This evening Emily followed me on the back deck to visit the bunnies. She tried to take off so I grabbed her hand and was walking her back to the house. She threw a temper tantrum and sat on the ground, refusing to get up. I grabbed her hand again. She took a few more steps and she pulled and I pulled. I knew better but wasn't thinking. After she got real fussy. I knew it had been hours since her morning nap and she hadn't had dinner yet. I was hoping she was just tired but cuddling with her and a warm bottle wasn't making her feel better. Finally she fell asleep in my arms. I tried to touch her arm while she was sleeping to make sure she was ok. She'd wake up and cry. It wasn't her pain cry or even her mad cry. It was her tired cry so I wasn't sure what to think. We woke her up and made her walk around. She didn't seem to want to move her arm.
Grandma and I took her to Children's hospital. She loved their saltwater tank and tried to tickle the mean eel that was making faces at us thru the glass. She blew raspberries on Grandma but she still didn't seem like herself, not even her tired self. I described what happened to the doctor. He moved her arm, which annoyed her then he applied pressure and she let out her pain cry. This whole process took less then fifteen seconds and he said, "she's better now."
Of course, I cried. I thought (was hoping) she was tired and maybe a little sore. He said it doesn't hurt anymore, and sure enough she lifted her arm over her head and acted like nothing had ever happened. My happy baby was back. He said she had what's called nursemaids elbow. I felt so guilty. I was so afraid he was going to call child services or lecture me. He laughed when I asked how he fixed it so fast and if he saw this a lot. He said third kid that night. Which made me feel slightly better. Only slightly. The doctor said she should not be playing 1 2 3 weee (when mom on one side and dad on the other hold her hands and swing her while walking) when she gets older. He said once this happens it is more likely to happen again and some kids are just more prone to it, which is why nothing ever happened when we played 1 2 3 with Anthony or when we would hold his hands and swing him around in circles. I still feel awful but I'm so grateful that she's ok.
