I mean why stop at one kid breaking themselves and needing surgery? Katelee decided she didn't want to miss out on the action,so she attempted and succeeded in a good break. She didn't want Grant to take her spot in the family as the child needing most medical attention.
On her very last day of Snowblitz (the snowboarding program that takes students to Brighton ski resort for a lesson and fun once a week), I got a call (and a pic)
from her saying she think she broke her wrist and did I want her to be treated up at the resort. It was nearly the end of the session, so I told her no to come home on the bus and I would take her to the instacare. Thank heavens because the next picture I saw was of her wrist being wrapped with carpet foam in cardboard, so I think we made the right decision there. One would think the ski resort medical centers would have a little better supplies.
She got home and we raced over to the instacare to have it checked out before they closed. Sure enough, her wrist was broken in a couple of places. The bone looked a little wavy to me, like it did when she broke it when she was 10, so I asked the doctor if it needed to be reset then and there and he said it wasn't broken to a certain degree, so no, I just needed to make an appt with an orthopedic doc for when the swelling went down to get it casted. So much sadness on this little face...
as she was heading to the hospital with me, she got a text saying she had made the high school lacrosse team! Yea for that, tears for realizing she wouldn't be able to play in the season. Tears after hearing about a cast because we are going on a cruise for spring break. Hoping we would get casted and possibly have it off before our school break, we got in to the ortho as soon as possible, only to hear she needed surgery. The orthopedic doctor thought possibly if we had reset the bone that night of the injury we may not have had to do a surgery...grrrr. I was pretty bugged at that. So, surgery it was!
After talking to the surgeon, he gave us some hope for the trip saying once we got her fixed up and wrapped, she wouldn't need a cast and could do all the activities (except maybe the surfing) on the cruise. So, perhaps a cast would have been a bigger bummer, who knows. She was pretty positive going in to the operation. Coming out though...yikes...
She had a really, really hard time. She was in so much pain they had to do extra nerve blocks and the student anestheisologists got an earful from their training doc as he was practically shouting and pointing out Katelee's ultrasound to everyone that walked by that she had the largest dorsal nerve he'd ever seen for her age and young adults. ( I might be making up the medical jargon there, but it was probably why she was in so much pain). Lots of tears, lots of blocks, it was sad, but we finally made it out the door.
On to rest and recovery...
She ended up actually needing some permanent screws and the surgery was the only way to repair that break, so I no longer can be angry at the instacare for rushing us out the door and not setting it. Add another insult to injury, she had to have surgery the day before her birthday, so once again her day of birth celebration was not what she was hoping. But, we at least got her out of the house for dinner at grandma's. I made chicken tacos and really, tacos make everything better.
The past year or so has definitely had moments where I want to cover my face and pretend it's not real, but
hiding doesn't keep it from happening! So, we trudge forward and celebrate the good, which is plentiful.
Harrison had another stellar testimony in our ward talking about how winter and snow are bad for McArthur's bones, but he knows there have been blessings even though it's been a hard time. He even had a pretty thorough conversation about it with the Great Clips stylist. He told her all about our broken bones situations and how his 'siblings are learning things the hard way.' Hopefully it is sinking in for him to prep those bones or know it's going to work out if/when the world seems to be breaking around us (or in us!).
Grant, had the best doctor's appointment ever...
and got to leave the office without wearing his brace. He is officially brace free!! There was a chance the cage could settle into his spine, so we have had to do repeated x-rays to make sure Grant wouldn't need a follow up surgery through the backside of his neck. He has healed just how the surgeon hoped and has the green light to start exercising and lifting a little more than 5lbs. He was told to take it slowly and ease into it...predictions on whether that advice will be heeded? Grant says he doesn't need/want physical therapy at this time, so we will just follow up with the doc again in summer.
So, this time when a high school dance came around (Prom), he could legit be in pics and participate without accommodations or restrictions.
He's gained back some of his weight and is doing so well in his recovery. Here are Hailey and Grant's prom photos. They had a great time and again rocked the his/her matching shoes.
He and his buddies planned a really nice night after a day-time paintball excursion.
Grant also 'wrapped up' his swim season with the end of the year banquet. He passed on the beloved banana costume, which he actually wore and cheered his team on from the sidelines in a chair when he was up to it.
He received the "Pain in the Neck" award (too soon?), I may laugh about that sometime, just not quite yet.
He has made some really great connections with swim team, next year will be hard because most of his friends are seniors on swim or Trey (above) is retiring to focus on other things. He will miss Maddie the most, they became really close buddies.
But, I am sure he will be a great leader and friend to the upcoming team as he is a senior, if he decides to try out.
So many things to celebrate, even if it isn't in the timing you expect or want. This little group of friends (which we have affectionately dubbed ourselves as Pheasant Point Alumna- we used to all be in the same ward) all have birthdays over the winter. We decided to do an afternoon tea together to especially honor Kristen's 50th. But, as we have adjusted and postponed celebrations around here it made me realize that the good comes, the moments of afternoon tea might have to wait, but they will be there. We just gotta keep our head up and look for the good because that steaming hot chocolate is worth the wait.
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