Broken

So my big plan, my "I'm going to make lots of money this month" plan...well, not so much. 

Yesterday the elementary school called.  I"m trying to think if there has ever been good news when I've gotten a call from the school in the middle of the day.  I don't think so, and yesterday was no exception. Gator had fallen and was in the office. "He is in a lot of pain, and is really pale.  He's not crying, but he's wincing a lot." the secretary told me.

That Gator is pale is a given.  He has nearly translucent white skin.  I am IN LOVE with that kid's skin...I think it's the most beautiful white skin ever.  And I say this while confessing that I was never really a fan of white skin (it was one of the things I tried to change about myself as a teen.  Baby Oil, you failed me!  But thank you, skin cancer Gods, for overlooking my youthful follies.)

When I got to the office (Fully Dressed!) aproximately 7.934 minutes after hanging up the phone, I found Edward Cullen lying there instead of my son.  He was definitely a few shades whiter than I'd ever seen him. 

An hour later the radiology report came back announcing a displaced fracture through the proximal humeral shaft.  In other words, he broke his arm.  

Happily it's right below the growth plate, so that is good  news.  Because of the location, they can't cast it, so bummer! No signatures this time. (Quick story that illuminates the struggle I've had with packraticism: When Bunch was 11 months old she broke her arm and had a pink cast from arm pit to fingertips.  When they cut the cast off, I saved it. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY.  Was I thinking someday we'd erect a shrine to the cast?  Build a tiny, wooden pedestal for it, and surround it with candles and leave notes for it? I finally threw it away when I was purging my life five years ago.)

Back to Gator: they secured his arm in a sling, and then bound the whole thing to his torso to immobilize it.  And then we had to make some headway with the whole "I don't swallow medicine" issue, and get him to the point where he could take ibuprophen to reduce swelling. This kid has eschewed ALL MEDICINE as long as he's been alive.  When he got strep throat and was utterly miserable, he still wouldn't take medicine.  Had to have the doctor give him the shot...which I PAID FOR FOR DAYS I promise you.  But there was no way I would get him to swallow meds twice a day for 10 days.  It's really fortunate that he's been such a healthy, non-accident prone (he didn't inherit that from me!) child. I guess this was the first situation that was severe enough to force him to overcome his aversion...because he's gotten his Advil cocktail down every time I've given it to him so far.  

All this meant I wasn't going to be flying out to Boston today for work.  I had to give away my high-productivity trips (which were snatched up by happy crewmates as fast as I posted them)...which means no big paycheck for me this month.  But I got to be here with my kids, and attend a mommy/daughter function with Bunch tonight. So it's fine.  Maybe I'll get caught up on writing some things!

Grateful for:

1) Helpful people all around.  The teachers and staff at the school. The nurses and doctors. Friends.

2) The contest Gator and I had today to see who could think up The Most Good Things About His Life.  Prize was a Cadbury Creme Egg (which we love). He won by default when we got to 50 things.

3) Learning opportunities. Often not fun, but such a necessary way to grow!

4) It's his left arm, and Gator is right-handed!