geminigirl: (Default)
geminigirl ([personal profile] geminigirl) wrote2009-11-23 01:11 am

And if everything else wasn't enough...

Naomi had to go to urgent care today for a case of Nursemaid's Elbow-Her Papa picked her up from an awkward spot that she'd managed to climb into by her wrists (I saw it happen but it was one of those "happened too fast" kinds of things.) She was crying when he picked her up, and it was different from her "You've removed me from what I wanted to be doing even if I wasn't supposed to be doing it" cry, and it didn't take very long to figure out what it was. I remained incredibly calm through the whole thing, and after a few minutes of her crying and watching her told Cayne that it was probably nursemaid's elbow, that it was no big deal but that she needed to go to urgent care. We found a dress that could button all the way down so we didn't even have to put her shirt on over her head and move her arm much, too...and they headed off to urgent care, demanding that I stay home and away from the germ factory. A little time at the urgent care and she was on the mend. And apparently quite charming to the nurses...

They popped her arm back and offered her a popsicle to see if she would reach with her left arm. She reached with her right arm, and the nurse commented on that-that she was smart-no reaching with the sore arm, and so Cayne had to hold her so she couldn't reach with her right arm. She paused, and took quite a bit of time...she took her time getting ready to reach with her left arm, and apparently had quite a look on her face, but she did do it and did eat the popsicle.

I do find my kid amazing sometimes...the way she uses words and develops her physical skills. It's amazing to me that once upon a time she was an eating, sleeping, diaper-messing lump and now...there are words and ideas...she's developing a sense of manners and will say "please" and will ask for you to "reeeeee" when she brings you a book. She tries to put her own shoes on and the other day, even brought mine to me when I was trying to get us both ready to leave the house.

I spend a lot of time waiting right now. Waiting for this baby to arrive...and doing far less to encourage his or her arrival than I did with Naomi...in fact, right now, there's a good bit of me feeling the need for the baby to stay put until my brother is more on the mend. Waiting for the twice daily phone calls with updates about my brother's condition...today the CT scan found no abscess (a good thing) but he's still running a fever and appears to have pneumonia (bad) though the pneumonia is probably the cause of a great deal of the fluid (neutral) especially around his lungs (bad.) There's now discussion of whether or not an NG tube would be a good idea so he gets nutrition directly into his stomach, and therefore gets less fluid via IV.

One of the doctors told my parents an "encouraging" story today...that when Governor Pataki (the former governor of New York State) had a complication from appendectomy, it took eight weeks before he'd recovered, and that was with top of the line medical care of course. My mother, in her hopeful way, predicts that in two weeks we'll have a much healthier Zach and a healthy baby. I'm hoping a little closer to three weeks for the baby, but the baby knows when it's time.

Meanwhile...wait,wait wait. Because what else?

[identity profile] lala2.livejournal.com 2009-11-23 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Yikes...the arm injury sounds SCARY! I'm glad it worked out okay! Now I hope the waiting will soon be at an end, and things will start looking up for you and your family!

[identity profile] vvalkyri.livejournal.com 2009-11-23 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I forget who wrote about it - most likely [livejournal.com profile] turnberry, but Nursmaid's Elbow sounded like one of the cooler things about pediatrics. Nothing one has to do about it other than manipulate the arm just right, and then suddenly not only does the arm work again, but it doesn't hurt any more, either.

Cool that [livejournal.com profile] geminigirl recognized it easily, which probably makes it less scary.


[livejournal.com profile] geminigirl, continued bright thoughts for your brother. Glad on no abcess; hope they can clear the pneumonia quickly.

[identity profile] palliddreamer.livejournal.com 2009-11-23 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Agreed. I love nursemaid's elbow. It's a quick, easy fix, and it makes me look smart. Good call on [livejournal.com profile] geminigirl's part.

[identity profile] vvalkyri.livejournal.com 2009-11-27 03:01 pm (UTC)(link)
And as part of a big thanksgiving entry today, Turnberry linked to the post I was remembering.

[identity profile] jaclyn.livejournal.com 2009-11-23 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
not much value to add, just wanted you to know I'm reading every word.

and yikes to the elbow thing!!! I applaud your courage, I think I would have freaked out.

[identity profile] rockstarbob.livejournal.com 2009-11-23 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm with J.

[identity profile] cmariewt.livejournal.com 2009-11-23 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh no. I am glad to hear Naomi is on the mend. My dad once swung my brother by his arms playfully, and popped his elbow out. And I have also had several friends who have accidentally done it to their children as well.