It happened again.
The only difference was, this time, I was home. Also, I was actually inciting the behavior that caused Jane to break her arm.
We have a small entryway between the living room and kitchen. I was showing Jane how I could put my back against one wall and my feet against the other and magically suspend myself a couple feet off the ground, thanks to the beauty of friction.
Of course Jane wanted to try.
Jane is a great sport and the best playmate that a 41 year old girl could have.
She tried.
She fell.
She screamed.
I knew from the pitch of the scream that she was hurt.
I was in the midst of blaming myself, so Chris took her to urgent care. He sent a pic of the x-ray. He couldn't see it, but I could. The same break as 7 months ago. The same place. Different am.
Again, no cast. The break was too near the shoulder. Just a sling and a wrap for a month. The orthopedic surgeon assures us that it is just bad luck. Jane doesn't have a rare disease that weakens her bones. He also said a little vitamin D wouldn't hurt her. After all, we live in the frozen tundra and it is a long, dark winter.
Jane's primary care doctor says she would rather see kids with broken bones, due to activity, than obesity, due to inactivity. I guess that's a good way to look at it.
Jane will spend a little time doing things awkwardly. But since it is her little arm this time, she will be able to care for herself. Last time was more challenging because it was the big arm.
And when she's older, she will have some great cautionary tales for her own children.
