Going to the ER

Last night Ivy and I took a little trip to the emergency room.  It wasn't a super emergency, just a little one.

After Scott got home from work last night the boys were riding their bikes up and down the street while we and the girls sat on a blanket on the grass and watched.  Ivy asked Scott to pull her closer to him and when he did, she cried in pain.  It was the weirdest thing.  He barely tugged.  She was holding her left arm and screaming in pain.  We were totally confused by it.  There was no way it could be broken from such a little tug. So we decided to give it a little while and see if it got better.  It didn't.  She continued to hold her arm close to her guarding it from us, and not using it.  She cried every time she moved.  Scott felt terrible and was very concerned for her.  After about an hour we gave her some motrin and then I took to the ER (it was almost 8pm and the pediatricians office was closed) while Scott stayed home with the other kids.

We only had to wait for a few minutes before we got in and the nurse told us we'd need x-rays, then he left.  A few minutes later the doctor showed up.  She said she suspected something called Nursemaid's Elbow (basically means the elbow pops out of place) and wanted to try a maneuver before x-rays. She moved Ivy's arm around while Ivy SCREAMED in pain and I cringed watching it and wanted to cry.  It was a horrible couple of seconds.  The doctor said she felt it click and was almost 100% sure that was the problem.  She thought it would be better within minutes and said she'd be back to check on us.  10 minutes later she came back, but Ivy still said it hurt and wouldn't move the arm.  The doctor did the maneuver again.  It was horrible again.  Ivy screamed "Stop it!" several times and I had to close my eyes and plug my ears.  The doctor felt confident that she had popped it back in place and left us for a few minutes again.  Almost immediately Ivy began moving the arm again and was totally fine.  The doctor was right.

We left a few minutes later with a new teddy bear and MANY, MANY comments on how cute Ivy is.  I can't believe I've been a mother for 7 1/2 years and never heard of Nursemaid's Elbow.  Apparently its SUPER common and usually happens in children between ages of 6 months and 3 years.  We are so glad it wasn't something worse.  To see her today you'd never know she was in so much pain last night. Phew!