Alexis tried to pull me out of the couch yesterday. Her elbow hurt ever since. In my professional opinion as an athletic trainer I suspected that some muscle or ligament attachment in her elbow got stretched...there really wasn't anything to suggest bone involvement; just one minute she is struggling to pull me up and the next she is a slobbering mess who won't let me touch her craddled arm. I put it in a shoulder sling until night time, when I ACE wrapped her arm to her body. I went to work at the hospital.
I came home to learn she didn't sleep well at all last night. I slept for half an hour before taking Lexi to the Dr's office. Based on my description and results of tests I performed on her while she slept on my lap yesterday (and knowing that girls the same age as Lexi are prone to this) the Dr. quickly diagnosed her as having a dislocated elbow; although in my defense, I think technically it was only subluxated and not completely dislocated. There wasn't any discoloration, deformity, swelling, anything other than her obvious pain upon movement.
So, according to the physician young females have a tendency towards loose elbow joints. Once this joint dislocates it becomes easier for the next time (reoccurring) until they hit the next growth spurt (puberty) and grow out of it. He then had me brace Lexi while he reduced it. He was almost shocked at how well Lexi handled it. She started out as a whimper and gradually elevated her volume to a healthy cry; but not a shriek nor scream. Considering that she had her elbow out of joint for over 12 hours (this happened at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon) she overcame her stiffness rather quickly. By the time we left the office she used her arm to pull some hair out of her face.
From there we met up with the rest of our family at the park. Ethan played his last T-ball game and our ward family hosted a baby welcoming party under the title of baby shower. Chandra's sister, Christina, and her family drove out from Maryland to spend the day. Everyone played at the park until after noon. So, what about poor Lexi? I pulled her off the monkey bars because the Dr. told me she could easily dislocate her elbow herself now that she has demonstrated the laxity tendency; he said it could be as easy as her hanging on one of her parents or swinging from a bar. I turned around to see her slide arm under arm down the fireman pole at the playground. She remembers that her elbow hurt, but shows no obvious intention of letting that distant memory hold her back from keeping up with her brother amongst others.
By the way, Hunter Kade was 14 days old today. He and Mom are doing wonderfully. Ethan has showed at least 3 neighbors his trophy and let them appreciate the "gold" appearance and the weight as well as his name on it. We had a late lunch with our family members and hung out at the house. We had a surprise visit by an aunt and cousin. Once everyone left for the evening Ethan helped me mow the lawn and then offered to sweep the grass off the driveway while I finished up. Lexi helped Mom vacuum inside during this time. It is no wonder that after baths and books half the family fell asleep during my short prayer and within 2 minutes all but myself succumbed. I carried everyone individually to their respective beds.
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