I laughed a little when you mentioned waking up to a screaming child. Missy woke up from tonsillectomy screaming at the top of her lungs. They brought me in to hopefully settle her down, when that didn't work, they high-tailed us out of there and into a private room! We were supposed to be in a room with another child, but they came in and took her stuff out and left us at the very end of the hallway, away from everyone else! (smart move)
Well if your knee cap is fractured, the doctor probably wants to keep it immobile for a while, but he won't for too long, cause it'll stiffen up. I hope you have some help around the house for several days. You can't go climbing up and down those stairs!!!
I work for an ortho. Years ago, I was his medical assistant. My first day on the job, he stuck a needle in a woman's knee who had a shattered (not fractured) knee cap. He sucked out about 40 cc of fluid from her knee. He thought I was going to pass out. Surprisingly, It didn't bother me.
Well, I hope you have a quick recovery!