Injured

We made it five whole years. Five years without a trip to the E.R. for an injury.

Last night changed our stats.

I've been sick the past few days. Not sure what I'm fighting here. One minute I think it's bronchitis, the next a bad cold. Yesterday, I was laying in the bed covered and shivering when I heard a loud CRACK and The Man was hollering for Makenna to go get me. I started slowly getting my sick self up but had to kick it in a higher gear when I heard a teeny tiny thread of panic in his voice.




My son had split his eyebrow open.




Apparently, he and Makenna were building a fort/house out of the couch cushions when he tripped/fell and hit the corner of the television stand.


The Man and I threw on clothes and headed to our local E.R.


The gash had stopped bleeding by the time we got there, but it was U.G.L.Y.


It didn't take too long to get in back. The Boy cooperated fully and without a squeak of complaint. I was right surprised as this was the time he is normally coming down off of his medication. He was polite and answered all the nurse's questions with "Yes Ma'am" or "No Ma'am". Dad sat close to him and I sat in a chair at the end of the bed shivering to pieces. The nurse was kind enough to bring me a heated blanket. I am pretty sure I told her I loved her.


The Doctor who took care of my son gets an A+ in my book. He didn't talk to down to The Boy at all. He was straight forward, matter of fact, and HONEST. The Boy was told every single thing that was going to happen. The numbing shot was explained fully and so was the sewing part. When it came time to do all of this? My baby was a CHAMP. He cried just a tiny bit (over the numbing shot in the injury itself) but didn't fight or scream. The Doctor explained every single little thing he was doing and my son laid right there and let him do what needed to be done. I stayed at the end of the bed with my mouth covered to prevent germs from getting into the newly cleaned cut. I had a moment of concern for The Man when the sewing started. He started squinting really hard. I told him if he fell? To fall forward on the bed and not sideways out of the chair...that I would beat him if he fell out.


FIVE stitches later, all was said and done. For those of you wondering? Glue was not an option due to the place of the injury. We asked. They were afraid that using the glue would cause a "lip" of skin and it needed to be closed completely so whatever scar was left would be minimal.


The Doctor remarked that The Boy was probably one of his best patients EVER. I can believe it. The nurse rewarded him with a bunch of stickers that thrilled his soul to no end. We finished up the paperwork and headed out with instructions to come back in five days for the removal of the stitches. No problem.


I was dropped off at home so my boys could go get some ice cream. The Boy earned that ice cream with being so good and cooperative. The Man earned his because he didn't hit the floor with all the needles and sewing.


As sick as I was, I was still on top of the picture taking.




WARNING: GRAPHIC PICTURE (OF A SORT) AHEAD. TURN BACK IF THIS STUFF MAKES YOU WOOZY.

I do believe this warranted a trip to the local E.R., don't you? This was taken in the waiting room. Note how cleanly it split his eyebrow in half!

Kicked back and waiting for the Doctor and Nurse to get the suture kit and come take care of business. He looks rather relaxed, don't you think?

Sewn up and good to go! No swollen eyes from crying and Mama and Dad were feeling relief!

It was a right decent trip to the E.R. (relatively speaking). We were there about 2 hours before being sent on our way. I can't tell you how proud I am of my son for how he acted under pressure. I know he was scared to death, but he listened and cooperated like he was grown. I firmly believe in being honest with kids about what is going to happen in situations like this. If it's going to hurt? I tell them. To me personally? NOT being told and being caught by surprise is far worse. I have been told by my brother (who has my 7 year old nephew) that this won't be our last visit. I kind of believe that considering who we're talking about here.

We are home from church today as I am still far beneath the weather and The Boy needs to keep it low key for at least one day. I didn't want to share my germs at church and his wound is still fresh enough to be a little scary looking to other kids.

The excitement never ends here at The Edge!