Charlie's Leg

I thought that starting a new school year and having Casey and Toby being gone would be the hardest thing.....
This is Charlie's foot after he fell in our backyard - he was back there trying to chop down two cottonwoods that had started to grow. That was 10 days ago.

He had to crawl back around the house to get me - I drove him to the ER and ran his leg into the the door there - it made me very inappropriately laugh hysterically...

We both thought/hoped that it was another dislocation....

When he lifted his pant leg in the ER the nurse whinced and we knew it was not good.

X-Rays and relocation and the first cast

Then a few nights in the hospital and a second cast... a soft cast. This led me to the DME store where I learned many new things... DME=Durable Medical Equipment - I got Charlie a rolly scooter to rest his knee on and zoom around the house. He also got a shower chair as he can only get half way in the shower and then only after we bag and duct tape him up.
Insurance and DME stores are not my friends!!!

That is what Charlie got - I got all his chores and projects!!! This is his second cast - if you are weak of stomach don't read on
Ten days later we headed in to the doctor office. Our first chance to see the surgery. This is the right side of his leg - they took the staples out - doesn't he look like Frankenstein - scroll down for something even more Halloweenish...
This is the left side of the same leg - this is where they went in to fix the skinny bone in his leg with 3 breaks - more staples..
And he had the most beautiful bruising - I wish I could buy fabric that color of green, blue and purple. We had the greatest nurse - she put the blue paper under his leg so I would get contrast in my photos - we had a fun visit. And then it was cast time - this nurse is an absolute artist. When she asked what color Charlie wanted, he said white. She looked at me and said "white?" I looked at Charlie he has to live with it after all... he decided on...
Bronco colors and the nurse decided it should have stripes like a tube sock and a little bed for his toes - it is a thing of beauty... We disagree on what the doctor said - I think Charlie would like it to be less time - but it looks like 8 weeks with no weight and another 6 weeks in a boot and partial weight - he can get something holidayish at his next check. We got to see x-rays - he has two plates and 8 screws in one and two long screws to hold the ankles and leg bones together...
Ain't life funny???