Jackson's 2nd Surgery

I took Jackson to the doctor last Tuesday to see how is arm was healing. Our doctor
had been concerned that because both bones in Jackson's arm were broken, he may
need surgery with pins. So, we went back and sure enough, Jackson's arm was healing,
but not the right way. Little kids bones heal so fast, that he healing was already taking place,
but if we didn't do anything now, his arm would always be crooked. So, the doctor
told me we needed to do surgery the next day. (Wednesday)

This is Jackson just before we left with his camo cast.

Brian took the day off to be with me, I mean Jackson.
The doctors and nurses were so nice & friendly. The only thing
that really bothered Jackson was when the took the cast off because
the blade was really hot & he felt like it was burning his arm.

Jackson was in surgery for 3 hours. Brian and I waited in the waiting
room. We read, talked, doodled (well I did anyway), & finally when we had
about an hour left we played Hang Man. Brian tried to confuse me (which he did) by
writing the sentence in Spanish and then in German. My sentences were just
the obvious, "The fish is blue and yellow." Thankfully, people in our ward
work there. M. Miller who used to be our hometeacher, came and talked with us for
a while and then one of my favorite people, L. Beal came and talked to us as well.
She even went and got our favorite candy bars for each of us and juice while we waited.

The doctors & nurses were really nice and came out to give us updates.
The doctor had to make an incision in Jackson's elbow as well as wrist to put
2 pins in. Then, because they couldn't quite get it it, they had to cut into his forearm
and manually re-brake the bone so they could get it lined up with the pins. They then
stitched his arm back together with 8 or 9 stitches & sent him to the recovery room.

The first few nights were hard & painful. Jackson had to keep his arm elevated and there
was SO much swelling! He would cry during the night that he felt like his arm was on fire
& even once that he couldn't breathe. Not very fun, and very exhausting on all of us.

Thankfully, priesthood blessings & prayers helped tremendously! Jackson will need to
wear his arm in a splint for 1 week, then get a long arm cast on for 6 weeks. Then he will have
a short arm cast for another 4-6 weeks, and then an arm brace for 4 more weeks.
From 2 months from now, he'll have another surgery to remove the pins.
He amazes me. He is such a tough little kid. He is so patient with all of this, and still
makes all of us smile & laugh. Thankfully it's not summer yet.

Note to self- don't ever break your arm!