Thursday, May 8, 2008

How many trips to the ER before you get a social worker?

Kidding.

I used to work for DSS and already know the answer....

Today I took my kids and Andrew to the neighborhood park. We were there for less than five minutes when Sam started yelling, "Mommy, I got a boo boo!"

I looked over at him. He was just standing there, holding his head. He hadn't fallen and he didn't sound too upset, so I gave my standard, "You're okay buddy. Just shake it off!" and continued taking pictures of Grace on the slide.

I'm the worst mother in the world. As he walked towards me, I noticed a ridiculous, make my knees feel weak and my stomach turn, amount of blood running down the side of his face. I thought I was going to pass out. Sam looked at me and started crying, "Is it really bad mommy?"

I tried to look and see how big the cut was, but couldn't. So I wrapped my sweatshirt around his head and walked to a friends house. We took turns cleaning the wound and sitting with our heads between our knees. At one point, I went outside and PIMMALed (Puked In My Mouth A Little). I know, I should have been a triage nurse...

Through it all, Sam was fine. He was alert, talking to the other kids and making plans to go back to the park. I called the doctor and told him something like, "I don't know what he hit, I didn't see anything near him that could have done it....I have no idea how big or deep it is, because I can't look at it without feeling like I'm going to pass out. It has stopped bleeding though..."

Three hours in the ER with three kids and two stitches later (stitches that I couldn't be in the room for) we are home. Grace is sleeping and Sam is still mad that we didn't go back to the park. The kid is tough. From what I've heard, he didn't even wince.

7 comments:

Saralyn said...

So been there! We seem to make at least one trip a year with one of the boys and we're on a first name basis with poison control. I have no trouble with wounds, though. It's my husband that ends up in the next ER room watching cartoons with a lollypop in his mouth and an ice pack on his neck.

Monica said...

What a scare. I'm glad that he is okay and no worse for the wear. I can't believe they wouldn't let you be in the room for the stitches.

Sarah said...

They had no problem with me being in the room for the stitches, I just couldn't. Brad got there and played mommy....

Bethany said...

Oh, I am glad he is okay. Poor little guy. Good thing Brad got there. Aaron and I are exact opposite of you. I love to watch those kinds of things....not him.

Unknown said...

I would say Poor Sam, but it doesn't sound like he cares!

So, what is the answer to the ER and DSS question?

Nauntie Lush said...

Oh I am so glad that he is okay, and I hope that you are okay now too. The stress of having boys is going to be crazy I think, it might take some more PIOMAL and maybe a sip or two of wine.

Sarah said...

Are you an Andrew that I know?

You can go to the ER quite a bit without getting a social worker. It really depends on the type of injury and the age of the child.

They look for red flags. For example, if Sam's head had been bleeding and he couldn't tell the doctor how it happened or seemed nervous and he had other unusual bruises, or a hx of broken bones or ER visits they may have filed a report.