Trip to the ER

Well, Joshua had quite an eventful morning. Around 9:45 he dove off the couch (while sitting next to me) hit his head on the corner of our coffee table, and landed on his belly. This is where I think the worst and go into panic mode. I picked him up and watched as blood poured out of his head- holding him tightly and both of us in tears, I grabbed my phone out of my back pocket to call 911 and rushed to the kitchen to put a washcloth on his head to stop the bleeding.

I am still in panic mode, rushing out the back door as I tremble on the phone giving my address and Joshua's current condition: crying, bleeding profusely, not letting me hold anything to stop the bleeding. I collapse on the gravel driveway and lean against our car. Joshua stops crying. The 911 dispatcher asks if he has lost conciousness. "no" I say, "he just stopped and is trying to play with the rocks in our driveway" (his favorite place to play). I continue to cry, even though Joshua has stopped. I continue to answer questions on the phone and my body continues to tremble. The ambulance is on the way. I call Jeremy and quickly tell him what has happened and before I get off the phone he is on his way to meet us at the hospital. I rush down to our neighbors, knowing the husband is a trained EMT. No one is home. Minutes pass and I call 911 again to make sure I told them the correct address- I am still in panic mode. Yes, they are on their way.

My neighbor pulls up, sees me covered in blood and Joshua looking like he is ready for Halloween. He looks him over- askes some questions, reasures me that Joshua will be okay- all his signs look good- stiches may be needed. I rush inside to grab his diaper bag thinking- I might need to change him at the hospital. I walk back outside, the ambulance is here.

The two men help me and Joshua into the back, they ask me questions, I have finally stopped crying. I am still shaking. Joshua is smiling "ball?" he says over and over again. He wanted to play with his ball. They check a few vitals and we are off to the hospital. I realize I have stopped shaking and crying. I look down, covered in blood, I start to cry again thinking of what a terrible mom I am. "Everything is going to be fine", the EMT tells me, "Joshua is in great shape- we'll just clean him up for you." He began cleaning Joshua's face and arms and Joshua starts to look more and more normal- except the cut above his eye.

I ride off of the ambulance on the gurnie with Joshua clinging tightly to me. We go to our room, Jeremy joins us within the minute. Joshua goes to his Dad, still smiling and wanting to play "ball?" he says. As the nurses and doctor come in the prognosis is good: small cut, deep, but not dangerous. Stitches or glue? Glue? Yes, glue- easier on the little ones. Yes, glue. As the doctor super-glues Joshua's head- he screams at the top of his lungs. Not from the pain, but because we have swaddled him in a sheet and are holding him down. He hates this. Jeremy askes questions, I continue to hold onto Joshua as tight as I can. We sign some papers, and head out the door. Joshua is fine, mom is recovering, Dad to the rescue!

What a morning we had. What a funny blue mark the glue has made on his head. What a rude welcoming to parenthood and childhood. I've had enough to last me a few years. All the while in my mind today "The Lord is my strenght." Thank you, Lord, for being my strength today.