Last Saturday was an eventful one. Josh, Myla and I put in a perennial garden in our backyard (looks awesome by the way!) Myla and I got super muddy and a shower was in order for both of us. I thought it would be easiest for us both to take one together. Everything was going great - got her washed up and set her down so I could scrub the dirt off my face. In that 5 seconds, she stood up and slipped forward, smacking her face hard into the shower floor. My heart stopped. I grabbed her and saw that blood was pouring out. At first I thought she ripped some teeth out but then saw it was her cheek that was torn open. I really had no time to panic. I was in survival mode for my child. I grabbed a towel and put in on her face, grabbed another for her. Screaming at Josh for help, I couldn't help but feel like ultimate crap. This was all my fault.
Josh raced up from being in the backyard, he too was all sweaty and muddy but all that didn't matter. I threw on clothes, as I was still soaked from being in the shower. Put my hair in a wet ponytail and off we went to St. Mary's Hospital , where Myla was born, in Madison. We opted for a larger hospital versus a small town one - just incase something was terribly wrong with Myla.
The whole way there, I kept praying to God that nothing was seriously wrong with her. It's a parent's worst fear - to have their child hurt.
We get to the ER thinking we'd be seem as soon as we got there. Here is a 12 month old that is bleeding profusely and had smacked her head. Instead, the receptionist told us to have a seat, like nothing was urgent. So we did thinking 15 minutes tops. 30 minutes later a nurse looks her over and types information into the computer. Then, she sends us over to the 'business cubicle' to find out how we are going to pay for this. Um hello? I have a very hurt child and all you care about is what insurance we have?! Are you serious? Thank God we have incredible insurance. I understand the need for doing this - to less critical patients - couldn't we do all this paperwork while being seem with a doctor?! Um Hello my child is still bleeding here!
Yeah - back to the waiting room this business lady sends us. By now Josh and I are starting to lose our cool. Thank GOD Myla was in somewhat good spirits. She is thee best baby ever.
As we were sitting there, there were drunks coming in from a college football game, very confused elderly people wanting attention for their non-emergency needs, trailer trash that never brushed her teeth and now had a tooth ache, and a couple little boys with broken bones. Most of those people arrived AFTER we did. Thank God they took in those little boys with broken bones - those guys had legit emergencies that we were happy to go ahead of us. But for the rest of those yahoos - one by one they got seen before we did. HOLY CRAP! Mother Bitch Mode came to play. The receptionist went back to inquire why all these people were getting seen before us. The nurses in back said that they wanted to put Myla in a front room so that she could be monitored closely. They were sending all those people in back rooms. What a load of crap that excuse was!!!!!!! Well the receptionist could tell we weren't buying that. With in 10 minutes, she took us to a room.
45 minutes later.....the doctor finally came in. I do want to say that the nurses and doctor were extremely nice and very gentle with Myla. I think the ER was severely understaffed and disorganized. The doctor apologized a half dozen times for us having to wait. That was nice but our daughter was still bleeding.
The doctor opted to super glue her cut versus stitches - that way it would heal faster and have less scaring. The whole process took a whole 10 minutes. Myla was a trooper. I think she cried more out of being exhausted than it hurting. In the end, Myla was alright and made it through like a champion.
Today, her black eye and cut are healing super nicely. It's getting old having people ask me what happened - I feel horrible each and every time I tell the story - just because it is my fault she got hurt. But one thing is for certain, no more showers for her!!!
awe, ryan!! this doesn't mean you're a bad mom....don't let that thought sit in your head for one more second. accidents happen all the time. and that's all this was...an accident. i can't tell you how many concussions my brother had as a kid and how many ridiculously ridiculous injuries i have had (some more recent than others!!).
ReplyDeleteonce, my brother was spending the night at his best friends house and i BEGGED to sleep in the top bunk. I was maybe 3 or 4? I even put up pillows thinking that would stop me from falling over the edge. well of course i fell...broke my nose.
or the time my mom was ready to leave our neighbor's house and i didn't want to go so she pulled my arm.....right out of the socket. oh and this just happened to be the day before my 3rd birthday.
my mom's the world's best mom (next to you, of course!!)...but shit happens. and that doesn't make you a bad mom. just one who has learned a very good lesson the hard way. i'm sure my mom felt the same way every time my brother and i would get hurt. but in the end, all bruises fade and scars tell awesome stories. ;)
and that picture....sheeeeesh!!!! give that girl an extra scoop of ice cream from me. ouchies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
much love, girl!