Update

Well, there are Bryson's pretty breaks.  The ulna (the bone to your right) was the obvious worse break.  That line going across the radius (the bone to your left) is the buckle fracture.  I took him into the Orthopedic doc today.  New (post reduction) xrays show that his arm was perfectly realigned and splinted.  That was such great news!  When Bryson saw the new xrays, he said "look, my bones are straight!!".  Not a good thing that a 4 year old has to say that but, I was proud of my little guy for being able to see that difference on an xray.  Maybe I'm passing on my love for radiography to him :)  The doc said he has a 2 week period from the injury date to manipulate the bones if needed.  Seeing that the arm is splinted and doing so well in the splint, he is going to keep Bryson in that for one more week.  Just in case there is shifting of the bones.  That way he will more easily be able to realign them if needed.   So, next week he will put a cast on.  And, another piece of good news.  The cast will just go to his elbow, not over it like the splint is.  I can just imagine that will be more comfortable for him.  Not sure how long the cast will be on.  We will find out next week.  

No surgery needed, no more realigning (unless something happens within the next week), and a shorter cast than I was expecting.  A good ortho visit indeed!

Well Why Not?

It's has been 9 months after all.  9 months since his last injury.  That's over twice as long as we had been going. 

Last night my mom, as usual,  generously volunteered to watch all the kids so we could go to back to school night.  Jeff, Kim and I had just left and Mike and Kelly were heading out (they had to drive separate because they had to go to both sessions because they have 2 kids in classes).  The kids were in Mike and Kelly's backyard playing on the swing set.  Bryson somehow fell from the little bridge that connects one level of the swing set to the next (how he got from the bridge to the ground is told a little differently by each kid you ask).   My mom immediately iced and elevated it and kept it that way until we got back (she didn't suspect it was broken or she would have called us to come back immediately).   He seemed fine.  Back to school night is just a short 1/2 hour session with the teacher to see how things are run in the classroom and what to expect out of the year.  So, we weren't gone all that long.  When we got back he was doing alright.  Just sitting on the couch with my mom.  I have xrayed many broken arms though so as soon as I lifted the ice pack off and saw it I had a good feeling it was more than just sprained.  So up to the ER we headed. 

After a few xrays, the word became official.  It was broken.  Snapped in two spots.  Both the radius and ulna suffered displaced fractures down by his wrist.   Next came the decision on how to re-set the arm.  And, this is when the night got ugly.  By now, we have been in the ER for a few hours.  It's late.  Way past his bedtime.  He is exhausted.  But, he was in good spirits, calm and being so good.   So, we (the ER doc and I) decided that he would do ok with option #1 and that was numbing the bone.   The doc said he has had great success with it everytime he's used that method in the past.  He's going to have to change his story now.  A needle is put right into the fracture and the numbing medicine goes straight to the bone. I figured once the initial poke was done and the medicine started going in that he'd be fine.  And, I think that is the way it's supposed to work but it didn't.  And, after a few attempts to get it completely numb it just wasn't working.  Bryson was in so much pain it was horrible.  So, the doc stopped and said we needed to go to option #2.  Sedation.  A conscious sedation so he'd still feel a little pain but the setting itself is a super quick procedure.  So another 45 mins go by.  Bryson is even more exhausted, just wanting to go home but still being so good.  Crying of course but he never budged and just let them do their job.  Even if it meant more needle to start an IV.  The IV went in quick and with no problems which was good because by this point I am crying too.   They gradually gave him the sedation and just as he drifted off the doc quickly set it.  Bryson then was out for about 1/2 hour and while he was sleeping they splinted his arm.  The ER by this point is getting busy so it took us another hour or so after him waking up to get out of there.  And, that put us getting home at 11:45 last night.  A delightful 4 hours in the ER. 

He didn't sleep all that great last night.  I had him sleep with me and his just tossed and turned all night.  Moaning with each turn.  He never did wake up enough to need more pain meds though.  Both of us woke up a little on the emotional side but thanks to a wonderful sister of mine, our morning was brightened.  Kelly ran to the store for me to get some Motrin.  I only had Tylenol and they told us that Motrin was going to work best for the pain and swelling.  They did give us a prescription of the child version of Vicadin but we are not going to use it if we don't have to.  So far today we've done the Tylenol/Motrin routine and it has controlled his pain just fine.  She also got Bryson a donut (a special treat around here!) and a movie to watch. Which he watched twice this morning.  She then came back at lunchtime to serve me some caffiene and let Carson, Graham and Maleigha eat lunch with Bryson.  Thank you SO much Kelly for all the help this morning. 

He goes in next week to see the pediatric orthopedic doc to get it casted.  He's already decided he wants a green cast :)  We'll just work our way through the rainbow I guess.  Poor little dude has sustained his fair share of injuries but this has, by far, been the worst.  Thanks to all of you who have been and are continuing to pray for him!  It is very much appreciated.

Under Construction...

Bear with me while I redo the blog to a Fall theme...I'm frustrated with it right now so I'm walking away :)

It's Off!!!!!

And we got our beautiful little, well not so little anymore, smile back! 

Maddy is officially brace free!!  5 months ago it seemed like this day was forever away.  And, it was quite the process to go through.  Especially in the beginning.  But, we made it!  She made it.  She did SO well with everything.  All of it.  She was so brave.  The dentist is very pleased with the job it did.  He wanted all the hygienists to come look at it and gave Maddy umpteen high fives.  We even showed it off to the patient in the next room.  Ok, that patient was Kylee but you bet we showed them!  It just amazes me how much bigger her smile is.  Take a look at some comparison pictures. 

Pretty amazing huh?! 

She is now in the process of being fitted for the retainer that will hold this all in place to make sure her teeth don't shift.  Poor thing, it never ends.  But, this is a much easier process.  Right now she has spacers  in and next week she will be fitted for the bands of the retainer.  Then the following week the retainer will go in.  It's just a thin "wire" that will band around her back top molars and then go across the roof of her mouth.  Nothing like the massive expander that just came out.  She also has two teeth on bottom that are loose.  Teeth that ideally shouldn't come out until she is 9 or 10.  Maddy has been really early losing all her teeth but with the crowding she has on bottom and teeth coming out that shouldn't be yet, we are going to have to look at making room for those new teeth coming in.  Meaning, a retainer (kinda like what he is putting in on top) on bottom.  Not a big deal though.  Right now, we are all just so happy to have that beautiful little smile back! 

PreSchool

Preschool has officially begun for this little guy.  Really it began a week ago but I have been a lazy blogger.  Like we did with Maddy, we do preschool at home.  Right now we are working through the alphabet.  Learning how to write all the letters.  Uppercase and lowercase.  Each day we learn how to write a letter, I am also teaching him the sound the letter makes.  He is doing great so far!  And, he loves hanging his work up on the fridge to show off to Maddy and Jeff when they get home.  I should make him a little display board for his room.  He'd love that.  I have caught him on a few occasions climbing up to his chair, on his own, practicing his letters and name.  It's cute. 

When Maddy was in kindergarten, her teacher suggested BOB books to read at home.  We had great success with them and are now taking Bryson through them.

Preschool this year means kindergarten next.  eeek!!!! I don't think know I'm ready for that! 

First Day of Second Grade

We won't talk about how I can't believe it's even possible that my little girl had her first day of 2nd grade today.  2nd grade?! 

Maddy was quite nervous to go back to school today.  You all remember that feeling?  I was nervous today too but didn't let her in on that little secret.  She had pretty good reason to be nervous.  She knew only one girl in her class and on top of that, she had a substitute today and will have her again tomorrow.  Her teacher had/has meetings that she had/has to be at.  I felt bad for her (her teacher) because after talking with her at Meet the Teacher Night on Monday, you could tell she was truly disappointed that she had those meetings.  It was really a blessing though to find out that her sub was one of the best around.  Really put Maddy at ease and she ended up having a fantastic day.  She was able to find 2 of her best little buddies from last year (Emily and Connor) at recess and at lunch.  She told me she didn't talk much in class but did talk to a few new people...during "ice breaker" activities.  Ha!  While it is a little sad that she doesn't know but one girl in her class, I think it's a great opportunity for her to be forced to meet new people and get to know them.  It will be good for her. 

This picture below is for you dad.    

I knew you'd appreciate that look on her face :)  She did not want me to take a picture of her standing in line outside her classroom.  So, she stood a good 6ft. away from the girl in front of her and when she saw me go to take a picture, she turned around in line and faced the other way!  That little stinker!  Totally a Maddy move though so it makes me laugh!   And can you believe she had to have a sweater on?!  I liked it though because it made it feel like fall and like it really was time to go back to school.  Not super hot like it usually is and you just want to keep them home and let them swim all day. 

I love the little details of the day.  A new dress, new backpack (her one from last year had a hole in it) and my favorite this year was her lunch bag.  Isn't it so cute?!  We went through 2 last year!  And it wasn't like we bought cheap ones.  They were decently quality ones from Target.  Anyways, I will do what I thankfully did last year and pick another one up when they are 75% off at the end of the season and tuck it away just in case this cute little thing gets well loved like last years bags. 

And, a tradition we began last year-fresh, hot out of the oven cookies waiting for her when she got home this afternoon

Her nerves and upset stomach she woke up with this morning had turned into smiles and excitement by the time she got home this afternoon.  She is very excited for the new year.

Although I wish she could stay little and in my constant care at all times, I know she is growing up and it is exciting to see her do it. We join along with her in excitement to see what the Lord has in store for her this year. 

Oh and one exciting thing happening in just 13 days (but who is really counting?!)-Bracie gets taken out!!!!  I really wish we could have talked the dentist into taking it out last week but we couldn't.  We'd much rather have that thing in the appropriate amount of time and be annoyed that she had to have it in for first day of school pictures than to have him take it out early and have it mess up all the pretty work it has done.  Still though, while these 5 months have really gone by quick, we are ready to part ways (ha! get it??  think about it for a minute....) with Bracie. 

And The Answer Is...

"I'm making a B hawk" :)

Ending our Summer with a Splash

My mom treated us to a fun morning today. A trip to Eagle Island.  It has been many, many, many years since I have been there.  But, it won't be that many before we go back.  We had so much fun and can't wait to go back with Jeff and the rest of the family.  We went earlier in the day so it wasn't that crowded.  It only cost $5 for parking.  You did have to pay for the slide (thanks mom!) so we may not do that again but the playground, "beach" and "lake" were plenty of fun.  A trip to Sonic on the way home was the perfect way to end our little outing. 

Oh and I will reveal what Bryson was doing in the photo below soon.  One of you is really close but didn't word it quite like Bryson :)

Give it Your Best Shot

Any guesses on what "B" is doing here?