FINALLY home from the hospital with DS6 !!

[ILUVMYBRIT]

Oh dear the poor kid...and poor Mom. No advice as I havent ever had the experience, just wanted to say I hope everyone is feeling ok today. Many wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

[piratesmate]

Poor little guy! I'm glad he's home now. Mom can make most stuff bearable you know.

DS broke his leg when he was 9 months old & had both legs in a cast - waist to toes. I realize there's a huge size difference, but a bean bag chair was extremely helpful for us! You might check into one - just so he can have a change of position from time to time.

Definitely check with your school district to see if they do home bound instruction. If you're not comfortable just getting his work from school & doing it yourself, they may provide a tutor to come every day...ours does.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'm sorry to hear about your DS!

You've gotten some great advice. I'd also call his teacher's and see if they can give you some work for your DS.

The small silver lining is it didn't happen during the summertime. That would've been harder to bear for him with so much more to do in nicer weather.

 

[dizagain]

Oh my gosh! No advice other than a repeat of others to call the school district and see about a tutor...many do that. Glad he'll be ok!

 

[Virgo10]

Yikes! Your poor son and poor YOU! Many years ago I worked on the Orthopedic floor at CH in Boston. We saw lots of kids in spica casts. The most important thing is to keep the "potty" area clean. At the hospital they had frames on the beds so we could turn the dhildren over (face down). That helped prevent pressure soars.

Be sure to listen to him is he starts to complain of any areas that are sore and covered by the cast. Occasionally that can indicate that there is something going on, like a pressure sore, that needs to be run by the doctor. I was glad to see that he'll only be in the cast for 3 weeks.

Maybe his school could send home work. I don't see how he could go.

Best of luck!

 

[damo]

Kelly, by chapter books, I meant books that he can't read himself, like Harry Potter or Holes or Lion, Witch and Wardrobe that you need to read to him. Find a book that is several hundred pages long and really exciting! Another good one is The Warm Place by Nancy Farmer. Snuggling time will be really important to him and what better way to do it than with a good long chapter book!

Some more are Cricket in Times Square, Where the Red Fern Grows, Charlotte's Web, Dealing with Dragons, Indian in the Cupboard, The Hobbit and I will add to the list as they come to me. I am sure that lots of other people can recommend good books to read aloud.

 

[MinnieM3]

Poor thing! What an experience for you all! So sorry!

 

[BrinxFam]

When my DD was just 7 weeks old she had a broken femur and was in a spica body cast for 3 wks. Her cast went from the arm pits to the toes. Of course she was in diapers so the potty wasn't an issue but we had to wrap the diaper area of the cast with plastic wrap, as best we could, to keep it clean. Then we cut the diapers to fit up into the cast. I don't have any advice on this for an older child but wish you luck. It was hard enough with diapers!
We also kept rotating her from side to side proping her up on pillows to keep her from getting sore. We just stretched out the sofa sleeper and spent 3 weeks living in the family room.
Muscle spasms were the biggest problem we had but then again she wasn't even 2 months old when the accident happened.
Picking up the school books and keeping up with school work sounds like a great idea as well as games and movies.
Will be praying for your sons speedy recovery and your peace of mind.

 

[tuckerkeys]

my friend had this cast while pregnant! it was an awful mess! can you see if you can rent a wheelchair for a couple of weeks, just so he can have a different position every now & then? and your school system should have ( by law) a home teacher who comes to your house a minimum of 2 hrs per day for home instruction. you need to speak with your sons principal, and if they are unsure, contact your school board superintendent, or his-her secretary... good luck! at least as children, their bones heal fast!

 

[macraven]

if he is in school, even kindgerten, call the principal of his school.

in cases like this, they can set up homebound schooling for the time he is in the body cast and at home.

he will not get behind.
he will have a teacher come to your home sent out by the school district at no cost to you.

it is worth it.

i used it 2 times for my son.

its free
the kid does not get behind
it is worked around your schedule in most cases

 

[SueM in MN]

My DD was in a cast similar to that, with casts all the way down both legs including her feet, when she was 6 (she had surgery on her hips and ankles). She also a spreader bar to hold her legs apart.

We found a bean bag chair was very helpful; not only did it allow a different position, but the beans help to releave pressure compared to sitting on something more solid.

School has to set up home bound teaching if he can't get to school. So, it's not your responsibility by yourself to come up with a program for him. I'd suggest making a schedule for each day, with time for each school subject, reading to him, him reading to himself, playing games. With a schedule, he won't get as bored.

In a hip spica cast, he probably won't fit in a wheelchair. We were able to rig up DD's wheelchair so she could still use it, but it involved using some pieces of plywood to support her legs. My DD wouldn't have been able to use it, but I've also seen people do something similar with a scooter board (those things like mechanics use to "scoot" under cars.
Depending on his size and the cast position, he may fit in a reclining wheelchair.
In the hospital, they had some wagons with sides that could be removed and you might be able to find something similar. An outdoor reclining lounge chair might also work for a change of position (and it's light so you can move him to different parts of the house).

Aside from that - just sending some pixie dust for a quick recovery.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

he was getting a reclining wheelchair here today at home
i have been on the phone with people all day

 

[tiggersmom2]

Just wanted to say how sorry I am that your little man is having to deal with this. Hugs and prayers for his speedy recovery!

 

[gradtchr]

I hope he feels better soon and that the school is able to help you.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

well the wheelchair is here, it is soo big but great it even reclines to the sleeping position. I am very thankful for the help we have received today from school, hospital, Paula our case manager from childrens. I creally cant say enough about the care there. Ds6 is relaxing, as DH went to target to get some stuff for him.
The school has set up trasportation for him and we trying to arrange a home tutor.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

it has been an awful night with ds6 waking up alot and it pain
i am really nervous

 

[cakesnkids]

Oh my, the poor fella. I have no suggestions, wish I did, but I wanted to send some pixie dust your way and lots of hugs to your little one. My daughter broke her ARM at that age and just that little cast was hard to explain to her and keep her happy with, I can't imagine what your little one is going through.
Good luck...

 

[kaylajr]

Lots of Pixie Dust for you both
It is gonna be a LONG 3 weeks

Hope it passes quickly and his pain level improves rapidly

 

[FreshTressa]

How rough...I hate seeing kids in pain.

Hope it gets better soon!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

well it morning and he is eating breakfast. But it was a LONG night no real sleep til 4am and now ds2 is up as well. I think I am in for a long day folks.
thanks for all the pixie dust and thoughts, it is apprecaited.