The Bicycle Accident
Ethan had a bicycle accident yesterday. He crashed rather spectacularly.
Let me start by saying that Ethan is fine, thank goodness! He's okay! No permanent harm.
Right.
So no permanent harm... but... he broke his right arm. Technically, he broke two bones. He broke both the ulna and the radius in his right forearm. The accident happened at about 3:45pm in the afternoon. I rushed him to the emergency room at the hospital - and we were there until 10:00pm. The doctors and nurses gave him a shot for pain, took x-rays, set the bones in his arm, and splinted it. Then they took more x-rays, found out that it wasn't set correctly, gave him more shots for pain, set the bones in his arm again, and splinted it again.
We have a follow up appointment with the orthopedic doctor this morning. He will get a cast within a few days (after swelling goes down).
What happened?
I took the kids out for a bike ride because it was such a nice day out and it's summer vacation. Biking is a fun, free, kid-friendly activity. Plus, it's good exercise. Folsom has many miles of beautiful bike trails. We were exploring one of the bike trails that we haven't been on before: the Humbug-Willow Creek Bike Trail. We had a great time, saw some beautiful sights, took a few pictures, etc. In other words, it was a nice scenic bike ride. Then on our way back to the car, we had to go downhill. The hill was very steep and there was a sharp turn onto a bridge at the bottom of the hill. I warned the kids many, many times that when they go downhill and around curves, they have to SLOW DOWN or they'd crash.
Did Ethan slow down?
Nope.
He took the turn too fast, so his turn went wide. He missed the bridge by about a foot - and fell right off the edge - a six foot drop - and into some vegetation next to the creek.
Poor baby. *sniff*
He scared years off my life.
Two passing bicyclists stopped and helped us out. One climbed down the side of the bridge and helped me lift Ethan out. The other helped push my bicycle - while I was pushing Ethan on his bicycle - back to our car. (Thank you!)
To top it all off, Ethan's birthday party is tomorrow. It's a mini-golf party, so he can still participate. He'll just have to swing the golf club with his left hand only.
Even though yesterday was difficult and stressful... Ethan still managed to make me smile. He was a super patient for the emergency room doctors and nurses. He was patient - even though we were there for hours. He was brave - even though it must have hurt terribly. He was polite. He even invited the doctor to his birthday party!
Cute Quotes
Ken (the senior orthopedic tech - who was helping the doctor set Ethan's arm) was wrapping Ethan's arm in a splint. He must have pulled a little too hard...
Ethan: Ouch!
Ken (looking worried): What's ouch? What's ouch?
Ethan: It's a word you say when you're hurt.
Haha. I really needed that. ^_^
Let me start by saying that Ethan is fine, thank goodness! He's okay! No permanent harm.
Right.
So no permanent harm... but... he broke his right arm. Technically, he broke two bones. He broke both the ulna and the radius in his right forearm. The accident happened at about 3:45pm in the afternoon. I rushed him to the emergency room at the hospital - and we were there until 10:00pm. The doctors and nurses gave him a shot for pain, took x-rays, set the bones in his arm, and splinted it. Then they took more x-rays, found out that it wasn't set correctly, gave him more shots for pain, set the bones in his arm again, and splinted it again.
We have a follow up appointment with the orthopedic doctor this morning. He will get a cast within a few days (after swelling goes down).
What happened?
I took the kids out for a bike ride because it was such a nice day out and it's summer vacation. Biking is a fun, free, kid-friendly activity. Plus, it's good exercise. Folsom has many miles of beautiful bike trails. We were exploring one of the bike trails that we haven't been on before: the Humbug-Willow Creek Bike Trail. We had a great time, saw some beautiful sights, took a few pictures, etc. In other words, it was a nice scenic bike ride. Then on our way back to the car, we had to go downhill. The hill was very steep and there was a sharp turn onto a bridge at the bottom of the hill. I warned the kids many, many times that when they go downhill and around curves, they have to SLOW DOWN or they'd crash.
Did Ethan slow down?
Nope.
He took the turn too fast, so his turn went wide. He missed the bridge by about a foot - and fell right off the edge - a six foot drop - and into some vegetation next to the creek.
Poor baby. *sniff*
He scared years off my life.
Two passing bicyclists stopped and helped us out. One climbed down the side of the bridge and helped me lift Ethan out. The other helped push my bicycle - while I was pushing Ethan on his bicycle - back to our car. (Thank you!)
To top it all off, Ethan's birthday party is tomorrow. It's a mini-golf party, so he can still participate. He'll just have to swing the golf club with his left hand only.
Even though yesterday was difficult and stressful... Ethan still managed to make me smile. He was a super patient for the emergency room doctors and nurses. He was patient - even though we were there for hours. He was brave - even though it must have hurt terribly. He was polite. He even invited the doctor to his birthday party!
Cute Quotes
Ken (the senior orthopedic tech - who was helping the doctor set Ethan's arm) was wrapping Ethan's arm in a splint. He must have pulled a little too hard...
Ethan: Ouch!
Ken (looking worried): What's ouch? What's ouch?
Ethan: It's a word you say when you're hurt.
Haha. I really needed that. ^_^