Rockin' a Cast

Rockin' a Cast

• 3.31.2012

 Showing off his new blue cast

Jed knows that all cowboys fall off their horse and must get on again.  "Nee!"

You know that saying, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb"?  Well, it's been completely opposite around here for us.  The last two weeks of March have been quite busy and even a little dramatic.

The latest news?  Jed broke his leg.  What a boy.  He's not even two yet!

It happened a week ago on a Wednesday night, March 21st to be exact.  Jed and I were just beginning our week long trip to visit family with my mom and little brothers.  We were at Jump On It: a warehouse full of inflatable bouncy houses and wall to wall trampolines.  It's a kids' paradise.  It was getting late and the place was clearing out.  My pregnant belly and I sat on the sidelines and watched Jed and my brothers bounce on the trampolines with just two other kids.  They were all aware of Jed and knew to be careful with him, so I didn't worry.  Maybe I should have.

I saw it happen in slow motion.  I saw it coming, but was too far away to stop the string of events.

A ten year old boy was jumping.

Jed snuck up behind him; he was curious. 

Jed stepped onto the boy's trampoline. 

The boy bounced. 

Jed rolled and then began to scream. 

He screamed and screamed and nothing I did could calm him down.  It was unusual.  I knew then that something was wrong. 

The mama bear inside of me wanted to let loose and blame someone.  I wanted to scream!  My baby was in pain and it hurt me to see him like that.  But there was no one to blame.  It was purely accidental, and that's exactly why I felt so helpless.  With a little advil and love, I prayed that he would feel better in the morning.

Well, morning came and Jed would not stand on his feet; he simply crumpled to the ground.  He wouldn't even crawl!  It was obvious he was in pain.  So off we went to the local urgent care in Lehi, Utah.

The doctor did one quick x-ray and determined that Jed's leg was not broken and that he should be walking on it again in a couple of days.  I was a little disappointed that the doctor didn't even touch Jed's leg, but being the trusting person that I am, I felt more relieved to hear that Jed was going to be okay.

With hopeful news like that, we decided to continue on with our trip to Arizona.  We spent four wonderful days in the sunshine before heading back north again.  Jed did begin to walk, but with great effort.  He was slow and unsteady and whiny.  His right foot and knee stuck straight out to the side.  I carried him almost everywhere.  It wore me out.  (Jed is heavy, especially for a pregnant lady.)  

Jed walking with a walker for balance.  It's also a good place for collecting treasures, like rocks.

We are getting creative to try to keep Jed's cast as clean as possible for as long as possible.  (Ha!  That will last about a week?)  For outside, Dad's sock and a plastic bag seemed to keep the dirt out.

We arrived home Wednesday afternoon and it soon became apparent that Jed's stride wasn't getting any better.  He was only getting whinier and more dependent on me.  That's when I decided to take him into his pediatrician here in town yesterday.

Dr. Jones will forever have my admiration.  He has got to be the best doctor in the valley.  Even though he was running behind, he still took the time to be very thorough.  He touched and wriggled Jed's legs and ordered three different x-rays.  Both Dr. Jones and the radiologist came to the same conclusion separately: Jed's knee was broken.  The top of Jed's tibia (I think) isn't cracked.  Instead, it's indented and looks abnormal.  (Don't ask me the correct medical term, I'm not a doctor.)  So Dr. Jones decided to cast Jed's leg from his foot to his thigh.  Jed picked the blue color himself.

Jed has to spend four weeks in his cast.  That means he will be celebrating his 2nd birthday in it.  He is going to stink!  How do I bathe a sweaty 23 month old without getting his leg wet?  Oh, mercy.  The hope is, however, that when the cast comes off, Jed will take off running.  I'm praying he will do just that!

I think Jed is a little frustrated with the extra weight of this big blue thing attached to his leg, but he doesn't seem to be in pain anymore.  He's already trying to walk.  I climbed into the attic to retrieve Jed's baby toy walker.  It seems to be helping his balance.  He's such a trooper.  Nothing stops this busy kid. 

So here's to a miraculous little body and a prayer that it will heal correctly.  I can't wait to have my healthy happy little boy back!   

 Love these cute little toes, even when they're "sick".