Good News & Bad News

I'll start with the bad news first because I can summarize them in two words: Broken Bones!

This was Ethan five years ago after he fell off our bed and broke his arm. This past Saturday, as we were camping on Sucia Island, he did not quite clear the log he was jumping over and fell down, right arm first. As I commented how he really hurt his arm when he fell, he summarized it well: " Sure my arm is hurt, my whole body fell over it, and I am 67 pounds!"

Now here are the good news, the fracture was not displaced, in other words, no need to "set it back in place". This was also good news since we were in the relatively remote Sucia Island, with no ferries or bridges, and made waiting another day to get off the island bearable. Also, because of the nature of the fracture, close to the radius head, there is no need for a cast, only a sling. I was starting to question if that really was good news once the sling started to irritate Ethan and he wanted it off. Humm, I thought, with a cast he would not have that option. Then I remember the smell of the cast he wore 5 years ago during the summer. That thought seal it, a sling is very good news! Other good news are that our parental instincts are still sharp. After the fall, Shawn and I were probably seen as very overbearing and overprotective parents, as we kept Ethan from all the fun activities the other boys were involved in. As we strongly suspected a fracture, we wanted to avoid another fall which would certainly add insult to injury. We are now glad we did!

Good news #5: Ethan is now even, one fracture in each forearm, balance is key to life.

Another bonus, Jack has a sympathetic ear and an impaired right hand buddy to play with .

Most of all, we thank God for another day where he kept His protective hand over us, and that he equipped our bodies with bones that heal.