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. >_<
Good vibes and prayers would be much appreciated.
[ January 04, 2005, 06:03 PM: Message edited by: rivka ]
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
(((((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)
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
He'll be 8 in January. He liked the wheelchair, but is unsure about the crutches. I hope he decides they're fun.
Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
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.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
my friend ran the mile at school with crutches, not really a good idea, was also racing people and playing on stairs.
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Eeeek.
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.
[ November 27, 2004, 10:41 PM: Message edited by: ElJay ]
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
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.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
((rivka))
Here's hoping he decides the crutches are fun.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
(((((Rivka and Son)))))
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
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. Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
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)))
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
*hugs* Hey at least you have a good excuse for your grades being late Thinking of you and yours.
AJ
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
(((rivka & family))) I hope all goes well and that he heals quickly.
Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
Oh wow. I'm so glad your son didn't suffer more than a broken leg. Here's healing thoughts and tell him to enjoy having everyone sign his cast!
space opera
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Oh, man, I'm glad he's OK. My prayers are with you and him.
Dagonee
Posted by babager (Member # 6700) on :
oh my gosh I am so glad he is ok. How scary though.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
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.
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
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? Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Oy!! *hugs* Refu'ah Shleimah! !רפואה שלימה
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
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.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
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! Posted by Sara Sasse (Member # 6804) on :
Oh, my goodness, rivka. How scary!
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.
Good luck!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*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.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Has he told anyone yet, "You should've seen the other guy." ?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
LOL! No, mack, but I'll have to get him to start. Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Posted by Sara Sasse (Member # 6804) on :
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
!! Wow, I didn't see this! Good Lord! I hope your son feels better, and good luck dealing with him.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
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. Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
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.)
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*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. )
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
*ouch*
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.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*cough* None of my kids are allowed to drink cola at all; and other sodas only occasionally.
But yeah, he didn't want to leave the hospital. Between the TV, the attention and gifts, and the adjustable bed . . .
But he seems to have settled happily back home. Twelve-week countdown to cast-free! Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
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.
[ November 29, 2004, 02:55 AM: Message edited by: imogen ]
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*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. Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Well that smilie certainly doesn't.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*gummily* Wha's tha' sonny?
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
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.
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
Yikes! I'm glad he's more or less OK though.
~~~~~Rivka~~~~~
~~~~~Chaim~~~~~
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
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).
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
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.
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
Oh, how horrible lady!
Now I see that my paranoia with kids in parking lots is actually a valid fear.
SLOW DOWN!!!!
((((rivka))))
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Oh, rivka, refuah shlaima to your little guy! I'm glad to hear that he's doing better.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
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!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
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.
[ November 29, 2004, 08:16 PM: Message edited by: rivka ]
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
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. Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
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.
rivka, sounds like your son is a champ.
Dagonee
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
They could draw pictures or exchange copies of x-rays, too . . . I know what you mean about "bad break" and it sounds like you held up far better than I did - they had to treat me for nausea. (blech) which was probably far better than cleaning up after me.
Nathan loves to read, but he could stand practice handwriting and with composition . . . nothing like a friend from distant lands to encourage that skill . . .
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Excellent notion! I'll discuss it with him later, when he's done with his homework.
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
Glad to hear that he's okay! Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
I was in a hip to ankle leg cast when I was 14 and I'm pretty sure I remember my leg getting rubbed down with some sort of cream before they put it on that I can only assume was to fight smells and bacteria. They also wrapped the cast in fibreglass because they didn't trust me to treat it kindly. I only played a little football, I swear!
Having it on wasn't too bad, I didn't have many problems with itching at all, and whatever irritations I had were easily outweighed by the increased girl-attention. God bless their nurturing instincts. The terrible part, though, was getting the thing off. It *hurts* to try and bend your leg for days, and you can kind of feel the blood flowing in ways that are not at all pleasant. Not to mention the fact that your muscle mass is completely borked and your flaccid pencil leg can't support your body nearly as well as your armour-encased broken leg could. I was less mobile with the darn thing taken off. What a miserable experience. And, without the obvious war-wound leg cast all the girls went back to treating you like some sort of plague-carrier. From bad to worse!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Appointment with the orthopedist next Thursday.
Now we just have to figure out how to get him from the car to his classroom in less than 15 minutes. Which means trying to find parking . . . Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Short cast! Short cast! WOOHOO!
Turns out whoever told us he would need 6 weeks in a full cast and six in a short was thinking adult healing times. Today's x-rays already showed signs of healing. So now DS is in a short (below the knee) cast. He chose blue, with white GITD stripes.
It's amazing how LIGHT his old cast is! I was sure that thing weighed at least 4 or 5 pounds -- it must weigh less than 2!
Shan, I keep forgetting to discuss penpalling with my son. I'll try to remember later . . . right now he's working on homework.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
*chuckles*
Ahhhh, homework, how sweet thou art . . . NOT!
If I could get mine to pull his nose willingly out a book to do a little more homework . . .
*grin*
He's a chip off the ole' block!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
That's why I didn't interrupt him while he was working on his homework -- he would have loved the excuse.
As it happens, getting him to finish that night's homework was even more of a headache than usual. And he's at his dad for the weekend.
Um, maybe I'll remember on Monday? Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Y'know - I had the easiest evening of homework with him the other night when I allowed him to verbally spell his spelling words and recite his timestables while brushing my hair . . .
I remember working with kindergartners that worked best when their hands were occupied with texture and a task -
learning styles are rather fascinating -
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Sadly, since most of my son's homework this year is written, that probably won't work too well for him.
Too bad, since he is definitely a kinesthetic learner.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
There's nothing like learning through experience, is there -
my mother still clicks her teeth at the memory of how I had to learn the hard way about such things as "hot" and "sharp" . . .
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Yeah, and my son clearly needed to learn by experience why one doesn't leap out of a car in a parking lot . . .
Posted by Sara Sasse (Member # 6804) on :
rivka, congrats on the short cast. What a relief. Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Can I be his internet god-mother? We clearly have much in common.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Thanks, Sara. It is indeed!
Shan, sure. Do you grant wishes?
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Rivka, Advice is late here, but make sure to pad his crutches where they hit armpit and hands. When i had crutches when i was young, I got terrible blsters and sores. Glad he is getting better! How scary. Liz
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Thanks, Elizabeth. Actually, he was too unsteady on crutches, so he's using a walker. He might switch to crutches when he gets a walking cast -- we'll see.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I hope he could get the cool walker like I did, with basket, wheels, seat, and brakes.
Can he put weight on the leg, or does he have to sort of hop? I think that would be hard with a walker.(or hopper-heehee)
I remember when the cast came off, my arms were SO strong, and so was my left leg, and my right leg was this shrivelled, extremely hairy stick.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Well, of course I grant wishes! What good is a god mother if you don't grant wishes . . .
*waves wand theatrically*
Posted by Uhleeuh (Member # 6803) on :
I'm sorry, I know it's not funny to have broken limbs...but for some reason, this made me laugh:
quote: my right leg was this shrivelled, extremely hairy stick.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
WOOHOO!
Walking cast! And in two weeks, no cast.
Hooray for rapidly-healing kid bones! Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Yay!
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Yep...walking casts are lots better than the other kind.
You're in the home stretch! Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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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. >_<![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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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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