Not Quite What We Planned
Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 11:04AM We had everything planned for this weekend. After pleading with my husband to go down the shore and get in one last hurrah of the summer, he agreed. I think he too was eager for the chance to squeeze in one more beach day. One more boardwalk evening. One more lazy summer day.
We had it all planned. Go down Friday night, get up early. Our friends were driving down and meetings us, then we would all head to the beach. We had enough buckets, shovels, blankets, umbrellas and chairs for the entire crew and the weather was going to be perfect.
It was great plan.
And everything was going exactly as planned.
Except, we hadn’t planned on nursemaid’s elbow.
Ever hear of nursemaid’s elbow?
Me neither.
Well, not until the pediatrician at the E.R. mentioned it to me. Now I know all about. Apparently, it happens most often in girls, ages 1-4. Usually it occurs from pulling on their tiny arm too hard while walking them, lifting them up a curb, not letting their hand go when they trip or fall to the ground. Things like that. It can also happen when your daughter rolls over on her arm the wrong way while getting up from a diaper change.
Just like that. Just that innocently enough. Just that fast. All of a sudden your sweet child is screaming and writhing in pain and can’t move her arm. Just like that, your plans for a summer beach day are washed away and pulled out to sea.
So we spent the day in the emergency room learning about nursemaid’s elbow instead of on the beach nursing mai tais. Once the doctor maneuvered her arm this way and that, everything went back into place and Piper was fine. We were back home by 5 O’clock as if nothing happened. And it was a relief to see her bouncing around, perfectly herself again in a matter of minutes, that’s for sure.
Oh well.
It was a good plan.
Reader Comments (17)
Well, that's a real bummer. We spend our New Years Eve AND Day in the ER, so I totally hear you!
Glad to hear it was a short-lived ailment, though. Poor Piper!
oh honey...ouch. i've never even heard of it...but yikes.
hope everyone is recovering nicely.
Yikes! This is making me think uncomfortably of those times when Bub is freaking out in a parking lot and I've got Pie under one arm and only one hand in which to pull his screaming, flailing body out of the path of oncoming cars.
Um, I guess nursemaid's elbow is better than a car accident?
Nursemaid's elbow, eh? What a quaint name for something which would terrify me pre-diagnosis if P. came down with it.
Sorry the beach plan didn't work out!
Wow, I have never heard of that. I'm sorry for the injury and the lost plans. Maybe you can aim for another weekend?
Ouch! Hope she is doing better :)
It was a brave plan and at least you are not sitting here blaming yourself
poor piper, pooooooor momish....the good news is she's better (and still is i hope) and cheer up there are actually a few more weekends before fall begins.
i know piper will be ready;))
Oh yes, I've heard of it. When my brother was 3 that happened when he was swinging between my parents while walking down the sidewalk. I was 7 & remember the screaming. I've had friends with children who've done it as well. I've heard it's one of the most common injuries in small children.
Sorry your weekend was ruined. Poor little thing.
Ouch! Thanks for alerting us to the existence of it. I never heard of it.
I've never heard of that. But EEek. Sound like it was painful. So happy she's fine now. Bummer that you guys didn't get to go to the beach.
Oh that stinks. Too bad. I don't like trips to the ER
Oh! Poor girl! The ER is never fun, especially when in pain. I'm glad it was easily remedied, but I am so sorry the day was lost!
My son got nursemaid's elbow when he was 6 months old from rolling over. It was scary but fortunately it takes a simple maneuver to put it back in place. My sisters little girl has had it happen about four times. The first time was when she pulled herself away from my sis. After that it didn't take much for it to happen again. My BIL just pops it back into place.
Nothing ever goes as planned around here. I have too many kids!
I've heard of it and it is just that easy.
(HUGS) to you!
Julie
Ravin' Picture Maven
I've heard it called "snowsuit elbow" because it can happen when a parent pulls a child's arm through the sleeve of a coat or jacket. No matter what it's called, OUCH!
Ugh. That sounds painful. Sorry to hear Piper had to go through that. I hope things are starting to calm down your way.