Things learned.

Random things I've learned this past week...
it's *good*...

1. ...to know how much your kids weigh. In the ER, after getting Asher all situated and x-rayed and all (to the point where he was finally somewhat comfortable), they wanted to have him stand on a scale so they could get his weight. I told them "no." I mean, I get why they needed his weight (for medication purposes), but to ask the boy to stand back up with his dangling arm was just cruel. As luck would have it, the boys had all been on the scale at home within the past week...trying to convince me of how much they weighed. So. I informed the nurse that Asher weighed 49 pounds and that he'd just have to take my word for it. He wisely agreed to go with that weight. :)

2. ...to have a wedding ring that's on the big-ish side. I accidentally dropped mine in the sink last week (not something that's ever happened to me before that I can recall) but was seriously relieved to realize that it was too big to fit past the drain thing. Whew. (Something to think about for any of you guys out there who might be ring shopping, lol.) Here's a picture taken once upon a time, when I actually had my nails done...

3. ...to keep children's ibuprofen on hand. We'd recently run out due to the colds and such of a week or so ago, but had (fortunately) gotten another. Nathan had the presence of mind to give some to Asher before heading out for Urgent Care and then the ER. The nurses thanked him for doing so, as it helped with the swelling and had made Asher more comfortable during the waiting time between getting there and actually getting seen/having any medications administered. 

4. ...to carry a book to read to your kids with you at all times. I've mentioned this before but it merits another. I have no idea what we'd have done in the ER for all those hours to help keep Asher distracted without it. 

5. ...that Sears was having a sale on long sleeve Star Wars tees. We were in search of a coat situation for Asher (was looking for one with zip off sleeves but ultimately settled for a vest and the option of using his new winter coat and just zipping his arm inside) and came across a couple racks of long sleeve Star Wars tees on sale! So easy to make my boys happy. ;) Because I'd promised Asher a new "favorite" shirt after his other was cut off him in the ER, he got two (the other boys convinced me to get them each one also, lol). The thing I particularly love is that the design of the shirts is such that I was able to cut off the left long sleeve portion for now and will just remove the right side come spring...voila, tee shirt that's still perfectly usable for another few seasons! Here's what I'm talking about:

6. ...that young kids' bones heal so fast. So, Asher got his cast on Friday. The doctor tells us that it looks good that he'll only need this one for four weeks. It's freakin' amazing to me that kids can heal so quickly! We'll reevaluate after four weeks to decide whether he'll switch to a short cast (not over his elbow) or whether a simple splint will do for awhile. Yay! Here Asher is earlier this weekend sporting his new vest. He's still wearing the sling intermittently for support:

So. Long week. Doing pretty good right now and feeling truly blessed by how well Asher's doing. (It's still hard for me sometimes to look at him and not remember how his arm was just dangling there...darned amazing that he's fine now.) Another post about our weekend activities soon...

Comments

[Kristin]

It is amazing how quickly kids heal! Thankfully I haven't had to deal with that yet...no trips to ER and only one to Urgent Care. : ) Wow, Asher is only 49 pounds? Jeremiah stepped on the scale last week for 49 pounds...hmmm, perhaps we should feed him less. ; )