Sarah

Yesterday was a new experience for me. The 14 1/2 month old little girl I nanny fractured her Tibia last weekend with her parents and had to have it casted. First we went to her pediatrician because she still wasn't putting weight on it, which made them think it was definitely broken, then we went to an orthopedic surgeon who agreed that indeed it would need a cast. Sarah is an unusually bright kid, so she watched closely as they wrapped her little leg in what they call a "soft cast". Apparently even though this hardens, it can still be unraveled instead of having to use a saw to get it off. Sarah's face was pure concentration as they applied each layer and her mother and I were laughing that she was studying how to take it back off.

Sarah's father was afraid she would be grumpy about the cast, but she has taken it quite well. She hates that walking is nearly impossible, but she loves the extra attention everyone lavishes on her. In her weekly music class, every mommy was talking to her about it and smiling at her.

In a family of 31 cousins, there have been an oddly low number of broken bones. I think maybe 4 casts have ever been put on 31 kids...pretty amazing I think. So yesterday was sad in a cute way. She wasn't in pain, but there's something about a little one having to get a cast that makes your heart sad. The doctors and nurses loved her, as most do, and commented on how well behaved she was as they applied everything.

Sarah's little personality can teach us each something. It's just a broken bone, might as well learn and move on!