Some Girls Get All The Breaks!

On Monday, for Family Home Evening, we met some friends on the beach for pizza and fun. Monday was a long day (please see "The Devil Made Me Do It") and we were all happy to be able to relax with friends. Emma made a beeline for the ocean, splashing and playing. Nearly 30 minutes into the fun Emma came limping up the beach.


From a distance, and through the mound of sand collected on her wet foot I could see the tell-tale blood red indicator of a run in with a rock. Sometimes, when the beach is rocky, waves will scoop up a rock or two and hurl them towards your bare feet. Scraps and bruises are almost always acceptable companions with days at the beach. It is just a fact of beach life.


She wasn't crying, just limping and complaining. I yelled down to her to "turn around and let the cold ocean water clean it out and numb it up." She went back down to the water. She only lasted a few more minutes before she turned back around and made her way up the beach. As she hobbled closer I could tell from her face that she was in pain.


"Mom, could you please run to the Commissary and get me a water-proof band aid?" Her request, while ridiculous, was simple and seemed to downplay any real injury she might have. I led her to the van where I propped her foot up and dumped a bottle of water over it to clean off the sand and get a better look. When the sand cleared I could feel the blood drain from my face. Her pinkie toe was scraped and bloody but also jutting out from her foot at a 45 degree angle. NOT NORMAL!!

Needless to say, we packed it up. I dropped the boys off at home and, with my wonderful friend Sara, spent the next couple of hours with Emma in the ER. They x-rayed her, cleaned her, numbed her, set her, taped her and sent her home! She was very disappointed to leave without crutches but happy to have a print out of her x-ray to show off to all the world!

This is called an appendage deformation...YOU THINK?

This is called a "fracture and dislocation."

Please note that this x-ray was taken during a 5.7 earthquake and it isn't even blurry!!

This is called "an angel!" She was delightful nearly the entire time. She wasn't crazy about getting shots to numb the toe but she was a little crazy about the handsome red-headed doctor we had!

This is her toe 2 days later. She enjoyed a fun filled "field day" today at school. I am amazed that she can even walk but it doesn't seem to be slowing her down one bit. She is amazing!!