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Our first trip to the ER....

So I guess this had to happen eventually -- we just got back from the ER. While at the library with our babysitter, our daughter fell and cut her eye -- below eyebrow -- on a chair. They came home, we iced it, and then it finally hit me that we should head over to the ER.

Short story is she is fine -- I am freaking out that her cut will scar, but they glued it and she is fast asleep now.

The long story is going to sound silly to you guys. This experience totally terrified and shook me, in a way that something this non-serious should not. I couldn't figure out what to do for a while -- she was not actively bleeding from it, but it seemed deep. The babysitter even fed her dinner before I said ok, let's go to the doc.

And at the ER, she was so good -- just waiting around (for 3 hours!), playing -- and I was trying not to pass out. Then they did the procedure -- they thought they would stich her up, but ended up using glue -- and we had to wrap her and hold her and she was, of course, screaming. I seriously almost lost it.

And now I sit here with these irrational thoughts of being mad at the sitter and snapping at my husband that we should fire her. It's just another way for me to release stress, I know, but phew, this really wasn't a good night.

And I feel like a TOTAL wuss -- I know so many moms who have been through so much worse stuff with their kids and they don't fall apart like this.

So there you have it -- I'm one of those nervous, easy-to-shake moms. Hmm....

23 comments so far...

Hey Hecticmom,

My son is allergic to peanuts too, I found that out in an ER, after the daycare gave him a cracker with peanut butter on it. He was rushed to the ER with an ambulance, and when I finally got there, he was an hour a way, he was making the rounds with the ER doctor, since he would not go to any of the nurses. He looked like a giant strawberry in a diaper. I still remember walking into the ER room, my son sitting on his desk, while the doctor entertained him and logged in his work on the computer. He was a regular visitor when he was an infant because of his allergies. The ER doc knew him by first name.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Susan on 11th April 2008
My son had his first stitches at 18 months, from falling and hitting a concrete step. I freak out, he was fine. They had to put him in a thing they called a papoose to keep him still. He screamed through the whole thing. The doctor assured me that he was OK, but I nearly passed out.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Susan on 11th April 2008
Ugh - we've been to the ER 3 times. And I have to tell you the stiches time was the worst while it was happening, and was the most minor of the the trips.

We've been for an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts (daughter stopped breathing and was literally minutes from death.) While it was happening - I was relatively calm (given the situation.) However, I was pretty messed up for almost a month after that. (I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, I was just a general emotional mess. PTSD or something.)

Second, my son broke his arm. Not a minor break, but a completely visable forearm looks like a "V" break. They almost had to do surgery to repair it, but because he was so young (it was his 5th birthday) they were able to set it without surgery but they sedated him to sleep. We were with him while the setting was happening - he woke up and started moaning and I passed out. Talk about embarrassing. However, it was ok. No month long freakout on that one either.

Then, my son had to get 11 stitches in his chin. He was sitting on his sisters lap, sister stood up and he hit the hard floor chin first. The stitches were the hardest out of all of them while it was happening. The blood, the crying, the needles, restraining him - by far the worst of the three. But, I didn't have the long term freakout of the anaphylaxis - I was just eeged for the day.

So - the severity of the injury doesn't relate to the terror of the moment. (but may impact long term emotional stability. :))

Flag as inappropriate Posted by hecticmom on 10th April 2008
Oh I totally understand those feelings of anger and wanting to just push the blame of the accident on someone. Yesterday my husband gave Nikkos a "cheesy tot" that apparently he didn't check the inside cheese temperature and my son freaked out as it burned the inside of his mouth (nothing serious), but I could have reached over and strangled my husband!! I know it was an accident but I still felt the need to blame him for not being careful enough.
I am the same way, easy to shake! But it's okay! We know our weakness and now we build on it! I'm so glad to hear your daughter is okay :) Now Mommy, time for you to realize that your okay too (with shakiness and all!)

Flag as inappropriate Posted by The Tattooed Mommie on 10th April 2008
I think we second-guess ourselves no matter what decision we make: if you hadn't gone to the ER you'd still be worried about scarring etc.

When my son was 3 he fell down the stairs and hurt his arm. He cried, I consoled him and doled out Tylenol, he had a nap. Later his arm still hurt but we took him to a carnival.

The next day I thought to take him to a doctor since his arm still hurt. Turns out it was broken.

So we can award ourselves the Bad Mommy Award if we're calm and collected or freaking out or whatever. I think the point is to trust our decisions, to allow ourselves the slack to change our minds, and to just be satisfied with that.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Talyaa Liera on 9th April 2008
Elizabeth took a digger into the corner of a bureau, she sustained a deep enough lac that we had to take her to the ER. That Dermabond stuff? Best thing in the world!
(I cried too, and I've seen almost everything as an EMT).

Flag as inappropriate Posted by jules on 9th April 2008
When my son was about a year and a half old my ex-husband took the lid off the hot grill and Max toddled over and stuck both hands to it. He was scared of my wrath, so he sent my mother to the ER with me. I wanted to freak out, but had to remain calm because my mother was FREAKING OUT, and telling me not to speed, but that's another story. Once he was all bandaged and I had a moment for it to sink in, I was a hysterical, sobbing mess. I think that's the natural response we see our babies hurting and we can't help them.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Candance on 9th April 2008
How about I make everyone feel better and tell you how my boys were jumping off the couch one afternoon...and I was in the kitchen doing dishes. My husband had deployed to Iraq for 12 months, so the dishes often mounted! I must have yelled at them 12 times...and the last time they jumped, I heard "THUMP.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by chicken on 9th April 2008
oh Iam so sorry Nataly My son Johnatha was jumping around at day in the bed (same story) He busted his head and yes 8 stiches and I ..... all by myself and to hear Johnathan hollar like that made me cry. He cried so much til he fell asleep. I know how you feel Nataly , it was the worst day ever and Johnathan has that scar right above his forehead. It was an accident it okay to feel this way :)

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Shelly on 9th April 2008
My daughter just fell a couple weeks ago against the wall and scratched her cheek on the baseboard just enough for a little blood to seep through. I knew she was fine, but I couldn't help but cry because it broke my heart to see her bleeding.

tkd_mama I have LOTS of battle scars. I have several from when I was about 12, my dad and I wrecked a motorcycle. We didn't have medical insurance and we both just had road rash so we didn't go to the hospital. I had scratched and road burns on my shoulders, hands, knuckles, and knees. Thank GOD I had a full face helmet with a shield, it got grinded almost clear through right across the face. I don't think I'd have a nose anymore if I hadn't had that type of helmet. I got through it and my mom is a CNA so she cleaned us up pretty good and bandaged us. I had to sleep sitting up for a few days because I was too sore to lay down. I don't have any bad thoughts about it. I'd jump right back on and would've the next day if the bike wasn't mangled. Does make for good converstaion too!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Marcia on 9th April 2008
My son cut his eye in the same place and they glued it shut. During a swimming lesson he swam right into one of the steps because he had his eyes closed (yes, we have since bought goggles!). It's been about seven years and he has a little scar that you only see if you are looking for it.

The ER is a scary place. After several trips with my boys, I found an after-hours pediatrician group for minor injuries and illness when my doctor is off the clock. It cuts my wait time in half and it doesn't unnerve anyone - it's just like going to the doctor!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Jill Frank on 9th April 2008
OMG....you must have totally freaked! We all understand the trauma and drama of our child's first Major Injury, and you're actually lucky that this, although major to you, was really not. The ER is a scary, ugly place, but sometimes you just gotta do it. I personally butterflied one of my daughter's major cuts when she decided to jump backward into the pool, but hit the edge on the way in! She split her chin open and we were at our country house, and didn't even know where a hospital was. Bottom line, I did a really good job, and there isn't even the slightest scar, but my point is that I'm the mom and it happened right in front of me! Don't blame the babysitter...I'm sure she feels awful already. This too shall pass, and just consider it another life lesson. You're a wonderful mom, and your responses - all of them - were completely appropriate. Even yelling at your husband... that's what they're here for sometimes! Hugs and kisses to you and Mia!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by CherylF on 9th April 2008