Thursday 14 August 2014

Be careful what you wish for

We're halfway through the summer holidays, and it occurred to me at the weekend it's time to raise my game.  More walks, picnics, exciting days out.  I wanted to make some memories, you know the kind of stuff.

One of the boys' friends came for the day on Tuesday.  Between showers I took them to the park.  They took scooters, and climbed trees and scooted up and down and generally had fun.  I stayed a few minutes longer than I meant to (we had a dentist's appointment in the late afternoon).  Right at the end, just before we were about to leave, the biggest boy scooted down the massive ramp, then up a small ramp, and then he went down the small ramp.  The scooter did not go down the small ramp, rather it stopped dead at the top.  He hit the ground really hard, face and knee first.  It was horrible.

I scraped him up, took the others home, and headed for A&E.  The local one referred us on to the Children's Hospital because their X-ray department closes at 4.30pm.  The Children's Hospital were wonderful as ever and put him in a splint and sent him home for the night.  The next day they X-rayed him and discovered that his patella has been snapped.  So now he has a plaster cast from his ankle to his thigh.  His tooth and face were banged as well, so we struggled along to the dentist.  It will need X-raying next week when the swelling goes down (he has a look of Pamela Anderson about him at the moment.  Facially that is).

It's quite tricky levering him in and out of the car with a completely straight leg, and not at all comfortable.  He's been told to rest as well, so he's pretty much confined to the sofa.  The sad part for him is that he will have to miss his Year 6 camp in three weeks' time.  It's supposed to be the highlight of their time at primary school, a bonding trip and it's constantly referred to for the rest of the year.  I'm devastated for him.  Of course he's also out of football for 8-10 weeks.  The good news is it should heal okay.

It occurs to me that he might have escaped a broken bone if he'd been wearing knee pads.  And he would have had less damage to his mouth with a gum shield.

So there's a bit of a crimp in my plans for summer.  I'll take the littler ones out a bit, but I don't feel I can leave the biggest boy at home too much (his dad works from home, but nonetheless I don't want him without us for very long).  I know it's not a big problem in the general scheme of things, but I'm just in the adjustment period.  Changing my plans, rethinking my expectations for the end of the summer.  When I said I wanted to make some memories, this wasn't quite what I had in mind.

I managed a quick trip to the allotment today while I was in town with the littler ones.  I knew we'd missed a cucumber last time we were there.  In fact, there were seven fairly enormous ones.  I'm sure if you sat there quietly you'd actually see them growing.

On the walk to our plot, the shade was starting to creep up the site from the stream and hedge at the bottom.  The shadows are lengthening a littler earlier these days.



 

I felt a little out of love with the plot today.  It's messy and not particularly productive.  I've written a post about why I have an allotment, but it seems a bit hypocritical to publish it right now.  It won't last, of course, but I'm just not feeling it this week.  Too many giant cucumbers and weeds.  Too much of life slipping slightly out of my control.

At home things have been quiet.  A little entente cordiale broke out briefly after the accident.  The littlest boy has so much empathy for one so small.  He was so happy to see his big brother home again.  He curled up next to him and stroked his hair.  He fetched and carried and helped him get his legs onto the sofa.  He did briefly push one of the crutches out from under him earlier, but the error of his ways has been vividly explained and we are back to calm loveliness now.

Card houses are still being constructed.


There's the odd fig, and I'm eating them all myself.  I don't think anyone else would fully appreciate them.  Not like I do anyway.


Thank you for all of your kind wishes on my last post.  I'm feeling okay now, almost back to normal.  And all in all I'm really counting our blessings.  A trip to the Children's Hospital will do that to you.

31 comments:

  1. When my daughter was 5 she broke her arm on the first night of the holiday. Ouch. I feel your pain, or rather your son's pain. Is there no way he could go on the camp even if he can't join in or do anything? At least a presence would give him an input and create some absolutely unforgettable memories for the rest of his year?
    Poor lad! I bet he'll be kicking himself that it wasn't the day after camp! Get in the calpol, and my best wishes on keeping him entertained.

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  2. Oh no :( That's so terrible. Knee injuries are my very least favorite (I was a gymnast growing up). I hope he heals as fast as he can :( :(

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  3. I think the shock of the accident could have affected you too. Sorry that your son will miss out on his camp. I used to take my Y6 class on residential visits and know what a big deal these things are.

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  4. It is a really big thing to happen to that poor boy, his summer ended so fast and now missing the big school trip. He will heal and move on, but it is sad that he will be confined to the sofa and not enjoy what his buddies will be doing. This will pass and the important thing is he heals correctly, but it stinks all the same.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  5. Poor guy. I'm sorry to hear about his accident. I hate when things like that happen, it upsets everything. I'm glad he's basically okay and will heal well. I'm sorry about the crimp in your summer plans. I am sure you'll still enjoy your time together, just in a different way. :)

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  6. Oh CJ, I'm sorry the big one went down. As a Mom of one about that age, it's hard to see them miss out on things they look forward to. However your family is pretty awesome and of tough stock. He'll be up and at em' before you know it and hopefully, he'll still be able to get outside for some picnics and maybe a few social calls, even though his brothers seem awfully sweet and engaging.

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  7. Holy goodness friend....man....that is just horrible. Nothing worse than having a hurt baby. I remember my oldest going down on her face this past winter and as blood was going every which way I made the calls and got her in all the while being completely in shock. Did you feel that way??? I hope he heals up soon and that you keep creating those moments even with his cast situation...I bet you will make memories that you will never forget! And I hear you on your plot...as i have been moving everything some things have not done well. Kinda sucks actually after putting in all of the work but it needed to be moved. But like you said the feeling passes and then you are once again back on! Wishing your family a good weekend of healing and happiness friend! Nicole xoxo

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  8. I am really sorry to hear that your son was injured. I hope that he is able to enjoy some kind of activities, and that the others don't miss out on too much either. So sad for him...you are right, nothing like a trip to hospital to make you really want to hold them tight. I have also felt mixed feelings in the garden. Every year I get lazy about watering, just as water is needed most. But enjoying eating some goodies out of the garden and doing up some pickles all the same. Once the weather is cooler I think my energy will return. I sure hope your family enjoys the rest of the summer, and that healing is fast and thorough! Hugs to the boy xx

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  9. Oh my .....now that DOES NOT sound like a fun end to the summer for your biggest boy, but he certainly will have a story to tell when he heads back to school. Hope all heals up quickly and well.

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  10. Hi CJ - sorry to hear about the accident and about your eldest having to miss something he'd been looking forward to so much. I know you'll look back one day and laugh about it.
    I also know you'll get back into the allotment too. I would love to have one but we're kind of between permanent residences at the moment so until then... Just think about the nice burn-up you can have in a few weeks' time. I'm sure your boys would enjoy that.
    Sarah xx
    PS Thanks for your lovely messages of support lately :)

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  11. Sorry to hear about the accident but that will be the talk round the table for many years to come. I'm feeling you with the allotment I'm going through a stage of shall I give it up or carry on. Weeds have taken over and we have had damage. I'm looking forward to starting again and hopefully have it more structured next year. But we shall see.

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  12. Are YOU feeling better? Sounded like you might have sinusitis which sometimes needs antibiotics to clear. Hope your boy is coping.

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  13. Ouch :o( Poor lad - hope you both get better soon x

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  14. He's got my sympathy. Broke my arm at school just in time for the summer holiday's. Never mind it will be better by the time you start school again seemed to be the comment from everyone as I remember. Glad to it's not expected to affect his footballing ambitions.

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  15. Oh no :(. What terrible timing, I hope you all still have a wonderful few weeks together. Glad to hear that the damage will repair and normal service will resume soon.

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  16. Oh no , what a big upheaval for you all. As you say things will just need to take a slight change in direction now, but probably you really could have done without this !
    Kate x

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  17. Accidents like that always seem to happen at the wrong time, not that there's ever really a good time!
    I like your allotment pictures. Flighty xx

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  18. That's really bad luck CJ. Life's lessons can be hard, but he's young and he'll bounce back. As long as there's no long term harm done.

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  19. Hi CJ, glad you are feeling so much better yourself, I was worried after your last post. But when one of the children get hurt, you feel it in a different way, don't you?! Not physically, but sometimes even worse! Even reading about it, I felt it (like a sinking feeling in my heart) and I remembered similar occasions here. Hope you all recover from the shock, and find ways to remember the rest of the summer in a positive way regardless of this setback.

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  20. Such a shame that he will miss the school trip, I hope that he is better soon and back up and about again. It sounds as though cucumbers do the same as courgettes when you turn your back for a moment they grow like mad!! Take care there. xx

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  21. Oh CJ what an absolute downer for your little boy. And to miss the camping trip too. You'll have to have indoor camping or something for him. Your stomach must have just dropped to the floor when it happened.
    He'll be fine though. I expect he's secretly enjoying all the extra attention ;) Here's hoping you have a less eventual weekend.
    Leanne xx

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  22. Oh my goodness what a catastrophe for your boy (and you too) - I hope he's not in too much pain. A plaster on the whole leg will be so awkward . Is school camp close by? Can he attend bits of it maybe?
    Fingers crossed for a speedy and pain free recovery x

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  23. Oh my gosh, CJ, that sounds just awful! I know it had to be totally horrible, stressful, and nerve racking for you, but you write about it in such a calm manner! Snapping a patella sounds like a really painful thing. And with all that you still have time to take pictures - I'm impressed!

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  24. Blimey, what an awful accident. I hope your big boy is not in touch much pain now, and that his not too itchy inside his cast. My brother is disabled and was not able to walk for quite a while as a child. Nevertheless, he was able to go on camps, or at least for part of the camps because his teachers were very accommodating. Maybe you could talk with your boy's class teacher and make some arrangements for him to spend days at his camp? Your two littlest boy sound like lovely wee boy, being so gentle and loving with his big brother. I am glad you are feeling better CJ, I was worried about you. Cx

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  25. The skate pad brand I use is called 187Killer Pads. I know you can get them on Amazon, as well as mouth guards. My mom urged me to buy a mouth guard, as did my dentist friend, but I've never actually worn it. I'm sorry your plans changed, but I know you will still make lots of good summer memories, even while at home. Sending healing and happy thoughts to you. xx

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  26. Oh no, poor chap! I do hope he's feeling ok in himself (and the rest of you) as it can't be much fun being laid up like that. Still, children are remarkably resilient, aren't they? It's us parents who probably feel the worst!

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  27. So sorry to hear about the accident - it must have been a shock. I was wincing just reading about it. It's awful seeing someone you love hurt so I'm not surprised you're feeling a bit blah about the allotment - other things take priority. He must be gutted about the football but at least it will heal. I think the plot looks lovely by the way. Everyone's starts to look a bit fluffy around the edges at this time of year. ;) Sending hugs. x

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  28. I'm so sorry to hear this, CJ!! You must have been so scared. I'm glad he's home now resting and will recover well, but I do feel so bad for him that he'll miss his trip. Sending you good thoughts across the miles, friend, and hoping things are looking up:)

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  29. Ow. I'm so sorry to hear about this, but glad to know that he'll be okay.

    Your Flowers for Bees post was such a delight! I had just finished changing my blog header to a picture of a bee on a coneflower, so it really struck a chord. :)

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  30. Oh goodness me, what a nightmare! I am sorry. I feel bad, I had no idea. Your poor boy. My boy also loves to scoot in the skate park, I am now assessing his non-existent kit. I do hope this did not ruin your summer, and that your son is recovering and healing well, and in good spirits. xx

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