I learned that I don't handle stressful child-injury situations well. Claire fell and put a pretty big gash in her neck, and my great "momstincts" (what Tom calls a mother's quick reacting instincts) that I always thought I had DID NOT kick in. I pretty much just freaked.
Claire was climbing over the arm rest on the bench at our kitchen table and tripped. At first I thought she had just knocked her chin really hard on the table, but as I walked over to pick her up and comfort her, I saw the broken plate, and then her neck. I pretty much lost it at that point. I was shaking and crying and could not think straight. Like at all. I called Tom frantically trying to explain. Tom knew I needed to take her in somewhere, but felt pretty helpless not being there to actually assess the situation. I quickly called my friend and neighbor, Kassiah, and she came straight over. I needed somebody to come and see it and be my voice of reason because I could not think clearly.
I grew up in a family where we hardly went to the doctor for anything! My mom's mindset was that most things could be fixed or just get better at home. Which probably most can, but one time she had to be directly told by a neighbor who was a nurse that she had to take my brother in for one of his cracked-open-head incidents. It's not at all that I was against taking her in. I was actually all about it, but I just didn't know if I was over-reacting or if it really was bad. It looked pretty awful to me! Kassiah helped me stay calm, but took one look at Claire's neck and told me to take her into the ER. She stayed with Reese and Everett. (A huge thank you to her!)
This is about what I looked like during all of this...
And this is what Claire's neck looked like...
WARNING: these next two pictures are pretty nasty. I kept them smaller, but feel free to scroll passed if you're a wus like me.
The other thing I learned yesterday is that Claire is an insanely tough kid! Not to cry during her flu shot is one thing, but this seemed totally different. The nurses were all really surprised and amused not only at how calm, but also how pleasant she was being. While waiting for the doctor, she started telling them all about her Build-a-Bear and her "Little Einsteins" birthday party and really just whatever popped into her cute little mind.
Tom showed up shortly after we got there. Let's be honest, really he needed to be there to support me, not Claire. I for sure shed more tears over all this than she did. But Claire was very happy to see him and loved showing him the letters "C" and "B" on her wrist band.
Right before the doctor came in, the nurse kind of whispered to Tom and me to be prepared because Claire would for sure cry. Not only did she not cry, but she was fully cooperative! She never once moved and she did it all with only the topical numbing stuff, not even a shot! They must have moved their hands for this picture, but there were two other people with their hands on Claire ready to hold her down, but they never needed to.
Claire was climbing over the arm rest on the bench at our kitchen table and tripped. At first I thought she had just knocked her chin really hard on the table, but as I walked over to pick her up and comfort her, I saw the broken plate, and then her neck. I pretty much lost it at that point. I was shaking and crying and could not think straight. Like at all. I called Tom frantically trying to explain. Tom knew I needed to take her in somewhere, but felt pretty helpless not being there to actually assess the situation. I quickly called my friend and neighbor, Kassiah, and she came straight over. I needed somebody to come and see it and be my voice of reason because I could not think clearly.
I grew up in a family where we hardly went to the doctor for anything! My mom's mindset was that most things could be fixed or just get better at home. Which probably most can, but one time she had to be directly told by a neighbor who was a nurse that she had to take my brother in for one of his cracked-open-head incidents. It's not at all that I was against taking her in. I was actually all about it, but I just didn't know if I was over-reacting or if it really was bad. It looked pretty awful to me! Kassiah helped me stay calm, but took one look at Claire's neck and told me to take her into the ER. She stayed with Reese and Everett. (A huge thank you to her!)
This is about what I looked like during all of this...
And this is what Claire's neck looked like...
WARNING: these next two pictures are pretty nasty. I kept them smaller, but feel free to scroll passed if you're a wus like me.
The other thing I learned yesterday is that Claire is an insanely tough kid! Not to cry during her flu shot is one thing, but this seemed totally different. The nurses were all really surprised and amused not only at how calm, but also how pleasant she was being. While waiting for the doctor, she started telling them all about her Build-a-Bear and her "Little Einsteins" birthday party and really just whatever popped into her cute little mind.
Tom showed up shortly after we got there. Let's be honest, really he needed to be there to support me, not Claire. I for sure shed more tears over all this than she did. But Claire was very happy to see him and loved showing him the letters "C" and "B" on her wrist band.
Right before the doctor came in, the nurse kind of whispered to Tom and me to be prepared because Claire would for sure cry. Not only did she not cry, but she was fully cooperative! She never once moved and she did it all with only the topical numbing stuff, not even a shot! They must have moved their hands for this picture, but there were two other people with their hands on Claire ready to hold her down, but they never needed to.
The nurse would tell anybody who came in that this little girl was holding this still only with the numbing cream. I joked about how she will be awesome at having babies when she's older.
9 stitches later she was done and ready to go.
Obviously Tom and I have no pride when it comes to snapping plenty of pictures in settings like this. All for documentation!!
We went home and got all cleaned up then headed back out for a treat for being so brave. Well deserved, my dear. Well deserved.
Claire has said some pretty funny things about this whole thing, but my favorite was this morning when she came into my room nice and early. It was still dark so she tripped over something and fell into the wall. I asked her if she was okay and she jumped up saying, "Yep. My neck is still attached." Good. So glad! :)
I have to say that what scared me more than the cut itself was how much I froze. What if something more serious were to happen? It was a good reminder that I need to get retrained in child CPR and the Heimlich and other emergency situations. I'm so glad that it ended up not being too serious, and that Claire did so well with it all.
20 comments:
Great job Claire! That is an impressive cut and you handled it well. Rachel, don't be hard on yourself. I guarantee if it were a life and death situation you would do whatever necessary to save your child. Even with training, you react differently in emergencies. Be thankful for great friends, great doctors, and a great husband.
I know I would've freaked out too. I'm not looking forward to the stitches and broken bones that I'm sure are coming, especially for one of my crazy kids.
Ug I just typed a huge comment and lost it. You are way better than me - I fainted instantly when Calvin cut his lip a tiny little slice. I'm super impressed that Claire didn't cry. My nearly 8-year-old still throws a fit any time a doctor comes near her. She needs some life coaching from Clarie.
Don't feel too bad about freaking out, I'm a trained EMT and when my daughter fell in the bathtub and busted open her chin I totally freaked and could not function! When I called her pediatrician's office to see if they did stitches there or if I needed to go to the ER then called 911 for me!! That's how bad I was! My Daughter by this time was sitting in front of the TV with a washcloth on her chin! I was so embarassed!
I am glad Claire's neck is still attached ;) she's such a trooper!!!
Holy Cow, what a cut! I don't think that I would have handled that very well either. Way to go Claire, super tough!!
Oh Rachel, you always make me laugh! I don't think that I would have handled the situation very well either! I love what Claire said this morning! Glad she' doing great and that you are the only one that was traumatized!
Oh my gosh. I am a total panicker. I'm not entirely sure what a panic attack is, but I'm pretty sure I've had a few at times when I thought my children were going to DIE because they drank too much tylenol or whatever. The hardest thing, I think, is not being able to handle the sight of blood. What do you do if you can't even look at your kids injury to assess it? Yeah, I scrolled past Claire's neck pictures with only a quick glance. Thank goodness you had a friend willing and able to help. And what a cutie Claire is!
That poor thing! And poor YOU! I would have probably reacted the exact same way. You did better than you think. I can see why that gash would make you freeze. So glad she is okay!
Oh little Claire! I cannot believe she didn't cry. That's amazing. She is one sweet little girl. I've been meaning to call you the last few days....since Thursday to be exact. I should have called! I'm so glad she got all stitched up okay and that you've recovered. I'm assuming you've made a full recovery.
Holy cow! That was worse than I even expected reading through the post. I can't believe Claire sat still and didn't have to get a shot. 9 stitches? Wow!!! And I'm sure you were not as bad as you make yourself sound. I'm pretty calm when accidents happen with my kids, but I might have freaked out with that one. Tell Claire she is one tough chick!
Yikes! That's a big cut in a scary place. I would've flipped out too. All's well that ends well...
I'm so glad she's okay! That is a nasty cut. This post made me cry for her and laugh at her all in one!
Oh man I am the exact same way. Bad thing is my husband also freaks. We are a bad combo. And we have had quite a few instances where we had reason to. I am amazed that Claire was so good and didn't cry. One of my twins had stitches when he was 2 and I about died. It was the worst. He screamed the whole time. Then another time he fractured his scull that one I freaked too. Our list goes on and on. I need to take a class on learning how to be calm! So glad Claire was a trooper.
Oh my goodness, that's a significant gash. She's such a tough girl for sitting through all that entire process. I'm really impressed. Sweet girl.
I think everyone has the things they can't handle, so don't be too hard on yourself. I have a pretty strong medical stomach, but I stepped on a nail (and wasn't injured) and I cried like a baby. Go figure.
Wow, what a tough little cookie. That must have been scary. Great reminder about taking a CPR class, I've been thinking for a while that I want to do that. Now I'm really going to make it happen.
That is the hugest gash!! I think most moms would've freaked out at that. But what a little trooper...holy moly! I cannot believe how good she was through all of it. I agree--childbirth will be a piece of cake for her :). What a cutie! I love her comment after she fell into the wall. That's way too darling!
Wow! What a brave little Claire-bear. I cannot believe how still and calm she was. June would SOOO not do the same in a situation like that. Glad everyone is okay, especially momma :)!
Wow what a legend she is ! That cut was pretty serious. Its all round awful when accidents happen and I am glad you had a god neighbour to help you out.
What a crazy incident! I'm so glad she's okay. You never know with those things. Better to err on the side of caution, huh? Looks like all went well in the end. What troopers you both were! I don't know if you ever stop guessing when it comes to your kids. I was so glad I booked it to the ER when Bradley had to have surgery the other month. I almost left him home and went on a family outing we had planned. Thank goodness for that voice that corrects us when we're wrong. We can always rely on that. :)
Seriously......... Scary. Glad all turned out well! What a trooper!
P.S. I'm a trained paramedic. I've dealt with all sorts of emergencies over the past 12 years. I can tell you this... it all kind of goes out the window when it comes to one of my kids. Not Fun!
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