Soooo Miserable!!

My cousins little boy broke his arm on vacation and he had a cover for it so he could go in the water. Could you try that?

I second the garbage bag/duct tape idea! My sister had a broken arm at the same age and my mom wrapped her arm (right up to her shoulder) in a garbage bag, duct taped it and let her loose in the kiddie pool! Because it's his leg, you're going to have to be extra careful, but no reason poor little Roman has to swelter while the chickies are swimming!

Popsicles go a long way too in the heat.

Where are you? OBX? or did you go somewhere else?

Oh crud!! I was looking forward to enjoying your beach vacation via your posts since we won't be able to go to the beach this year! But I must say I was worried for you with a baby in a cast.

Deep breath! First grab a laundry basket and go around the condo and pick up and put away as many of the non-touchables you can - lock them in a closet or something - just make as much of the space you can Roman friendly. (I do this at my house before busy kids arrive so their parents can relax as much as possible;-).

Next, let's brain storm a way to make the beach work - is there some kind of easy-to-carry play surface you could pick up at Walmart or Target - like a plastic or blow-up kiddie pool you could put under a beach umbrella so you can put Roman and his toys in a minimally sandy environment? The girls could probably help you carry something like that to the beach. Or maybe a tarp or picnic blanket thing - we have one that folds up into it's own carrying case - it's plastic on one side a softer, more fabric like finish on the other.

The good thing about finding something with sides is you could put it pretty close to the water so you felt more like you were being with both the girls and the baby.

If you can get the condo baby friendly then you can focus on doing summer camp things there when the beach is too much for the baby. Our evening bonfire got rained out at our family reunion, but we let the kids make s'mores in the microwave and over the electric burners, we made peanut butter candy and rolled it in melted chocolate,etc. One of my cousins made mini marshmallow shooters from PVC pipes (found directions on the internet) and the kids had an awesome time shooting marshmallows and the dogs had fun eating up the spent ammo.

- You get the idea - fun and silly like a sleep over party. I don't know about you, but I need the beach to feel like a real break from day to day real life! Sure hope it gets better and you have some fun!

P.S. I think you are amazing and really brave and confident to head to the beach with 3 kids by yourself. If you can do that - you can tackle this too!

I would buy him a new toy and let him play with that instead. Or see what's around you besides the beach or the pool (maybe a zoo or museum) and take the family there for an afternoon. When we were at the lake a couple of years ago, we found out about a toddler program at the nature center and we also took DD to a working farm where they gave tours.

Oh wow, can you and your mom tag team until hubby gets there?

What about a play zone?

Can you place him in a daycare in the area for just 2 hours so the girls can get your time and everyone can take a small break.

oh I am not sure what to do it sounds like you are doing a great job, but when our kids love the water there is no reasoning with them when they cannot.

Sorry:(

Head to the North Carolina Aquarium! With a stroller. Repeat if necessary.

And will your mom split duties? You watch/entertain him inside while she takes the older ones to the pool or beach then switch?

Day trip to see the wild ponies at Shackleford Banks.

Maybe do a day trip (or half day) to Beaufort?

Bike with a trailer?

Sounds awful. I would separate your agenda - one parent keeps the girls happy, and another parent entertains the little guy separately for at least half of each day - going to places that he can enjoy. Rent some beach bikes with a baby seat, and take him bike riding. Golf carts. Boating would be good, if possible. Hang in there!

Could you give him a plastic tub filled with water, put boats in it, and let him play? Is the cast on his arm or leg? Couldn't you cover the cast securely with a plastic wrap and tape, and let him play in shallow water? I'd also give him water toys like a water gun, if he could spray about with that maybe he'd be distracted. Good luck!

I'm sorry, R. - i really thought this would be a fun trip!!!!

I've not been to Emerald Isle - so I googled it and this is what I came up with...
http://attractions.uptake.com/north_carolina/emerald_isle...

I would take Roman to the pool with the cast cover and let him SIT in the pool - yea - he can't swim - but let's stop focusing on what he CAN'T do and let's focus on what he CAN do...he CAN get in the pool with the cast and a cover, right? He CAN sit in the sand and build sand castles - right?

get Maddy and Emmy involved - don't separate them out - if it means sitting in the sand by the lapping ocean so Roman can feel the water - yet Maddy and Emmy can get IN the water - maybe bring some of it back in buckets to help build the castle....

IT WILL get better....you are stressing over this...and yeah - it's something to stress over - but you ROCK at thinking outside the box...you are a ROCK STAR mom....

how about getting a small garbage bag and duct taping it around his leg? that way he can play in the water? i don't know if it would work, but i've heard of people doing that before.

http://www.prlog.org/10065057-swim-with-cast-broken-arm-o...
Not sure how much this is, buy it looks like a blow up bubble that protects the cast so he can get in the water.

Poor little guy, I am not sure I would do the garbage bag and duct tape, kids don’t like pulling off bandaids much less duct tape from their skin. Plus the bag would get really warm and make his leg sweat. Do they have sand buggies you can rent and cruise the beach...once hubby gets there to hold unto him? Do they have an aquarium nearby? I don't remember where yoy are exactly...good luck, I know it was rough when my DD broke her arm. Do you have a pair of light weight srub type bottoms where you can cover his leg with the cast enough so that he can play with buckets of sand and water at the table top?

One of the inexpensive entertainment options I liked for that age group was uncooked rice. Since you would have to be extra careful with the cast, I'd suggest switching to dried beans for now. Just fill a pot of bowl with the least expensive dried beans you can find (an inch or two deep) and provide spoons, a large mouthed funnel and plastic cups. Let him fill and spill to his heart's content. If you put a sheet on the floor first cleanup will be incredibly easy. For extra fun, hide a few small objects under the beans for him to dig up. A pan of flour works well too-- dropping objects into it makes puffs of "smoke" and cool craters. You might also pull out the old standby of a few pots and pans and plastic or wooden spoons. If he is not sensitive to loud noises, these make a great drum set... although I recommend ear plugs for you! We've also used plastic storage containers (Tupperware, etc.) as building blocks. For some reason they are more interesting than real blocks :) I feel your pain-- my son was a challenge to entertain, too!

Can you go to the movies? I say go out and get candy and popcorn and enjoy the show.

Hope it gets better for everyone

Was this trip planned BEFORE he got the cast? I'm sorry, but I just think that was cruel to take him somewhere when you knew he wouldn't be able to do anything. And why can't you take turns with your mom to allow some time with your daughters. Hope things get better for ALL involved!

The first day of vacation is always the worst. the kids are displaced, don't have their own stuff, weird environment. Mine are usually off the wall and I want to leave after the first day. But I have found that it usually gets better. Hang in there R.!!

I'm sorry but I don't have any good answers for you. The mamas below have provided you with good answers. I just wanted to send hugs your way and hope the days ahead are better!!!