How High?

We took Rachel to the orthopedic surgeon on Monday. Thankfully, she did not require surgery. The doctor said he has to perform surgery on 85% of his cases. He reviewed her x-rays and said the next step was to place a cast on her leg. She had a splint that was wrapped up and really looked like a cast from the ER. The actual break is in her tibia which is the shinbone. We were all surprised when the doctor said she would have to wear a cast up to her thigh for two weeks. He said it is important to stabilize the joints above and below the break.

The doctor was much more cooperative on prescribing pain medication than the ER doc was. I just asked for something to help her sleep at night since that seemed to be when she was having the most discomfort, but he gave her enough for around the clock until we see him again. Bless that man! However, she has not needed it.

There was some confusion because the nurse was prepping her for a knee high cast. Although, that probably would have been easier for her to get around on, I asked if it was supposed to be higher. She went to ask the doctor and came back with a second nurse which in her words was to act as "reinforcements." I was glad because the second nurse seemed to be much more experienced. P.K. helped Rachel support her leg while we waited for the nurse to return.

This is the look I got when I asked her to look at the camera. She was less than amused. She was able to choose the color she wanted her cast to be.

Purple! That made it kind of fun for her. Here she is maneuvering out of the doctor's office.

Once we got out of the office we got her back in a wheelchair for the ride to the car. She was starting to get into the picture taking by now.

I got to be the first person to sign her cast. I can envision Aaron having a tattoo just like this when he is a Navy Seal (ha, ha!)!

Then the rest of the family had a turn.

Here she is ready to go back to her first day of school since the accident which coincidentally was the first day back from Christmas break. Her sweatpants look blue in the picture, but they are purple as is her toenail polish. She put on her purple scarf and earrings......the little fashionista that she is.

She had a good first day back. In one of her most humiliating middle school moments, I walked her to her homeroom and talked to two of her teachers. We all tried to convince her to stay just half a day, but she insisted on staying at school. I so would have milked it for all it was worth. I think she was tired of sitting home. Really she is sitting at school a lot during the day. She was able to leave each class five minutes early to get to the next class and have a friend help her with her books. I was surprised she wasn't exhausted.

That girl has some stamina and determination. Like eveything else she sets her mind to, she is figuring out how to make this work.