Time at Riley

Kevin and I were able to catch brief, interrupted sleep the first night. We were both in hospital chairs and they had to come in frequently to monitor the kids and administer medicine to Camden. Kevin, of course, was so sore, it was hard for him to walk, let alone sit or sleep.

Austin was able to rest and play videos all morning while we waited for Camden to be tended to. Gramma Pat and Grampa Jim came up and spent the day with us. They were going to put a hip spica cast on Camden's leg to immobilize her completely. This cast goes all the way up the right leg, across her middle, and down to her left knee. Because it took some manuevering, they would have to do the procedure in surgery under anesthesia.

It would only take the doctor about 15 minutes to put on the cast, but the whole procedure from prep to recovery took several hours. She also had to be put on a narcotic while they did the casting because they really had to maneuver her around. To think of all the powerful drugs that pumped through her system is a bit unnerving, but I know it was the best thing for her and the pain/process.

Once we were back to her room, Austin was released. We were unsure if Camden was going to have to stay another night or not, but decided we'd go ahead and make arrangements for him to get back to Papaw's house in Waveland. In the end it was a good decision, because she did, indeed, stay another night.

Good friends from church, Stephanie and John Watson, were in Indy, so came up for a brief visit. Camden immediately starting waving and smiling and "flirting" with them. Another good sign that she was getting back to herself and there were no complications from the skull fracture.

In the late afternoon, Camden went to the cast clinic (via the famous Riley red wagons). There we got to pick out the color for her cast. We couldn't decide between pink or green, but Daddy picked pink...although the sample they showed was much paler than the neon pink it turned out to be. Oh well...there is no doubt she's a girl now! The cast nurse also said she could add a green bow, and what girl doesn't like to accessorize!

Another patient was placed in the second bed, so Kevin had a rough time getting a night of sleep. At one point he found some roll away in a waiting room in another floor of the hospital for part of the night.

We were fitted for a special car seat first thing on Saturday morning and released by 11am. We are thankful to be home and spend some time recooperating. Kevin is off work for the week and Camden will be in her cast for at least 4 weeks. I'm staying home for the next few days as well in order to care for them both. Not quite sure all the plans for the next 4 weeks, but we'll deal with it as best we can.

Given the possibilities....we will take a broken leg anyday. We took some camera phone pictures in the hospital, but haven't been able to upload them yet. For now, here are some from home. It gives a good idea of the cast.