The Adventures of Childhood begin

Dawson has officially began boyhood.... and it started with a broken arm.

After playing in Holden all weekend, about 15 minutes before we were leaving, Dawson was playing downstairs with all the cousins. Somehow- we still are unsure, but he fell racing to get a ball. When we came downstairs, Uncle Parker was holding him and comforting him- it was so cute! We took him upstairs and all he wanted was ice- and he wouldn't use his right arm. The whole way home, and all through the night he wanted ice and just whimpered. We didn't get a lick of sleep because the poor kid was in so much pain.


The next day he did a little better after getting some tylenol in him and wrapping it. That night, I had a huge community presentation and made it home about 8:30. Dawson was just waking up from his nap and was bawling saying his arm hurt. He wouldn't stop crying and we finally decided we'd try to make it to the Insta Care before they closed. We got there 8 minutes before closing time.


The whole way to Insta Care Dawson was crying harder saying,
"I'm scared of the doctor! I don't want to go!"
Me and J.D.: "Why are you scared? The doctor will make your arm not hurt anymore and he'll be so nice."
Dawson: "I'm scared cuz the doctor hits me with a stick!"
We couldn't figure out WHERE he got that except from maybe watching HOUSE the medical doctor show where the doctor hits people with his cane..... that was are only thing we could figure out. haha!

So- Dawson was super scared, but once they semi-casted it as you can see in the next picture, he had relief fall across his face. He FINALLY stopped crying- he hadn't stopped crying about his arm hurting since I had gotten home- It was so SAD!


The Insta Care's X-ray machine was broken so we had to wait until Tuesday to go to the hospital and get it done there. Of course, my hero husband to both Dawson and I took care of this kid for basically every doctor's appointment because I had class. He took him to get his X-ray and comforted him through it all. Apparently they had to straighten Dawson's arm for the X-ray which really hurt Dawson and he started screaming. :-(

We found out at 4:00pm it was definitely fractured and we needed to get a cast. Well- his pediatrician doesn't cast, and the other doctors in his office cast but they don't do elbows. So we had to call an orthopedic surgeon. Through prayer and advice from friends we found one and had the best doctor cast his arm.

Dawson didn't want me to take his picture so he kept closing his eyes- little turkey!

The doctor said 19 out 20 breaks, which are EXTREMELY COMMON in this spot for children, have to get surgery because the bone moves. HOWEVER, Dawson's was the 1 out of 20 where it did NOT move! Thank heavens! Dawson was so GOOD getting his cast on- I actually made it for that part because J.D. and Dawson had to wait an hour in the room. This was because they fit us in since he'd broke it Sunday and it was now Thursday. Little kids bones heal faster, so the doctor said it would and could be bad if we waited any longer. So they made it work and got us in. He has to go back in a week to get another X-ray to make sure the bone still hasn't moved, and if it hasn't then he only has to have it on for 2 more weeks! ONLY 3 1/2 weeks TOTAL! So he will start his summer off without a cast! Usually it's the other way around- so we are definitely blessed!

Dawson cried that night because he couldn't get his thumb out. It was so sad! The only thing that made him happy was the idea that Jori and Carson would come visit. So they did! Dawson was the happiest little boy ever! When I got home from school that night, Dawson and Carson had played for hours without one little fight or argument and they were having the time of their lives. Dawson didn't want Carson to leave and Carson did NOT want to leave Dawson, so they stayed the night and had a sleep over in the front room. It was so CUTE!

Ever since Carson and Jori came, Dawson has been happy and understanding about his arm. He hasn't complained, and is really getting the hang of it. He actually taught us the best way to put on his shirts. He is so smart! It's his right arm, which has let us see he is definitely right handed because he struggles doing things with his left. Things that he never has struggled with before. He has figured out that the best way to shower and take a bath is to put his camp chair in the tub and rest his arm on the arm rest while he plays. This was HIS idea!! Again, he is so smart and never fails to amaze us with how he solves problems.

A HUGE thank you to my hunners! He took care of everything with Dawson and manages to clean the house and cook dinner while I'm finishing up my last weeks of school. He is seriously my hero, and Dawson's. I am so grateful for him, and for Dawson being so strong through all of this.

P.S- Dawson refuses to let anyone even himself color or write their name on his cast. Every time we ask him or try to make it sound fun, he just gets upset and says, "No! You can't! I don't want to." It's so funny cuz you would think any kid would love to color with MARKER on their arm.... not this munchkin- he wants a clean cast. We can't get him to explain why he won't let us either, he just tells us no. Silly kid!