Definitely Broken
It was the first day of our vacation. While Andy toured Europe with a group of high school students, and Bill caught up with some work essentials, Meagan and I loaded our respective children into Bill's Ford Expedition for a trip across Nebraska to visit the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, and several Lincoln attractions, before heading down to Fairbury to spend a few days with my folks. We had stopped for lunch at Amigo's in Kearney, because it has been Meagan's favorite fast food stop since she was two years old. (The kids like it, too--really!) Then we headed to the park so the kids could run and play before we enforced nap time for the second half of our day's journey to Omaha.
I dropped everyone off at the park and headed to the nearest gas station to fill up the tank and dispose of our trash. I was almost back to the park when my cell phone rang.
It was Victoria, asking where I was and how soon I'd be back. Then, Meagan took the phone and said they would talk to me as soon as I parked. As I climbed out of the SUV, Meagan and a couple of the kids were already walking toward me. Meagan informed me that Levi was sitting at a picnic table on the other side of the park. He had fallen out of a swing. He hadn't been swinging very high, and he certainly hadn't been goofing around, but somehow, he had fallen flat on his face. When he finally stood up, he was holding his left arm, and saying quietly, over and over, "It's definitely broken. It's definitely broken."
It definitely was.
So, just like that, our plans changed. Everyone piled into the SUV, while Victoria checked her phone to find the nearest Urgent Care. After x-rays confirmed that both his radius and ulna were fractured, we headed to an orthopedist's office, where we found out that Levi would need to have his arm set, under anesthesia, at the hospital the next morning.
I had called Bill from the first doctor's office, and he had called a family friend who happens to live in Kearney. So Meagan took the kids to Lisa's house to play in her beautiful, shady yard, while Levi and I waited at the orthopedist's office. Then, we joined all of them for a quick picnic supper of Kentucky Fried Chicken and mashed potatoes in Lisa's backyard gazebo, before we headed to a nearby motel. Our only criteria was that the motel needed to have a suite big enough for all of us, and an all-important pool.
The next morning, Meagan and Levi and I were up before sunrise. Meagan dropped us off at the hospital while Victoria stayed with the sleeping kids. Levi's procedure went off without incident. Then, Meagan and the kids picked us up around 9:00, and we resumed our interrupted trip.
We didn't have time to walk through the state capitol building or visit Morrill Hall to see the dinosaur skeletons, but we will plan to do that next time. We were able to stop at the Lincoln Children's Museum, where everyone, even Levi and Victoria, had a fabulous time. Then we drove on to another motel near the zoo in Omaha, with another pool, of course, and another hot tub for Levi.
Levi is the third of my children to suffer a significant injury during a trip. There must be something about traveling, and straying from regular routines, that leads to unexpected injury. But, as always, God was with us. We were thankful for the prayers of so many of our friends and family during our unforeseen ordeal. We were certainly aware of God's provision for us. And, even though our trip did not start out as planned, none of us felt like our vacation was "broken." Instead, all of us, including Levi, were able to look at our little detour as an added adventure.
To tell the truth, though, I am a little surprised, and more than a little thankful, that our impulsive Levi didn't break an arm--or a leg--long before now.
I dropped everyone off at the park and headed to the nearest gas station to fill up the tank and dispose of our trash. I was almost back to the park when my cell phone rang.
It was Victoria, asking where I was and how soon I'd be back. Then, Meagan took the phone and said they would talk to me as soon as I parked. As I climbed out of the SUV, Meagan and a couple of the kids were already walking toward me. Meagan informed me that Levi was sitting at a picnic table on the other side of the park. He had fallen out of a swing. He hadn't been swinging very high, and he certainly hadn't been goofing around, but somehow, he had fallen flat on his face. When he finally stood up, he was holding his left arm, and saying quietly, over and over, "It's definitely broken. It's definitely broken."
It definitely was.
So, just like that, our plans changed. Everyone piled into the SUV, while Victoria checked her phone to find the nearest Urgent Care. After x-rays confirmed that both his radius and ulna were fractured, we headed to an orthopedist's office, where we found out that Levi would need to have his arm set, under anesthesia, at the hospital the next morning.
I had called Bill from the first doctor's office, and he had called a family friend who happens to live in Kearney. So Meagan took the kids to Lisa's house to play in her beautiful, shady yard, while Levi and I waited at the orthopedist's office. Then, we joined all of them for a quick picnic supper of Kentucky Fried Chicken and mashed potatoes in Lisa's backyard gazebo, before we headed to a nearby motel. Our only criteria was that the motel needed to have a suite big enough for all of us, and an all-important pool.
 |
| Settling for the hot tub |
Levi couldn't swim, of course, but he was content to sit in the hot tub, with his splinted arm propped on the concrete edge, while the rest of us swam and played in the comfortably warm pool. Then we all headed upstairs for baths and an early bedtime. Those afternoon naps that we had so carefully planned for--they never happened.
The next morning, Meagan and Levi and I were up before sunrise. Meagan dropped us off at the hospital while Victoria stayed with the sleeping kids. Levi's procedure went off without incident. Then, Meagan and the kids picked us up around 9:00, and we resumed our interrupted trip.
We didn't have time to walk through the state capitol building or visit Morrill Hall to see the dinosaur skeletons, but we will plan to do that next time. We were able to stop at the Lincoln Children's Museum, where everyone, even Levi and Victoria, had a fabulous time. Then we drove on to another motel near the zoo in Omaha, with another pool, of course, and another hot tub for Levi.
 |
| Levi, at the zoo |
Levi had no problem keeping up at the zoo the next day. We had been prepared to rent a motorized cart for him, if necessary, but he only complained once about being too hot and tired. Meagan rented a stroller, so her three kids took turns riding and walking, or riding piggyback with Aunt Victoria. We all enjoyed watching the antics of the new baby giraffe, and visiting our favorite aquarium, and seeing the alligators and gorillas and jungle animals. We finished the day with a train ride around the zoo, then the kids napped most the way to Fairbury.
We stayed busy for the rest of the trip, visiting Rock Creek Station outside of Fairbury, and the Rock Island Railroad Museum, as well as the Fairbury pool and park. For the first time in many years, Mom and Dad got to help us celebrate Meagan's birthday. Levi was a real trooper for the whole trip. So were the little ones. Even Lydia, who is known for screaming uncontrollably on relatively short car trips, was happy 99% of the time. Thankfully, our long trip home was totally uneventful. |
| Looking at the baby giraffe |
Levi is the third of my children to suffer a significant injury during a trip. There must be something about traveling, and straying from regular routines, that leads to unexpected injury. But, as always, God was with us. We were thankful for the prayers of so many of our friends and family during our unforeseen ordeal. We were certainly aware of God's provision for us. And, even though our trip did not start out as planned, none of us felt like our vacation was "broken." Instead, all of us, including Levi, were able to look at our little detour as an added adventure.
To tell the truth, though, I am a little surprised, and more than a little thankful, that our impulsive Levi didn't break an arm--or a leg--long before now.
 |
| Evelyn, Lydia, Meagan, and Tobin, heading toward the Railroad Museum |
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.
Philippians 4: 19-20
Comments
Post a Comment