Cast Off

Today...Blake got his cast off! 

We were so anxious to see what his new thumb would look like.

Blake, however, was not to excited about the whole thing.

We knew Blake was really NOT going to enjoy this was when the tech asked:

"How does he do with vacuums?" 

(The cast saw was connected to a vacuum to suck up the cast dust.)

Let me give you a little background about Blake & vacuums. 

He is so absolutely terrified of them. When it's on he actually trembles and will cling to you for dear life. 

If he's brave enough to get down, he'll run to unplug the vacuum just to make the sound stop!

So, you could say he doesn't do well with vacuums. 

But we didn't really have a choice.

Blake screamed (almost choking on his gum!) through most of the sawing...

then at one point it was like he realized it wasn't hurting and stopped to watch. 

I bust out the PEZ to try to distract him...but it didn't really help, he was done!

Then he realized his arm was free...he kept looking at confused.

Did he remember what his thumb used to look like? 

(Or was he shocked like me about how long his fingernails had grown!)

It was so sad to see him so worried about his hand. He would touch it and whimper.

He would gently rub his palms together and cry. He was holding his arm in the same

position as it was in the cast. It's like he didn't know he could use it. 

Dr. McCarroll came in to tell us Blake's arm, hand, and fingers were going to be

pretty stiff and sore, and that it would take quite a while for him to start using it. 

He said the swelling we were seeing would probably come down a bit and that Blake would

need to wear a splint for 2 weeks for support. 

When the occupational therapist came in Blake had calmed down

and would take turns snuggling with us. But then it was time for the splint...which

he wanted nothing to do with. We finally got it on and all he could say was, "Off? Off?! Off?!!"

Ugh!! So sad!

By the time we were in the car and on our way home he'd forgotten all about it.

Kids are lucky like that.

At home we notice Blake still not using his hand.
If he forgot and tried to use it to get up off the ground, he crumbled to the ground crying.
Gosh, I had no idea how weak joints could get in a short about of time.
Poor guy.
But one tough guy!

Here's a closer look at his new thumb all clean and lotioned up.
It is a bit smaller than the thumb on his left hand but we knew that would be the case.
And it does turn a little inward...but maybe that will give him an advantage someday when he plays sports?!

Two (not three anymore!) thumbs up for a speedy recovery!!