As I ran downstairs after searching high and low for Jill’s emergency seizure medication (we just got back from camping and it was still packed), I thought to myself “you know, it’s been 10 months since we’ve had an emergency…”
Not even kidding.
First meeting of a new bible study, all the kids are off playing in the bedrooms while the adults are in the living room.
At one point, Lucy came into the room and one side of her face was all red…
“She and AJ collided upstairs a few minutes ago” Tracy had just been up there checking on the kids.
“Really? I didn’t even hear her cry. Did she cry?”
“No. And she was bleeding a little. I think it was her nose.”
I laughed and turned to the new family in the room that we had never met before:
“Hi. Meet Lucy. This is classic Lu. She’s my wild child that always has mysterious bumps and bruises that I’m never sure when they happened because she’s a tough cookie and rarely makes a fuss about it.”
We all laughed and moved on.
About 20 minutes later, I hear her crying. Really crying. You know how you know something is actually wrong by the cry?
I ran to her. Not walked, but ran. I just knew.
Tracy had her in the bathroom.
Her pink and white gingham dress was covered in blood and BLACK gunk was pouring out of her mouth and all over her hands.
I froze in panic.
What the?????
All I could think was that she had fallen and punctured some internal organ and was bleeding out.
Tracy looked up and quickly said “It’s oreo Jeannett. But she’s bleeding too. I panicked when I saw the black too. She was jumping on the bed and hit her mouth and the bed is metal. I was standing right there when it happened too.”
Phew. Okay. No internal bleeding. Now to figure out what was bleeding…
Problem was, she had decided to completely chew up an entire oreo cookie, but had yet to swallow any of it.
If you know Lucy, you know she doesn’t take bites of things. She just shoves the entire thing in her mouth and goes for it. I really wish I was kidding. It drives me batty.
But I couldn’t see anything for all the chewed up cookie in her mouth and pouring out as she cried hysterically.
At one point I had to actually feel around for her teeth…no, they were all there…where the heck is the bleeding coming from????
Then I saw the gash on her chin. You know that little crease you have under your bottom lip? There.
I was done panicking now, but covered in black gunk and blood the girl looked like something out of a gnarly horror movie.
And that gash was pretty deep.
The group looked at it and agreed that a trip to the Emergency Room was in order.
Nelle met us at the hospital where Lu was able to play some Angry Birds while we waited for the doctor to come in.
Turns out it was deep, but clean and we could just glue it closed.
Which is great becaue I really think I would have passed out if they had to inject her face. Seriously.
I could hold YOUR kid down while they got stitches no problem, but I couldn’t hold MY kid down while they got stitches without puking or passing out.
Luckily Lu has always had fabulously big lips that most people pay good money to have, so her scar should be unnoticeable since her bottom lip covers it (and was part of the reason I had such a hard time finding the bleeding).
All she wanted was her Daddy.
She cried for him when we held her down to irrigate all the cookie lodged in the gash.
“Home. Dad. Go.” through gasping sobs.
Daddy’s the family protector. We all (myself included) love to melt into his big shoulders when we don’t feel well.
When my kids are sick, it’s Daddy they want to cuddle with.
Mom gets to wipe up the vomit and sit in the ER with them, but when it’s serious loving they need, they want Daddy.
But I get it.
He’s a big guy that is regularly asked if he played football in college (he didn’t). When Daddy cuddles with you, you feel extraordinarily bitty and cozy all snuggled into his chest.
My feelings weren’t hurt when my girl, traumatized by being forcibly held down, her ouchie being messed with, and scared at all these strange faces messing with her, wanted no one else in the world but her big, strong Daddy.
I’d want her Daddy if that were me too.
For all the drama of the night, I loved seeing that connection. Melt me into a puddle. I just love my family.
When all was said and done, we headed home with a new battle wound.
I’m thankful it wasn’t a big deal after all.
That it won’t be very visible and that she didn’t need stitches on her face.
That Nelle was there to help me hold her strong little body down.
That from the time I pulled into the parking lot, to the time I pulled back out, was less than an hour. (Having grown up in the Los Angeles area, I’d be in the waiting room alone for at least 4 hours. At least.)
Now here’s to hoping we didn’t scare off the new family from our bible study!
They say first impressions are 85% accurate.
I’d say this one is pretty good.
Latest posts by jeannett (see all)
- Dirt in a Jar, Laundry Scientists, and Clean Water - October 20, 2015
- Because Cake. - October 11, 2015
- How to design a luxury bathroom for less - August 12, 2015
These are them moments in life that keep us on our toes. I can’t tell you how many times I have been to the ER; especially, being a mom to three boys. Glad it wasn’t anything too serious!
Jeannett, what a well written post! You sure handled the situation well and presented it in away that found love in the very scary moments….thank you for sharing your life.
It would take a LOT to scare of my mom/sis but it sure made a good story when I asked them “so how was your Growth Group?” Definitely not the response I was expecting!!
Oh my goodness how scary. Im glad that everything is ok.
glad she’s ok! scary stuff. she’s a total beast. and i mean that in a loving way :)
First time stopping by your blog… I love it!
You know, I almost always feel a little strange commenting on blogs or posts that are kid oriented because I’m not at that point yet. Im in my mid twenties, I live with my very serious boyfriend, but I can’t yet relate to the trials and tribulations of parenthood- but I absolutely love reading about it! Your storytelling is so compelling because it comes from such a real place. I hope you know someone like me can still come by, read your posts, and see what a phenomenal mother you are. :) You’re a rockstar!
Happy wednesday!
*krystina
http://www.cupahotchocolate.blogspot.com
I get this post so much. Everything from not being able to watch your kids get poked or proded to Daddy’s strong protecting arms. My oldest jumped off our couch when he was 2 and his forehead landed on the window ceil. He had a gash that resulted in a trip to the ER where he was also glued shut. Ugh, that is just one of the worst feelings in the world. Your child hurt and you are pretty much helpless until the Dr’s can do something. And he wanted his Daddy alright.
I’m glad she’s ok. Hopefully she won’t be jumping on anymore beds anytime soon. :o)
I’m so relieved she is ok…..
Thank you for sharing YOU.
So glad everything is okay. It’s crazy how they all call for “daddy”.
I’m so glad all is well and glue worked. I *have* had to hold my first-born daughter down while they stitched her chin in an ER. The lidocaine SHOTS (yes…SHOTS…multiple) they gave her did. not. work! It was horrible. I was pregnant with my third child and it took me, my sister and the ER nurse laying across her to hold her still for the doctor — who was *totally freaked* and literally didn’t know what to do. I finally got pretty harsh with him, “Would you stop sitting there looking like a deer in headlights and TAKE THE STITCHES!” After the third stitch I told him he was done – because *I* was done. It is something I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do – and honestly, I will NEVER do it again. I was sick for days….and six years later, it still makes my stomach hurt to think about how she screamed. And taking them out? Just as bad! :(