to bed with me (something I haven’t done since she was 4 months old) and snuggled her close. We stayed up together until 4 am when we both fell asleep completely exhausted.

The next morning, she nursed her arm and was unable to crawl. I called her pediatrician in Rapid City and took in for an XRay.

Claire has 2 fractures in her left arm and is in a cast.

I can’t bring myself to post a picture as it just breaks my heart that I did not immediately take her to the ER the night it happened.

She is scooting around on her bum, unable to walk or crawl. She is mostly on my hip (even as I painted a wall and desk this morning) through out the day and seems to be doing OK.

Dang it anyway. It is always something around here.

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Lori Parks-Klinghagen - November 20, 2009 - 5:31 pm

Oh, Val…it is so challenging being a mom…don't be too hard on yourself. In the past thirteen years, I can't even begin to tell you how often I responded the same way until a few more tell-tale signs appeared…yes, including fractures. Thus, I often tell people that my kids are surviving (in reality, flourishing) in spite of my best intentions I am glad to see you are keeping your sense of humor in your title! Give little Claire and Caeden a hug for me…

Anonymous - November 20, 2009 - 7:03 pm

Don't be too hard on yourself!! Austin went to SD for a weekend with Allen to see a Husker game and had hurt his hand before they left…it didn't get better so we took hime to the Dr. when they got home and he broke his pinky finger bone inbetween his wrist and bottom knuckle!! If it makes you feel better, we were told that sometimes the xrays don't pick up the break right away…maybe they were trying to make us feel better. most people I know were the same and waited a day or two unless it's totally obvious! You know when she's a teenager, she'll give you a hard time about it though!!! Hope she heals fast! Thinking of you all! Sharon LaBrune

Paula - November 20, 2009 - 7:10 pm

A sweet little girl in a cast can't be easy to see.

Just know that this may be your (her) first cast, but is likely not your last. I am just waiting for that first major spill, and I think it a miracle, having these 2 wild boys, that it has not yet happened.

Chin up…

Hoffman's - November 22, 2009 - 2:16 am

Ah, I missed this post until now…I hope Claire (and Mama) are doing better. With every fall Harrison takes, I hold my breath. Unfortunately, you just happened to experience a little early.

Love you.

Carisa Knox - November 22, 2009 - 4:42 pm

Give yourself some grace. Kids for the most part are pretty sturdy until they fall wrong and then there is no way that we can always know the difference. I understand your guilt though. Grace was whiney and crying all afternoon last month and it drove me nuts. I lost my temper with her and then when I hugged her after making her say sorry for being difficult I felt that she was burning up. She was home for the next week with a fever and what I believe was the swine flu. I felt like dog crap too. It happens. We drop the ball sometimes but the kids will ultimately survive despite our best efforts to prove that we are horrible parents . More importantly, Claire won't remember this. It will scar you more than it will scar her. Grace, my friend. Give yourself some grace.
Carisa

Moriah Bettencourt - November 22, 2009 - 5:56 pm

Big (((hugs))) for you Mama & for little Miss Claire! About 18 months ago I got a call from Alex's school that he & an aide had fallen & Alex was very upset (which is not normal) so they thought he hurt his knee. I rushed to scholl & his knee did look red & he would not put any weight on it so off to the ER we went. At the ER they took an xray, poked around on it & basically said that it was a sprain that would get better. I went home and after we were home for awhile Alex wanted a bath, as I took off his shoe I freaked out! His foot was purple & VERY hot. He cried & cried as soon as I touched it. No one ever took off his shoe, not school, not the ER and especially not me . Back to the ER we went & he had 2 broken bones in his foot.

Then of course we got his first cast wet after a mere 24 hours & we had to have it sawed off & done again. I was Mother of the Year in 2008. LOL

Anyhoo, sorry for the long story but I had to shared to make sure you knew you weren't the first mom to miss that

Teralyn Emmons - November 27, 2009 - 7:22 pm

As I read this, like other moms have, it brought back memories of me doing the same with Owen, and his leg… It happens, and small fractures are really hard to see. (It took 3 months for them to catch mine in July.) So I have this for you and little miss Claire… Chop sticks… because it will get itchy and she will want to take it off. These are the best little itch getters that you can have! I hope she is feeling better, and you are too! Lots of Hugs!!

In the Moment | Valerie Koop

Catching a Break