I had hopes of blogging about Bug (my daughter) getting her splint off today, but that hasn’t happened!! We have now entered week 2 of wearing a splint. For those that didn’t read my previous blog post, Bug took a tumble off the monkey bars last week. The tumble resulted into a trip to the ER and Orthopedists. The x-rays didn’t show a break, but the doctor believes she may have a hairline fracture in her growth plate or it is jammed. As a precaution Bug was placed in a splint for a week. Well the week has past and we are wearing a new splint for another week (sigh!!!)

Let me share with you a little bit about Bug’s appointment and the struggle we had. We informed Bug before she went to the doctor that they were going to take her splint off and x-ray her arm. We also told her that the doctor would want to examine her arm and she would have to straighten it. Everything was fine until she had to stretch her arm out for x-rays. Bug let out a scream that would break glass!!! She said it hurt too bad to stretch it out. After the x-rays the doctor came in to look at her arm. Bug was determined she was not going to straighten it out! Ugh!!! Based on her lack of mobility and her pain level it was determined she would have to wear the splint another week.

Here is why I am struggling with the whole situation. We aren’t sure if the pain she is experiencing is from the actual fall or from the arm being stiff. It is hard to explain a stiff muscle to a 4 year-old. Also, does she not want to straighten her arm because of the fear of it hurting?!?!?! I am not discounting the fact that her arm is still hurt, it is just hard to determine how hurt it is. Bug can be a little high drama sometimes! We actually tried to bribe her to straighten her arm. The only bribe that she considered…going tubing on the boat (even that thought was short lived). Needless to say, nothing worked and we are back in a splint until next week (we have already started talking up next weeks dr. visit).

I honestly thought she was only going to be in a splint for a week. She has done exceptionally well and complained about her arm very little. Being in a splint has not stopped her at all. Bug has played outside and played with her friends! I actually caught her hanging from our friends swing set! Bug couldn’t understand why she couldn’t swing on the rings (lol…sweetheart your arm is in a splint)! She has learned how to do several things with her left arm/hand: painting, coloring, pitching a ball (or water balloon), and eating (this is a little messy)!

So what are we going to do this week? Make the best of the circumstance and be thankful that it is still a minor injury! I guess I will have to find more ways to entertain her (especially because the swimming pool is still out)! Let me know if you have any suggestions or advice.

Can’t wait to hear from you!