Details of Eli's broken leg . . .

I warn you, this is long and graphic . . .

Thursday, March 11, 2010
Certainly a day I will not soon forget. 

The day started off a bit rough . . . Eli was teething and woke up for the day around 6:30 ~ very early for him!  I noticed a very puffy cold sore on his top gums and knew tooth #3 was sure to come through soon.  Alli also decided that she was ready to be up at 6:45 ~ not sure what was up with that.  Being that we were all up, we had breakfast, which went well, and got dressed.  Eli went down for his 9 a.m. nap but was only down for 45 minutes, not like him at all.  We played in the playroom for awhile but Eli was grumpy (very unlike him) so we went downstairs to get some Tylenol . . . this is where things went from rough to TERRIFYING & HORRIBLE . . .

I was not able to open the Tylenol and put it in the dropper while holding him so I made a TERRIBLE decision and put him in his Bumbo chair on the kitchen counter.  I turned my back for an instant to get his medicine then turned around to witness a sight I pray no one else has to see ~ my precious baby boy falling onto the hardwood floor.  Instant screaming, for which I was grateful as it meant he was concious.  This is a vision that is burned into my mind and I relive everytime I close my eyes.  Then comes what may have been mistake number two . . . I picked him up.  In hindsight I should have probably left him still as I did not know if he had a neck injury but my instinct was to hold him.  Thankfully, we learned later there were no head or neck injuries.

Alli knew something was very wrong and went into perfect angel mode ~ no questioning, just following orders, quickly getting on her shoes and coat and hopping into the car.  We went straight to the Urgent Care (right near our home) where we were immediately ushered back.  Barbie Gramma met us there and took Alli so I could focus on Eli.

Urgent Care gave him Tylenol and took x-rays of his arms and chest ~ no breaks found but given his screaming and obvious discomfort, they wanted us to go to the ER.  Eli and I rode in the ambulance and Garrett followed in our car.  Once at Harrison we learned that Eli would have a head and neck CT and needed to be sedated.  After what seemed like forever, this was completed and we were told everything looked fine and we could go home.  I was concerned because he was still screaming, 4 hours after the accident but home we went.

Eli was not himself and my mommy instinct was telling me something was seriously wrong.  Tylenol and Motrin did NOTHING to make him feel better and he screamed everytime we moved him.  Garrett said he was just sore but I felt it was more.  Garrett decided to see if he could determine what was hurting and thought Eli seemed most upset when he moved his right leg.  I called his pediatrician and the Dr. on call told us to take him to the ER at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital to get x-rays of his legs.  We went and are so thankful we did.

Again, we were immediately taken back and the doctors decided to x-ray his pelvis and legs. 

It was 7 p.m when we got there (bedtime for Eli) and we were told we couldn't nurse him.  During the x-rays, Garrett helped hold Eli in position and I stood with the tech.  I couldn't see a break on the x-rays so I felt like maybe Garrett was right and I was crazy for worrying. 

The doctor came to see us a bit later and told us he had a break in his right femur above the knee.  I broke down.  I am still thanking God that I followed my instincts and insisted we have him checked out further but was heartbroken to hear that our precious baby had a broken leg.  Then we waited.  And waited.  And waited some more for what seemed like an eternity. 

They gave him Tylenol with Codine but he was still sore and tired and hungry.  They finally let us nurse him, which helped quite a bit.  Around 10 p.m. they put him in a splint from hip to toe.

He was intrigued and playful for that part :)

We finally got home around 11:30 and got him to sleep around midnight.  It was not a good night. 

Friday, March 12, 2010
Eli was up at 2:45 and didn't go back to sleep until 4 a.m.  Even then, he was only able to sleep in my arms and managed to sleep fitfully until around 7:30.  He looked so miserable :(

I dressed him and propped him up with pillows on the floor.  Alli decided to lay next to him and the two watched a PBS show together. 

Yes, I realize TV is bad but I did what I could to help him feel better.

As the day went on, he was doing much better.  I put him down for a nap around noon, in his crib, and he slept for 2 hours.  Woke up in fairly good spirits.  Played.  Ate. Showed off his TWO NEW TEETH that popped through (top right and another on the bottom left ~ up to 3 bottom teeth and one top)!!!  Tough to know what bugged him more, broken leg or new teeth.  Went down for another nap around 3:30 and slept for another 2 hours.  Played some more, ate some more and went down to bed at 7, sleeping for almost 9 hours.  Fed him when he woke up and he went right back to sleep.  Decided to be up for the day around 6:30 ~ again, very early for him but we're dealing with a new normal now :)

I was still feeling pretty down on myself and my wonderful friend and neighbor Stacy showed up at the door last night holding these gorgeous flowers saying she felt I needed them after the last two days. 

Wow!  I was blown away by her kindness.

Saturday, March 13, 2010
He's been alternating between playful and fussy today. 

Sporting his fancy new Baby Legs from Mrs. K (another wonderful friend and neighbor who wanted to make us feel better ~ thank you so much!)

He is definitely adapting to his bandaged leg and scooting all over the place as he plays.  When he woke up from his nap this afternoon, we discovered that TOOTH # 5 has arrived!!!  Top side right making for a little lopsided grin ;-)  Now we have 3 bottom and 2 top teeth!  Guess someone forgot to tell him the order for getting teeth.

So it's no secret that I feel horrible and guilty for putting him in a dangerous situation but I am slowly accepting that accidents happen and feeling this way won't make it better.  I am very grateful for all of the kind words and prayers and the many stories people have shared of their own mishaps with children. 

Let me assure you that I in no way blame the Bumbo seat.  I knew about the dangers and ignored them thinking it couldn't happen to us and it was just for an instant.  We had no idea he could even get out of the seat but he did, and quickly.  Well, I learned the hard way, an instant is all it takes.  We are very fortunate that all he has is a broken leg.  I implore you to learn from my mistake, NEVER NEVER NEVER take your eyes (or hands for that matter) off your baby when they are on a high surface, one second is all it takes. 

We have chosen to dispose of the Bumbo simply because I cannot bear of the sight of it now.