Top of the World

Crash & Burn

I sat on the back deck with my feet up, watching Easton and Sutton splash in the kiddie pool while Beckett was napping. Sutton's talent show was on Monday evening and she had been practicing at all times of the day over these past three weeks. I heard Beckett fussing over the monitor, "Sutton, Easton, out of the pool - I have to go get Beckett." The kids groaned as I directed them out of the pool, "I'll be just a minute, here, have some fruit." I slid a plate of melon and grapes toward them. I made my way into the house and before I realized it, the toe of my Birkenstock got caught in the grooves of the patio door frame. Unable to catch myself, I stuck my arm out, hoping to grab onto something and save my face from smacking the kitchen tile. I felt a pop, then a crack followed by an onset of pain. I yelled a few profanities before realizing my children were right behind me.

"Mommy!" Easton cried out, Sutton dashed from her seat to me.

"Mommy are you okay?"

I looked down to see my left forearm was swelling and turning purple, nauseated by the sight, I asked Sutton to get my phone. I could hear Beckett crying but I was in so much pain. I called Hunter.
"Hey, sorry, can you come home. Yeah, I fell. I B-R-O-K-E my arm. I tripped like an idiot and stuck my arm out like an even bigger idiot. Yeah, I'm gonna try and get up and get ice. Beckett is awake and crying but I can't get him." Hunter stopped whatever he was doing to get home. "Sutton, get Mommy something cold from the freezer. Peas, ice cream, whatever. And a tea towel please." Sutton got me what I needed, Beckett's little cries subsided, but I sent Sutton up to see him. "Don't take him out, just peek in and see if he's asleep or standing. I decided to call Amy. "Hey are you at work? Yeah, I fell. My arm doesn't look the way it's supposed to. Yeah Hunter's on his way home. Okay thank you. Front door is locked, come around the back." Amy was near by and within ten minutes she was in my kitchen wrapping my arm.

"Holy hot tamale Jen. You did a good job." she said. I was sitting at the kitchen table, and once I was bandaged up, she headed upstairs with Sutton to help Beckett. Hunter came bursting through the front door.

"Amy is upstairs," his eyes were full of concern, "she said she would stay - we need to go to the ER." Amy wrangled the kids into the living room and I grabbed my purse and Hunter helped me into the car. We were rushed through emergency into X-rays.

"Jenna, you actually fractured your bones in a twist," the doctor showed us the X-ray, "so this fragment of bone, specifically your radius rotated. We need to surgically intervene and we will probably need to put a plate and two to four screws depending on the severity."

"Oh my goodness," I shook my head, "stupid question, what's the recovery time like? I play guitar and I have three kids, six and under." The doctor nodded, understanding my concern.

"We will put you in a soft cast after surgery for about four weeks for the wound and incision to heal. Lifting will be minimal, and we will reevaluate. You might be in a soft cast for a total of twelve weeks." Hunter put his hand on my knee and I signed the consent forms for surgery. Hunter kissed my forehead before I got wheeled in. I don't remember much until I came to and heard singing. I opened my eyes to find Hunter sitting on the chair beside my bed, his hand holding mine.
"Hey angel," he kissed my forehead, sweeping my hair away from my face, "you did a good job. You're going to be sore." I nodded, my throat was dry and pain pulsed through my arm with the slightest movement. The doctor came in and greeted me.
"Jenna, your surgery went well. You have a plate on your radius as we discussed, just two screws." He showed Hunter and I the new X-ray on his iPad. I'm going to get you a prescription but I have to ask, have you had any trouble in the past with abusing prescription medication?"

"No, but please, I don't want oxy or anything like that. Tylenol Three makes me sick. I'll just have regular Tylenol at home." Hunter shrugged.

"Okay well, I can write the prescription if you change your mind." He scribbled in his notepad and ripped off the paper giving it to Hunter. "I'll give you another hour to come around and a nurse will help you get discharged shortly." The doctor shook our hands and headed out.

"I'm not filling that." I said firmly, wincing as I struggled to get comfortable.

"It's fine, you don't have to." Hunter folded the paper and tucked it in his pocket. "Let me help you sweetie. What is with our family and breaking left arms." I laughed and he smiled, happy to see I was in decent spirits. I was discharged and headed out to the car with Hunter, we stopped at Rexall to pick up some more Tylenol and a couple of other things before going home to find Sam ordered pizza for the kids.

"You guys are life savers," I hugged them with my good arm, "thank you for saving us." The evening was awkward and frustrating as I couldn't pick Beckett up easily and Easton was literally attached to my leg. Sutton was super helpful, as much as a six year old could be. I let her break her bed time and she got to practice singing in the studio once Hunter helped me get Beckett and Easton down for bed.