Fracture

My poor little Elaine. Yesterday we were getting ready for a trip to Lowe's for some various projects at the house. We got the kids ready to go and Lainie ran outside to swing for a couple of minutes. As we were getting ready to head out the car, Ahron asked me, "Do you hear crying?" Knowing that Miles often watched old family videos, I said, "No, Miles probably just left a video on the computer." Then Ahron opened the sliding glass door and the crying was definitely coming from the yard. Lainie was crying, saying she wanted to go to bed and that her arm hurt. My initial thought was that she was stung by a bee or maybe pulled her arm out of socket on the swing. We brought her in and had her raise her right arm which was fine. Then we had her try to raise her left and she couldn't. She was crying in pain. Not screaming in pain but I could tell something was wrong because her arm was so limp at her side. We decided to take her to the Naval Hospital ER to get checked out as a precaution. Luckily, there was no one in the waiting room and she was seen right away. After an X-RAY on the arm, the PA informed us that she had a buckle fracture. Buckle fractures are an incomplete fracture where the bones compress against each other and usually occur in the young and the elderly. Since children's bones are softer than adults, it's common and heals rather quickly then a more serious fracture. I was completely shocked because she didn't have a serious fall that we could ever witnessed and she wasn't swinging wildly or anything like that. I guess it was just one of those unlucky things. Anyway, she was sent home with a cloth splint and some Tylenol and Motrin. She may have to wear the splint for a couple of weeks we have to go to the walk-in clinic next week. Last night she came in the room crying and saying her arm hurt again so I gave her another dose of Motrin and we fell asleep together on the couch. It makes me so sad to know she's hurting at all. I hope that the pain begins to subside as her arm is more stable in the splint. Last night as I helped her get back to bed, I was thinking about being little, and when you're in pain, you know your parents can make it completely better somehow. I just hope that she gets that comfort and love from us that we got from our parents. And it's funny that no matter your age, you still see your parents as guardians and protectors. Whenver something goes awry in my life, I always reach for the phone to call my Mom, because I know she can bring me that comfort and encouragement. I hope I can be that for my children when they are older. Lainie hates wearing the splint but hopefully she won't have to wear it very long.