Jackson's Broken Leg

Wednesday March 5 Scott had come home and we were playing with the kids. We were playing with Jackson in the hall and the dog was getting all hyped up trying to play too. I went in the living room because Charlotte was whining about something so I tried to fix that by tickling her and we were playing. Scott was in the hall by Jackson's room trying to get the dog to calm down and Jackson was playing in his room. Well we both missed it but we think he was trying to climb into his cart. Then came the fall. Scott caught the end of it and I just heard a loud sound of the cart falling over and him screaming out the way I have never heard. I ran down and Scott was holding him and then he came over to me. He was tensing up really bad. I held him for what seemed to be 10 or 15 min. I was asking Scott if he saw anything or where he hit and he didn't. The crying wasn't stopping and he was still tensing up. I was getting worried. I checked his legs and ankles for bruising or something and couldn't see anything. I thought if I could get him to try and stand then maybe I could get a better idea. I noticed he wouldn't stand on his own and he wouldn't put weight on his right leg. I figured we better get him to Urgent Care because it probably was not going to be good. So while I'm there I'm texting one of our YW advisors to work out a ride I was giving a girl to mutual and let her know I'd be late. Luckily it was combined with the YM.

So Jackson never really stopped crying. He did when his leg was still. They took xrays of his lower leg thinking that was it but couldn't find anything. So the PA came in and was checking him out and said he didn't know. He was kind of pulling on his leg trying to see where it hurt him but still didn't know. I kind of felt that Urgent Care was a joke. I won't go back there ever again. So I was showing him how Jackson can't stand so he decided to do more xrays. Thank you very much. Scott took him back again and I stayed with Charlotte (not a good idea to bring a 4 yr old along when its dinner time and she hasn't eaten. She made the visit so much worse!) listening to Jackson crying out in pain while his leg had to be moved so they could get good pictures. Finally they found a spiral fracture on his femur. So they put a splint on it so he couldn't walk on it. It only went just above his knee. They gave me a copy of the xray and told us to see an Orthopedist in the morning. Scott's dad ended up coming down with his mom so we could give him a blessing. It was a very long night and Scott maybe got a couple hours of sleep. I told him to go into work until I could set an appt and then he can come with me then.

The next morning I call the Ortho in town and they were booked. The receptionist asked if he had crutches he could use and I was like, "He's a 2 yr old and hardly slept last night. He's been in a lot of pain. We can't wait that long." So when she realized his age she squeezed us in at 1:20 pm. My mom came over to be with Charlotte and Scott and I took Jackson in. Dr. Douglas and his PA, Scott, looked at the xrays but wanted to do more to see if there has been any movement and just get a better view before they proceeded. Jackson was in so much pain and was crying. He kept saying, "Daddy! Daddy!" Scott was kind of crying. Which I just have to say, in the 8 1/2 yrs I've known Scott (being married for almost 8 of those) I have NEVER once seen him cry. NEVER! And then because Scott was tearing up, Dr. Douglas and his PA were starting to cry! It was really hard for all of us there. Dr. Douglas realized he wouldn't be able to help him the way he needs to so he called over to Primary Children's (PCMC) for us and spoke with doctors there. Funny side note too, this guy I used to work with and am friends with on facebook is engaged to a girl who works for a Pediatric Ortho. He showed her the pics and she showed them to this dr who would be the one to do the cast later.

So Dr. Douglas told us PCMC was expecting us and gave us the name of the doctor he spoke to. I called me mom and said we were headed out there (really wish I would have stopped at home for some items first) and told her she could just take Charlotte down to her house if she needed to. I had hoped to be home by 6. Poor Jackson crashed. He was just so exhausted and hadn't eaten (which later became a blessing) and was in so much pain. He kept like spasiming in his sleep which would hurt his leg and he'd start to cry. He finally relaxed enough where he was able to sleep about the last half hour to the hospital.

I had never been up there so I made a couple wrong turns misreading signs but we finally made it. We had to wait in the ER waiting room about an hour then another hour almost in this other small room. The did finally give him some pain meds though which helped a little. They took us back to another area. The plan was to do a spica cast which to be done involved an OR and him using anesthesia. So while we waited in this one little room they took us to do more xrays since I didn't get the copies from the other office. When we were back in our room we met with the on call PA and our nurse and one of the Pediatric Orthopedic doctors. We were told his OR time was going to be around 7:30 unless a trauma came in that was high priority and then they would keep him overnight most likely for observation. Really? Oy. So it was almost 6 pm at this point and I called my mom trying to figure out what to do with Charlotte. I thought maybe she could just stay at their house and my mom even offered Chloe taking her home so she can sleep in her own bed. I told her we were about to do the IV and once I know for sure I'll call back. So we got the IV set up and they gave him some morphine. It was just what his little body needed. He could finally relax and rest but was not happy about the IV in his hand and the monitor on his toe but once that morphine kicked in really good I don't think he cared. So Scott and I decided to stay the night if it was necessary but we were going to need some stuff so I'd drive home and could get Charlotte from my parent's and take her home to bathe her and get her ready for bed and Chloe could get her down for bed that night.

At this time I was starving. I had only had breakfast that day so I made a quick stop at McDonald's and grabbed a small Coke too because I was really tired from the night before and needed something to keep me awake. It was raining too and there had been an accident on the freeway but was able to make a sweet maneuver to save myself like 15 min by taking a different entrance. Phew! I got Charlotte all taken care of and was trying to download some Yo Gabba Gabba on my kindle in case Jackson wanted to watch it in the car or at the hospital. I picked up a few items like mouthwash and my contact cleaner and glasses since we thought we'd be there all night. Chloe came over and took over for me. I told her if there was any change I'd let her know. I didn't leave the house until almost 8 and was almost out of gas and stopped at Del Taco for Scott since he was hungry like me. He texted me just as I was coming into SLC and said they were taking him in which was like 8:30 or 8:45 . Later than planned but it worked out ok. I made it up to the hospital just after 9 and found a sweet parking spot on the south side. Of course the doors were locked but a super nice guy who was out on his phone used his badge to get me in. I met Scott in the OR waiting room. I finally had a minute to breathe. He told me Dr. Rothberg was the one doing the cast and knew the guy Ben I worked with so he had been waiting for us. I got to meet him when he came out and said everything went great. They didn't do the cast on both legs and they were just waiting for Jackson to wake up then they'd call us back. It was a while and they called and said he's just been really groggy. I guess the doctor is newer so the staff is getting used to how he works and apparently he works pretty fast so Jack just was a little extra drugged because they anticipated longer but he was doing great and vitals were fine.

They finally called us back to recovery and the nurse actually said we may not have to stay all night. If they can get a hold of the people who bring us the special car seat and if his vitals still look good then we can probably take him home tonight. They were all so awesome and worked so hard to get us home that night. We were so tired and exhausted and home just seemed like the place we needed to be. So I let Chloe know I might be coming home and tried to contact my mom but didn't have service. I could contact Chloe on facebook but not my mom. After tracking down a car seat and someone to install it all we had to wait on was a prescription. I knew it'd be more expensive to go through the hospital but at that point all I cared about was convenience and didn't want to have to make another stop at a 24 hour Walgreens to fill it since there wasn't one in town. We had Jack all ready to leave in the wagon (see picture at the bottom) just waiting on that. We had to wait and hour and a half and finally got to leave around 1:30 am or 2 am. We got home and sent Chloe on her way. Charlotte kept waking up and was anxious to see us again. Jackson was still pretty tired luckily so he slept pretty good. I didn't get to sleep until 4 am after showering and stuff. I planned for Scott to go to work the next morning but he was so exhausted he couldn't do it. He had slept maybe 6 or 7 hours in the last couple nights at that point. So while he took care of Jack I went to the food drop. I knew we were especially going to need it with these new bills that'll be coming in. I am kind of scared to have more medical bills. It is really tough as it is and I'm just having less and less to use for food. But we're making it work and will somehow. I just wish Scott could get a raise. I am just so frustrated because our tax return was going to help get rid of debt but now we might end up taking more steps back which is a bummer because I really want to grow our family in the near future but we can't afford a bigger car and we can't afford to drive two cars anytime we want to go somewhere as a family. Sigh... I just wish they'd give him a raise already!

So minus those frustrations things have actually gone really well. The day after coming home from the hospital Jackson was back to sleeping in his crib and taking naps. He only stayed on the hard medicine for about 3 days and has only had children's ibuprofen once a day but probably doesn't need it anymore. He hates his sponge baths. Diapers are hard! I had to buy diapers anyway but we can't attach one side because the way the cast is so we have to tuck it up in there. We got some size 6 diapers a while back that are being used now. They are like added protection over the normal diaper. We had to buy more nighttime diapers ($25 a box! Ouch!) because he leaks at night. We dug out the cloth diapers we used as burp cloths and tuck them under the cast on his tummy at night to catch anything that goes forward in his sleep. Sadly he leaked the first 3 nights so the inside got pee in it. I've been using essential oils on his tummy and on the cast so it doesn't smell like pee. I think its starting to help. Diapers are just hard. He is starting to move around a whole lot more than he used to. He moves on his tummy and can roll over both ways. It's like having a newborn all over again. Except he doesn't sleep like a newborn! Haha. If only! He also can't wear pants. We try to only go outside when the weather is good and keep him pretty covered. Luckily spring is around the corner and as of today only 3 weeks to go! Yay! We can do it! I had to speak in church this last Sunday so Scott's mom came over to watch him so we didn't have to worry about bringing him. He does fit in his stroller though so we can take him places in that. We took him to Scott's game last Saturday morning and it wasn't too bad. He got a little antsy. We have Stake Conference this week so hopefully he'll be okay there.

Next Thursday I take him in for a check up. They want to do xrays to see how it is healing and hopefully it'll only be 2 weeks more after that. I really hope! Although I really wish we could have avoided this altogether I'm sure there is something I am going to learn from it. My talk on Sunday was about enduring trials. It was Pres. Monson's talk "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." It was so what I needed after this experience. It really helped me. I also think all the kind prayers from neighbors and friends and family really helped us to stay relaxed and calm during it all. It kind of felt like a dream. I felt like I should have been freaking out more but I really felt like it was all going to be okay, even the stress with the money. Somehow it'll all work itself out even if it is a huge struggle for the next year or whatever, somehow, someway it'll all be okay. I am so thankful for the knowledge we have with the gospel and for the comfort it brings me during trials. I love knowing I am not alone. Not only are my Heavenly Father and Savior there for me but our lives have been blessed with family and friends and neighbors who offer support and help. Despite all the trials I am so thankful for my life and my family. I am so blessed! And I'm sure someday we'll all look back on this and laugh... long after the bills have been paid :)

This is his "special" car seat. Nothing fancy but allows him to sit.

He lays on his tummy and plays with stuff. I don't lay down blankets anymore because he moves around so much. He'll just toughen up his left knee! :)

This was him sleeping in the wagon while we waited for his prescription. Must have been pretty comfy because he hardly moved that hour and a half. The nice thing was one of the nurses basically took us off the clock so we wouldn't have to pay any additional fees for waiting. Thank you to her!