H fell today. I was right there, I saw it, right before my very eyes. She was running away and coming back to tease me (uhm, she didn’t want her bum wiped after pooping!) and came in the bathroom. I reached for her and she backed away and fell and gashed her head on the pipe under the sink. Screams and blood and cuddles (quick bum wipe!) and ice to the head and more cuddles followed. I got her to sit with me, B wasn’t home and was running (VERY!) late. She’d already said she was on her way so I waited 10 minutes and then called to inquire where she was as she should have been here by then. She was just then about to leave – grrr… but all I got out was “H fell and hit her head and it’s bleeding a lot” (as it’s a head wound).
We called her doctor and because it was 5 minutes after hours (of course it was) they said to control the bleeding, watch it and if we felt it needed attention or she acted weird (hello, toddler) to take her to the local ED/ER. B cleaned it up, former EMT training comes in handy with this toddler! It was about 1/4″ or so and deep but wasn’t bleeding and H was asking for dinner so we decided to eat and keep a close eye on her. She ate a fabulous dinner including 2 green beans (a record) so feeding was a good choice! And then checked it again and it was oozing so we decided to head in.
We packed up her diaper bag with books, jammies and a candy cane for afterwards and headed out in the night for the hospital. It was a quiet night there and we were seen pretty quickly and were in and out in about two hours. They did staples because they are easier and less painful than stitches and despite it being a gash between the pigtails the scar won’t matter because it is under her hair. The childlife staff were fabulous and brought her a dollhouse to play with and when she wasn’t interested came with videos (Bob the Builder) and a tool set. 🙂 H was thrilled and settled in. The doctor and resident and all three nurses were also fabulous. They prepared to restrain her to do the staples but there was no need. She laid down on her belly and watched Bob and listened when told to be still and got the three quick staples. When they were all done they told her she was brave and did a good job and she teared up a little and said “that hurt” but just wanted hugs and cuddles.
The nurse brought her about 50 stickers and the doctor and resident gave her hugs and high fives for bravery. Wound care is simple and of course there had to be a catch so she can’t get the wound wet for a week so she can’t begin swim lessons tomorrow as planned. She has to wait a week and will be crushed to learn that she can’t swim with the kids and learn to swim all by herself tomorrow.
About a week ago we were at the Y and she fell off a chair and broke open her chin and had to be glued back together so this is a second wound in a short amount of time. The doc in the ER asked us to take off a month or two before we come back, please. She also has a H of her own and said they are dare-devils. 🙂 That’s our girl – glad she has no fear, but maybe a little caution would be nice.
We are home and H is now sleeping. Let’s hope she sleeps in a bit because today was a long day. Tomorrow I will call and let them know we are going to be taking the swim lessons but are going to miss the first class. We will also call the pediatrician if she doesn’t call us first to make an appointment for next week for them to be removed.
Here is the damage to the blonde, pig-tailed one.
Insane Animals 