Arm Trouble

Notice to parents: When your kids wake up and say they don't think they should go to school, perhaps we should listen.

My three-year-old woke up last Friday and said she didn't want to go to the last day of summer camp at school. We survived the first year of preschool with only minor incidents...if you call a parasitic worm in her little tummy "minor." Yes, she picked up worms and yes, I've heard all the jokes. Anyway, we have survived school...until Friday.

Atop the monkey bars in the playground she made the decision to let go. Instead of a soft landing in the sand she fell on her left arm and fractured her radius and ulna. The school called to say she was hurt, but not crying and they thought she was fine. It being the last day of camp they brought out pools and water toys, but she refused to play. This is highly unlikely for the girl who only a week prior said, "Just drop me off," while heading to her first swim lesson.

Long story kinda short, I went to pick her up and although she was favoring her broken limb she still managed to squirt me with water. I took her to the doctor and she was a trooper in x-ray. They said "It's broken" and she insisted a band-aid would suffice because it "Doesn't hurt, Dad." (Hey, it works on all her other injuries.) Well, after six days in a splint, today she was given a huge cast for the next month. I did plan on documenting our little trip to the orthopedic doctor's office, but apparently when you only pay some $300 per month in insurance you actually HAVE to participate in the casting process. So, no photos from the exciting event. Although, I'm wondering that if I don't up the premium payment I may have to pursue a degree as a physician's assistant. All in all she is taking it pretty well so far. If her bones aren't healing well in a month she may need a smaller cast, the doctor said. Good times.