Sunday, August 23, 2009

How to send your child to the ER and feel good as a result!

We're on the living room floor, rough-housing and generally being silly. Princess Persistent and Darling Boy are taking turns playing "let's tackle daddy", despite Veronica's entreaties that we stop since it's nearing the kids bedtime and they really need to settle down. PP escapes my grasp, moves to run away, and I gently give her a push on the shoulder.

Forgetting, of course, that gentle to a 195 lb man is a little different than to a 40 lb 3 yr old.

She loses her balance, trips over a throw pillow on the floor, and goes face first into the corner of the coffee table.

Immediately, the crying starts and by the time she stands up and looks at mean old dad, the rivulet of blood has run from the corner of her left eye all the way down to the collar of her pajamas. But facial cuts can bleed pretty bad and I'm not too worried. I pull her close and work on calming her down while heading to the bathroom to assess the damage and staunch the bleeding. I get a close look and turn to Veronica, who has joined us by now, saying "So, who wants to take her to the ER, you or me?" There is a nice, deep split just to the outside edge of her left eye-brow that if it was elsewhere on her body we could probably deal with ourselves. But this is our pretty little princesses face! Veronica says that she'll take her and I can work on getting DB to bed.

You wanna know how much of a trooper my girl is? They get to the ER, decide she'll need 2-3 stitches and apply some lidocaine cream to numb the area. This needs about 30 minutes to take effect, so Veronica cuddles PP in her arms while they wait. And PP falls asleep. And stays asleep with the physician puts in 3 stitches! And continues to sleep for the trip out to the car, the drive home, getting carried into the house and all through the night!

Isn't she cute? [Yes, I took a picture of the damage I caused!]


12 days later, it's time to take her to the pediatrician to have the stitches removed and due to work schedules, I take her. Of course, before we get there I coach PP that "My daddy pushed me" may not be the best answer when the doctor asked what happened. No need to get child protective services involved!

The doc and I make small talk while he's looking at how the wound is healing and I'm telling him what happened. And no, I didn't sugarcoat the story!

God bless him, you know what his response was to my story?

"It's not the kids that get the occasional stitches or broken bone that I worry about. It's the kids who go through childhood without those little injuries that worry me. They're not having fun!"

What a wonderful attitude to have. And exactly what I needed to hear!!

19 comments:

MakingChanges said...

Seriously? How could you?

Really, I'm just kidding. Hubby and I have a contest going... who has accidentally hurt the kids worse?! It's a toss up. In the moment of playing things happen. Once Hubby knocked the wind out of Snake while jumping on the trampoline and sent him into convulsions (trying to breathe again). That was a not-so-fun experience.

Good attitude, though. I'm gonna have to tell myself that next time. Cuz really, I am sure there will be a next time.

OneZenMom said...

Oh, poor Princess! *kisses*

But your doctor is right, those little injuries are pretty much inevitable.

A lifelong klutz, I got my first stitches - in my face! - at age 3. That pretty much set the tone for my life.

I know I'm going to hate that first trip to the emergency room with mine, but short of wrapping 'em in bubble wrap, whatcha gonna do? ;)

TentCamper said...

Great post!! I have to say that when it comes to the regular stuff...let em get hurt. I usually will find myself saying things like, "No...jumping from a moving car is not as easy as it looks on TV. Keep your seatbelt on." But our motto here is, "If you don't get a few cuts and bruises...you are not having fun." ALL of the kids are taught that from a young age. Now they come running, with a smile, when they have a good crash. "Look at this one !" or "Did you see that awesome wipeout?"

I love it!

Sandi said...

awww she is a sweetie. What a little trooper. Oh I know how it goes with four daughters. I took my 3rd daughter into the ER once to remove a noodle from her nose. It cannot get much more embarrassing than that.

Another Suburban Mom said...

I agree with the whole concept of having fun, but I could have skipped being the one to hold the lidacane swab in the head wound.

But accidents happen!

Ashly Star said...

She is really cute, even with the little stitches up eyebrow.

That's a great response from the doctor. My siblings and I have all had our share of stitches and sprains from fun turned accident, lol.

Awesome post!

13messages said...

I don't disagree with him, but that's the weirdest thing I've ever heard a doctor say. Then again, "those little injuries" are good for business.

I'm glad she's okay. It's scary stuff for a parent, but just a part of the deal.

pam said...

My son had 7 set of stitches above his neck before he was 7! I Really worried about CPS.

I guess he was having A LOT of fun :)

Shelle-BlokThoughts said...

Lol... My husband did that with my son... He felt terrible as he drove him to instacare all the while prepping him for what to say when they asked what happened.

Amber said...

aww, poor lil thing. Glad you have such an understanding Dr. Though it's not really surprising, considering your confidence when looking for other things in your journeys.

Chief said...

So sad....my dad actually shut my sisters finger in the door and cut it completely off. I'm not sure he will ever forgive himself and it has been over 20 years.

I came over from Zen...I am going to stick around and see what's up over here. I guess Im used to the testosterone

Candice said...

Aww, she's such a brave girl. Sounds like she's a better patient than most of the adults that I take care of. I wish I were kidding.

I'm sure her Ped already mentioned this, but get some Mederma and apply it to her cut once those stitches come out. You can buy the kind over the counter that has sunscreen in it, so that it minimizes the scar. I had a similar cut over my eyebrow that you can't even see, and I attribute it to the Mederma that I slathered all over my face in and OCD like fashion. ;)

Anonymous said...

Fortunately, we can blame the cat on our worse household injury yet! He tripped the six year old, causing her to "curb" herself on a step, and knocking out her two top front teeth.

She is a lovely, lovely kiddo, and stitches are da bomb!

Unknown said...

It's true. I (Chief's sister) have never quite been the same since my fingers were slammed in the door by dad.

Anonymous said...

Love that docs attitude and he is right. Kids need to be kids and you don't see that as often. Poor girl but you are having fun and at times accidents happen but all well and good.

Trooper Thorn said...

That's it! All the furniture has to go. Replace it all with bean bag chairs.

chocdrop said...

I honestly think that you want some of us to feel bad as well for those accidental things that have happened...lol

My youngest has had one thing happen to her that I had some slight involvement in. It is the close the car door on the fingers. We were going to the store to pick up her birthday cake for the party the next day.

She actually still has a scar on one of her fingers from that 12 years later.

Not a soccer mom said...

what an adorable girl, and story.

and one Awesome doctor!
two stitches is nothing

Mom said...

Awww, poor puddin'! At least it wasn't more serious. Accidents happen. (At least that's what you're supposed to tell child services. LOL)

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