"Stuck"

It started off as an ordinary Saturday.  We woke up late, ate breakfast, took our time getting ready, & then we headed to the Street Car.  Grace decided that she wanted to walk (although we always bring her carriage because our outings cover a lot of ground & she's bound to get tired).  She stood in the Street Car like a big girl for part of the ride & then daddy held her in his arms for the remainder.  


When we arrived at the Farmers Market all seemed fine.  We walked over to the music area & Grace was excited to listen to the band.  And that's when we noticed that she was holding her left elbow.  She wasn't crying & it wasn't really stopping her from having fun.  She decided that next she wanted to play in the dirt by a tree with some other little ones.  She had a great time & didn't fuss at all- except when we had to leave, because she's not a fan of leaving something that she enjoys (who is, right?!).   


We put her in her carriage & headed off to the weekly car show outside of the Art Museum.  We noticed that she was favoring her left arm, but again she wasn't crying or fussing so we weren't sure what to make of it.  She ended up falling asleep, so for our next stop we walked over to one of our favorite restaurants for a late brunch (which indeed was yummy!).  


When she woke up, she was in good spirits.  But now she wasn't bending her left arm anymore.  We started to theorize what might have happened & when it could have happened.  We really couldn't pinpoint a specific reason or fall.  We kept thinking about my friend's daughter that dislocated her shoulder and figured that this might have been happened.  Since she has started walking I have always been cautious about this, and at least a few times a week I remind my husband to be careful with her arms (not that he needs the reminder, but it's more for my peace of mind). 


When we got home she played (mostly using her right arm) & we "googled" her symptoms.  After some reading, we were pretty sure that it was something called nursemaid's elbow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursemaid's_elbow).   We still kept questioning & going back and forth with it because she wasn't crying.  She was just keeping her arm straight, sometimes holding her left elbow and saying "stuck".  But we finally decided that we needed to address it, even if it turned out to be nothing.  I knew we'd have to go to the ER because by now it was Saturday evening & to top it off, she doesn't even have a doctor here yet.  I contacted my landlord because luckily her husband is a pediatrician.  She referred us to the only pediatric ER in the area.  Thankfully it's just a 5 minute car ride.  


On the short ride over, Grace fell asleep.  And she never put her thumb in her mouth (she sucks her left thumb) so we knew something was definitely wrong.  As we walked through the parking lot I was dreading the wait (it's always a hassle at the ER).  But the staff there couldn't have been nicer.  We were asked to wait in the children's waiting area (how nice!).  And in less than 5 minutes they called us in.  Grace was not happy with the blood pressure cuff & cried a lot.  Other than that, she did great.  Next we went into a "real" hospital room with a bed & lots of "hospital stuff".  It was kind of sad seeing her on that bed, but she quickly settled in when we put the tv on.  


After only a few minutes, a Resident came in and asked us a few questions.  Then she went over to Grace's left arm, picked it up, touched her elbow, & then said "she'll be all set in 5 minutes".  She smiled and walked out of the room.  My husband & I just looked at each other.  The Resident quickly returned with a popsicle, which Grace immediately accepted.  After a moment, I transferred the popsicle into her left hand and... voila!  She held it &, in fact, she was fine!  Another staff member came in to take down our personal information and then we were headed home.  Total time was under 1 hour!

Prior to this, we've never had to call her doctor or even go to the office for a sick visit.  I'm sure that there will be more of these episodes as she grows up, but I am ever so grateful for her daily health.  I never have or never will take it for granted.  We know that she is a true gift from God & we hope that we are caring for her in a way that is making Him proud.  We know that God is in charge of our journey & we trust His plans for us. 

Psalm 139: 13-18

 For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
 Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.

Enjoying the music @ the Farmers Market

(notice her reaching for her left elbow)

"stuck"

Sitting on the bed @ the ER

(it's a little blurry because the Resident was walking in as I was taking the pic)

Part 2-

I have been thinking a lot about the word Grace used to describe her situation: "stuck".  It's such a great word.  Interestingly enough, it's not a word that she uses often.  But she used it so appropriately.  I think it's a word that mostly has a negative connotation, but it can also be a word to remind us to push forward & work through our negative situation so that we can get "unstuck".  Thank you for that reminder Grace!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

(Phil. 4:13)

Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Trust in God.

(John 14:1)