accident prone

A year ago, Alex had a double ear infection and Mike was still fresh from his seizure like episodes.  Mike and Alex were playing in the living room and all I heard was a loud crash and then immediate screaming.  Alex had been running, slipped and cracked his skull against the corner of our chaise lounge.  At first I hesitated to bring him into the emergency room since he wasn't showing any signs of a concussion, nor had he passed out after hitting his head.

But then my 'mommy' gut told me that we needed to get him checked out.  So we piled in the car and went.  I figured we would get the patted on the head like we were first time parents and sent on our way, but after being in observation for 20 minutes, Alex began getting lethargic and vomited. A CT was ordered, and we found out that Alex had a hairline skull fracture and a minor concussion.  Since the hospital we were at couldn't keep us overnight for observation, we were sent to the University of Minnesota Children's via ambulance.

After a long night, and an even longer day since the doctors wanted to make absolutely sure that his fever did not have another cause than the double ear infection, we were sent home.  Alex had no other complications, nor did we have to do any follow up for it.  In any case the nurses warned us that this was probably only the start to a childhood full of stitches and broken bones.

Fast forward to this past Tuesday, how right they were.  I was finishing with a client, when my work cell phone went off.  I instantly recognized the number of the daycare.  I figured that Alex or Evan was sick, but I was wrong.  Some how, while playing outside, Alex tripped over a car he was pushing around, and fell onto his chin.  The gash had yet to stop bleeding and they needed either my husband or I to come and see if we needed to take him in.

I sent Mike since only I had two quick visits to do, although maybe I should have just cancelled the rest of my day and gotten him myself since I was constantly on the phone with Mike to see if Alex needed to go in or not.  Mike took Alex to his sister's since she was a pediatric nurse, and wanted her opinion before taking Alex in.  After a quick visit, it was decided that it was better to take him in.

Luckily I was able to get to the hospital just a little after they were taken back to be there while they cleaned the gash and then put the stitches in.  Alex seemed more mad about it taking four of us to hold him still enough for the doctor to put in the stitches, and actually getting them.  He's been pretty good about leaving them alone and on Monday we go in to have them removed.  I can only hope that since there was a year in between the skull fracture/concussion and the stitches, that he will at least space his next big accident out to next August.