This morning the kids and I headed out early to explore a submarine museum before swim lessons. We met a couple families there and had a wonderful time (although I'm sure the other patrons were not as thrilled by our 12 children's attendance). Anyway, after looking at the exhibits and playing with old controls and walking through the 1st nuclear powered sub, we let the kids run outside the museum around the displays of old subs before loading up. And that was when my 7 year old had a collision with a submarine. Surprisingly enough, she lost.(Look at the bottom of the post for a picture of the offending sub)
Luckily I have a doctor on call for just such accidents. What? Aren't you prepared for nautical disasters that happen on dry land? You really should have a submarine/pedestrian accident plan. As we headed home, my oldest alternated calling our home phone and her dad's cell until Peter woke up enough to hear ringing and answer. I explained that there was a gash right at the hairline, not long, but deep enough to need something done, that we were headed home, and that I had accidentally taken both sets of car keys so he couldn't save time and meet us at swim lessons. I also had to explain that I was unable to tell from the front of the Suburban if she was still bleeding in the back of the Suburban.
We arrived home to find Peter just out of the shower. He looked at the wound and said, "You didn't tell me it was gaping!" to which I replied "Why else would I have called you? It's not like I tend to overreact." (Which is totally true, you'd think after 13 years he would know that if I call with a medical problem it is REALLY a medical problem- I think bleeding makes for a great story and fevers don't count until they top 105.)Anyway, it isn't often you get treated by a towel wearing doctor while laying on his unmade bed. Peter deftly numbed her with lidocaine and put two staples in her head. When I asked her if it hurt, because it looked like it hurt, she said it felt like Dad had stapled her. She was less than happy when I told her that is exactly what happened. She also didn't appreciate the Frankenstein reference I made.
I gave her some ibuprofen and tried to convince her a band-aid would make it better enough to not miss swim lessons. We were in and out in 5 minutes, tops. All told, we were only a couple minutes late for lessons, but Kirsti opted to sit out; which was probably for the better as there was still a slow trickle of blood running down her forehead.
Hey, does your super cool doctor husband guy do housecalls when I run into leftover Legos in the dark? Just checking. Ask him if I can borrow the "stapler" when certain mouths get too far out of hand.
ReplyDeleteLucky, I would have totally just let it bleed until it stopped on its own... Oh wait, thats someone else I know...
ReplyDeletePoor Kirsti!! I hope she feels better. I was a little curious that Peter actually keeps everything he needs to put staples in someone's head at home, on hand. If only it were a five minute task to take your child actually into the ER!!!
ReplyDeleteWe should have toured the potato chip factory instead. Much softer on the head! Glad it worked out OK. I knew Kirsti was going to be fine, but I was worried you were not going to make it to swimming lessons in time.
ReplyDeleteWe should have toured the potato chip factory instead. Much softer on the head! Glad it worked out OK. I knew Kirsti was going to be fine, but I was worried you were not going to make it to swimming lessons in time.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I have to take my kids to the doctor with what I already know is an ear infection makes me want to scream, "co-pay!" You're lucky to have a "professional" on staff.
ReplyDeleteI would write a funny comment here, but I have to go make up a dry land nautical disaster plan...
ReplyDeletePoor baby. Susan has an almost identical scar. (actually, the 8 stitches healed well, it's just that her hair doesn't grow there.)
ReplyDeleteBut Susan's came from a boring window sill accident, not from a Hunt For Red October incident.
We realized the other day that no one in our family has ever broken a bone (except Tom's collar bone at birth). I hope that doesn't mean we are due for one soon.
And I love having a doctor in the family! Is so helpful sometimes!
Ouch. Why staples and not stitches? Hope that Kirsti is feeling better. That will be one scar that she can make a good story about.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that she is OK...and a run-in with a submarine?! How cool is that story?..almost as exciting as having your head stapled closed by a towel wearing doctor and being done in 5 minutes.
ReplyDeleteOuch. glad you were able to wake the hubby. Hope it heals ok. We didn't take Nathan to the ER when he split his chin open, hopefully he can still grow a full beard some day. Wish we had Pete closer to us...and you guys too.
ReplyDeleteEw, I know what it's like to have staples in the stomach and it's no fun. I can't imagine having them on your head! And thanks for the heads up, I'll avoid all Frankenstein comments.
ReplyDeleteihenpecked- It might actually be less time to go to the ER then wait for him to get to your house. Close call (is it like 10 hour flight?), but it might.
ReplyDeleteGordon- Next time I see you I'll show you the scar on one of my kids were I opted for that.
Kim- We've learned to keep a suture kit at home. Also, he has his doctor's 1st aid kit from when he went on our youth's trek last year. That's where he got the staples from.
Darcy I bet my kids could find a way to get hurt at the potato chip factory, too! Thanks for the comfort you gave Kirsti while I was trying to get Peter on the phone and worry about swim lessons.
ReplyDeleteCami I know, I'm slightly spoiled because we never have to go in for antibiotics I already know they need. Plus much better wait times.
ucmamma You better get on that ASAP (especially where you live!)
Jane One day she will appreciate the story. I also have a less glamorous and longer matching scar.
ReplyDeleteBTW, nothing curses you to broken bones like admitting out loud it's never happened!
Tucker Mom He could have stitched, glued, or stapled- I told him to do what he thought best (may have reminded him that if he hurried I could still make swim lessons)
emma jo Almost as cool as before I asked and thought it was a model of a torpedo she hit!
Davis family He'll be fine. Matthew has a scar on his eye by a "borderline" cut I didn't take him in for. Luckily I'm not worried about hair growth there!
ReplyDeleteAndrea I think the stomach staples are a lot worse. Not to mention trying to take care of a newborn while recovering!
I love how you tell the story so nonchalant. Kristi cut open her head so we swung home for a second to staple her head shut before we went on to our next appointment.
ReplyDeletePoor Kirsti. We got a kick out of the fact that you STILL went to swim lessons! Your house is so wild and I LOVE and MISS it!
ReplyDeleteOn a side note that museum was awesome!
Can I just use a staple gun for similar injuries?
ReplyDeletePoor thing! My oldest has a scar through his entire left eyebrow from a crib incident at age 3. He loves to hear the story now. I am sure when the physical pain is gone she will find the story funny.
Mom at our House That is a product of 6 kids and their various injuries. Like I said, I don't get easily freaked.
ReplyDeleteBoyer family I paid good money for those lessons. I would considering having them go with broken bones!
Steph I have two kids with scars across their eyebrows. I thought thing he used would look like a staple gun, but it didn't. Good thing we had lidocane, I bet even a staple gun would work with the right medicine.
So crazy! I wish I had a doctor in the house. I never know what to do when Em gets hurt or sick. I always end up assuming it isn't serious and then second guessing myself all night while I try to sleep!
ReplyDeleteShalise The one thing about a doctor in the house, I refer all questions to him and can't even remember the correct dosages of motrin to give the kids. I have done the 2nd guessing while I try to sleep thing, though. It isn't fun.
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