Lindsey's traumatic day

WARNING:  GRAPHIC PICTURES

The photographer in me takes pictures of everything in our lives, both the good and the bad. Yesterday was quite a traumatic day for Lindsey, but I still whipped out my cell phone camera to document the scary time.  There are very few people who look at this blog, but be warned that if you can't handle seeing blood, you will not want to read this post!

Lindsey and Logan had Holland and Dominick over to play yesterday at our house.  My mothering theory is to pretty much let the kids have free reign of the house when friends come over, within reason.  I don't think I get stressed out easily, because I fully believe that kids should be kids.  Want to eat junk food?  Sure.  Take our kitchen utensils outside to dig in the dirt?  Whatever.  Jump on the furniture while fighting with light sabers?  No big deal.  Logan asked me yesterday if he and Dominick could slide down the stairs on sleeping bags.  I told him that sounded like a lot of fun!  A few railings have been broken in the past by slamming into them while sliding quickly, but I figure they are having good, clean fun, so it doesn't bother me much.   

Lindsey loves to be on tables.  If we are in the kitchen, she is on the countertop or sitting in the middle of the table.  I often tell her to get down, because the thought of nasty feet on a tabletop makes me sick.  Yesterday when Ryan walked in the door about lunchtime, Lindsey was standing on our living room table.  He told her to get down and be careful.  Apparently then she and Holland went into the basement where they got on the countertop in the kitchen area and started jumping.  Lindsey wanted to show Holland how she could jump FROM ONE COUNTERTOP ALL THE WAY ACROSS TO THE OTHER COUNTERTOP.  Seriously.  Sometimes Lindsey's logic astounds me.  Lindsey has since told me that she and her cousin, Lauryn, were doing the exact same thing last weekend and no one got hurt.  This kid is a character. She's more of a "learn from my mistakes" rather than "listen to the advice of others" kind of child.  If you tell her the stove is hot and can burn her, she might try to roll all over it just to make sure.

Ryan was in the basement near the kids, but wasn't watching them.  I was in my bedroom on the main level when I heard the kids all start screaming.  It took me a minute to realize that these screams were different from the various screams I hear when they are playing.  I quickly ran down to the basement, and Ryan had a rag on Lindsey's forehead.  He was telling her that she had a cut on her head, but it wasn't a big deal so she should just lay in his arms and relax.  He looked up as I ran in the room and mouthed the words "It's BAD!"  I came over to peek at the wound and immediately ran away before Lindsey could see me freak out.  Unfortunately, she got a quick glance of the look on my face and started crying harder.  I grabbed my shoes, told Brynlie and Brevan to watch the other kids and ran to the truck with Ryan.  After arriving at the ER, Ryan laid her on a chair and got her checked in.  The triage nurse looked at the hole in her head and started prepping her right away.  

The RN wrapped up her head like a mummy, and I started to get a big queasy.  My adrenaline was starting to settle a little bit, which always makes me feel nauseated.  I couldn't stand seeing my little girl in pain.  I can usually handle emergencies as long as they don't involve my children!

The doctor came in to check out the damage, and felt confident that he could stitch the wound shut.  I didn't find out until later that he was only a resident.  I'm hoping I don't regret having him sew her up instead of a facial surgeon.  I'm worried she's going to have a large scar for the rest of her life.

GROSS PICTURE ALERT

Lindsey had to lie still for a couple hours with this blue cloth over her face while the doctor administered the sutures.  One time when I asked if she was OK, she held up her thumb in response.  I can't believe how brave she is!  She didn't need to be sedated at all.  The doctor gave her many shots of a local anesthetic before getting to work.  First he cleaned the wound thoroughly, then began stitching up the inside layers of her skin before he could even begin on the outside.  During all of this I tried to stay by her side as a support, but had to leave the ER a couple times to calm myself down in the lobby area.  I was incredibly nauseated and had tears falling.  Lindsey wasn't upset unless she saw me upset, so I was grateful Ryan was there to be the strong parent!

While under the blue cloth, the doctor asked her exactly how the injury happened.  Lindsey told him about the countertop hopping, and he said, "So you didn't quite make it all the way to the other countertop?"  Lindsey very adamantly replied, "OH, I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN MY LANDING.  My head just hit the corner of the bar part after I landed.  BUT I STUCK THE LANDING!"  We all  laughed so hard!

About 25 sutures later, she was all closed up.  This poor girl!  That's going to leave a mark!

Lindsey was such a trooper.  I told her that scars are just proof that you live your life to the fullest.  But I do hope she learned her lesson about countertop hopping!