the one where emerson cracked her head open

Pretty catchy title, huh?

Today marked the end of the almost 18 month streak we had going without any injury related ER visits. I’d say that was a pretty good run with not one, but two children. It just so happens that about every single day, we say the same types of things to our children….

“don’t run!”

“don’t push your sister!”

“don’t climb up on that couch and hang off the edge!”

All being said with the fear that someone is going to fall and crack their head open. I would say our house is pretty well baby proofed – we have foam bumpers on the corners of our tables that are eye level with the girls, and we keep a pretty close watch on them. Well, believe it or not, this injury sustained itself when Emerson was not running, but well… just walking. Well, kind of walking… more like walking like a penguin with Aubrey in a game they were playing.

I was at school this morning, getting some things together and was just about to start grading some papers (my students were in Art class) when my mom called me. Thinking it was about what I needed her to put in the crock pot for dinner, I didn’t think much of the call. That is, until she told me I had to come home right away because she thought Emerson needed stitches.

Oy.

I frantically ran down to the school office to talk to my principal who arranged everything for me to leave within minutes. My teammates stepped up to figure out the rest of the day, and I was out the door no less than five minutes after my mom called me. Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you – do NOT get in the way of a mama bear who has just been told her cub has been hurt. I swear, people were driving way too slowly on my drive home. Get out of my way, folks!

Oh, did I also mention that my mom didn’t have the girls’ car seats nor did I? Nope, they were in John’s truck… who happened to be at a landscape design trade show for the day. Thank goodness Aubrey is still in a car seat!

By the time I met my mom and aunt at the emergency room, Emerson was happy as a clam. Her hair may have been matted with blood, her shirt may have been stained, and she may have looked like she was more than ready for a nap… but would you believe that my little soldier didn’t even hesitate to smile, laugh, and not even want to come by her mama? Nope, she wanted to stay right with her great-aunt, much to my dismay.

After about an hour wait, we finally got called back to a room… where we proceeded to wait even longer.

Thankfully the deep cut, which was about an inch long along her forehead, had stopped bleeding after my mom quickly thought on her feet during the situation (and which she later told me that Aubrey was hysterical and Brooklyn was trying to splash in the blood… yes, splash. There was a lot of blood.) and was able to stop the bleeding and put a band aid on it to keep it clean until we could get her stitched up.  After about another 45 minutes, a nurse came to see us and assess the cut. She explained that before they went the route of a shot to numb the area, they would try a topical cream first.

Would you believe me when I told you that Emerson actually fell asleep while waiting to get her stitches? She was so calm when I was holding her on the bed and pressing the topical treatment onto her forehead that she quickly slipped into a nap. Only that child could make that one happen!

After two treatments of topical numbing agents, the nurse and nurse practitioner came back to clean her up and stitch her up. Not before my mom could get some pictures of the wound (I’ll spare you). Apparently we have some pretty morbid family members who desperately wanted to see that cut. Ha!

The stitching  is the part I was not excited for. My mom was surprised I was even able to stay in the room! After they straight jacketed her and got her to lay still, they got to work. Emerson screamed the entire time, my heart breaking a little more each time she screamed. It wasn’t a “I’m in pain” scream, but a “I’m scared and what the heck are you letting them do to me, Mom?!” scream.

Six stitches later, and Humpty Dumpty was put back together again. After a few snuggles, she was as good as new.

After we got home, Aubrey put it pretty plainly.

“Aunt Chelsey, Emerson cracked her head open and there was a lot of blood!”

I’m pretty sure the child is going to need therapy – or I am after I saw the amount of blood on the bib and washcloth my mom used when cleaning her up. All I have to say is TGFN (Thank God For Nana) that I wasn’t here when it happened.

I’m looking forward to next week. It’s going to be the week of no stitches, the week where the girls’ clothes go away, the week those pesky molar pop through, and the week this winter weather suddenly turns to 80 degrees.

Hey, a girl can dream… right?