Emergency Room Experience

I was laying in bed last night, organizing this post in my head so that I would be somewhat prepared when I finally sat down at the computer to write it this morning, and I found myself falling into complete disbelief that after everything, I am so completely happy with my life. I was laying next to someone that I look forward to spending the rest of my life with (because every day is an adventure with him too), and our child truly is the definition of amazing. I realized that for as much as everyone says they are proud of everything I do, they really should be proud of both Alex and Tony, because it is them that drive me to do what I do every day. I am a really lucky mommy, and an exceptionally lucky significant other.

With that being said, Alex had a pretty awesome 4th of July. We went over to Grandpa's house and played in the water, had a cook out, watched some fireworks, AND... Alex made a new friend. My cousin Ashlee, her husband Corey, and their children Ethan and "Kenny" (actually her name is Kennedy, but Ethan calls her "Kenny") came over, and Ethan had a lot of fun with Alex! Alex was teaching him how to jump on Grandpa and Grandma's bed, after being an awesome friend and helping him up on it of course, they smelled each other's feet to make sure they were stinky, and taught him how he fights with his dad. When Alex would take off to go get a drink or something to munch on, Ethan would be right behind him. It was very cute to see Alex play with Ethan, and they both had a great (and hopefully tiring for Ethan) day.

Then... Friday. As Alex and I were leaving so I could take him to Grandpa's house before work, Alex smashed his finger in our rather heavy front door. He freaked, and pulled his pinky finger nail right out. There was blood everywhere. I cleaned him up, put on a band-aid, and we went straight to Grandpa's house to put some gauze on it. I cleaned him up more there, and wrapped the gauze tightly around his poor, very bloody finger. I had to leave for work, for fear of being late, so I told my dad just to call me if anything happened.

All day at work, I sort of felt sick. I was worried about Alex, and I knew when I got home that I would find either one of two things: One, it would be better than it looked when I left, or two, a trip to the ER was in order. When I got home, the gauze was still white, so I took him home. But later that evening, when I went to put on some fresh stuff and bathe him, blood everywhere again. So Alex and I bolted to the emergency room.

With iPad and Green Bee in tow, we went to the Gundersen Lutheran ER, and we didn't have to wait long. I was worried that with it being so hot, it would have been busier, but thankfully it wasn't. We were seen quickly, and they put us in a room so the doctor could look at it. Alex had two really amazing nurses. They got him comfy, set him up and they took x-rays of his finger. He was laying on a gurney and cuddled with Green Bee after they hooked him up to an IV.

And even though there was some drunk outside, yelling like a lunatic, Alex did manage to get some rest.

Then, the doctor came in and explained to me that they had to put something under his cuticle in order to keep it open for the nail to regrow through. He also needed three stitches, because he gashed the outside of the finger. Since he had a snack before we went there, they couldn't put him completely out for the procedure, but they did give him some sort of relaxing agent and numbed up his finger. And as soon as the relaxing stuff took hold, Alex was out of it....

He didn't pay much attention when they were putting the thing under his cuticle, but when they started to do the stitching, then he became interested. They asked me if I was ok, and I told them that I was fine, that stuff like this doesn't bother me (I have seen enough blood in my day). When he wanted to watch, they asked if he would be ok, and I told them that he probably would be, but there was only one way to find out. He watched them stitch up his finger and thought it was awesome. When the doctor was done, they put a cool bandage around his little finger, and I told him he would have to show Grandpa the next day.

And that he did. I worked until 4 pm yesterday, then went to the gym. I was very tired, but I knew Alex was just as tired. When I got home, he was passed out on the couch. He slept for about 13 hours, and is now up and reading Dr. Seuss as I write this. When I wrote about this on Facebook, one of my friends complimented me about how I am teaching Alex to not panic in emergency situations, and I guess I didn't even think about that when it was happening. It is just naturally how I deal with things. But this started my brain thinking, and I had to laugh when I came to the conclusion that I felt guilty. Here I have this perfect little being, and I messed him up. Not like... completely and forever, but in my brain I thought to myself, "This is like getting a glass statue from a dying relative, and then an arm breaks off. It will never be the same, because now it has that scar." At the same time, though, that is what life is about: Getting scars. I have a very brave little boy here who was amazing in the emergency room. He even said good-bye to the cop that told him, "And remember, don't stick your finger in any more doors. I don't want to see you back here again..."

This was Alex's first major injury. He has had bumps and bruises and scratches before, but nothing of this caliber. As a parent, you just can't help but feel a little guilty when this happens. But in the end, they are stronger... which is your ultimate goal.