I’m currently mid flights right now, the shortest flight under my belt and the first learned travel lesson behind me. I brought an eye pillow, dabbed a little eucalyptus oil on it, tipped my head back on the flight and assumed the passed out traveler position while thinking to myself, “Best. Idea. Ever.” Let’s just jump to the punch line: Easy on the eucalyptus oil around the eyes, okay? You’d think I’d know this from the bathtub incident.
Speaking of incidents (news anchor transition), let’s take it back a few days where (insert dramatic super serious news anchor voice): a tumble off the bed rendered a scary evening.
Fact is, our little incident wasn’t fun but also wasn’t near as dramatic as a news anchor would spin it. And by news anchor, I mean myself two seconds after Nella fell off the bed and cracked her head open. Like many other “if this ever happened” scenarios I’ve played out in my head, the scary-but-not-life-threatening-child-injury scenario always has my imaginary self as this amazingly calm and comforting rock in crisis, unruffled by the scene, focused on the important tasks and speaking calming affirmations that could later be printed in What to Say to Your Children During a Crisis how-to guides which apparently will not be part of my next book. There’s that girl, and then there’s what I actually did. Which was see a pool of blood and freak the freak out. I kissed, I rocked, I summoned the most assuring “It’s okay baby” I had, but I also spoke in threes, sending an already concerned big sister into panic mode.
Like:
She’s bleeding, she’s bleeding, she’s bleeding.
Get my phone, get my phone, get my phone.
We have to go to the hospital. We have to go to the hospital. We have to go to the hospital.
Listen, my fight or flight mode got jacked, but reflection’s given me some what-not-to-do pointers.
Three head staples later (which, by the way, I assumed was hospital lingo for some head-friendly not-really-staples wound fixers, but no—they’re staples—like, construction grade staples contractors use on 2×4’s), our ridiculously resilient tough cookie was chasing Dash around the kitchen island (“Stop running! We don’t need another injury!”) and galloping a stick horse down the hallway.
I made it 3 kids and 7 years of parenting without an ER visit, but I gotta tell ya, I was getting a little nervous wondering what that first ER trip would look like when it happened. Let’s just get it over with. And we did. And three staples is better than a broken arm.
Later that night after high-fiving Frankenstein for her bravery and impressive new head accessories and putting her to bed , I followed up with Lainey to talk to her about what happened.
“I was worried,” I admitted, “but everything turned out fine. I’m sorry if I made you more worried. Mommy’s going to try and breathe and be calmer next time. That was a little scary, wasn’t it?”
She showed me the drawing she made while we were gone—a picture of her and Nella playing together. I folded it and slipped it into Nella’s keepsake book, a reminder of that one time we survived. One of many.
In the meantime, I’ll work on my fight or flight skills.
Speaking of flight (said the news anchor transitioning to the next story)…
My gate’s boarding.
Catch you in Rwanda.
Oh, Kelle. Can’t wait to hear about your trip…have the best time ever!
And take lots of pictures!!
Have a great trip 🙂
Aww, I can imagine that must have been quite the scare. Good to hear she’s alright again!
How wonderfully ‘real’ and refreshing your writing is! Love it !
This is your FIRST ER trip!?!?!?! Props to supermom! We already have two!! Go Hampton kiddos…..
Have a wonderful trip !
I will never forget our first face wound. It was on our first’s mouth. Blood, so much blood. Count myself triumphant for not becoming completely hysterical. Welcome to the club, glad it wasn’t worse!
So glad little Nella bounced back so quickly. Of course, these things always happen just before a big event. You might want to put a long body pillow on the tile floor on her side of the bed as she will probably take a tumble again! Can’t wait for the next travel installment…should be exciting! Be safe.
Can’t wait to hear about the trip!
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Ugh, that first trip to the ER is the worst. It does get easier. I now pause to gather reading material, drinks and snacks cause you never know when you are going to be bumped by a multi-vehicle accident.
Safe travels, can’t wait for all the blogging!
So glad Nella’s ok! We’ve (unfortunately) been to the ER 4 times with my 3 year old. Three of those times were for nursemaid’s elbow and I was calm so my daughter stayed calm. Also there was no blood, which helped. 😉 The other time was horrific. The dresser fell over onto her and she was pinned underneath. I was screaming like I’ve never screamed before and tears were streaming down my face. My husband got her out quickly and I just held her and rocked and tried to calm her down. We took her to the ER to rule out internal injuries (she didn’t have any, thank god). I cannot imagine the fear when you see blood. here’s to hoping that’s the last trip for at least another 7 years!
Been there… the scaring your older child in freak out mode, not Rawanda, but I’d love to have been to both places 🙂
So glad sweet Nella is ok!! Safe travels and enjoy your trip! Which, maybe I shouldn’t use the word “trip” in this post but you know what I mean, lol!
Oh geez, the staples. Poor Nella. Been there and done that when my daughter cracked her head open on a marble ledge. To remove them, a implement that looked suspiciously like the staple remover I keep on my desk was used (but it was painless, thank goodness). Wishing Nella speedy healing!
Oh yikes! I have been reading for a long time but haven’t commented until this post about the head wound! You did great, and nice follow up with Lainey. 🙂 And Nella really sounds like a tough cookie.
A head wound took us to the ER for the first time, too. It was traumatic. Husband-out-of-town, nursing an infant, carrying baby and bleeding 2 year old because I forgot to grab his shoes kind of traumatic. My living room looked like an episode of CSI when we got home after midnight. Something I hope to never repeat!
Staples sound awful!!! 🙁 Poor thing. Thinking about you lots as you’re traveling!!
When my son was 4, he had to get staples in the back of his head after a fall on the bleachers at soccer practice. Anyway, I like you did not envision stables. But every time it see a stapler or hear the stapler being used now I think of my sons incident. Oh, and the staple remover, it looks like a staple remover you could purchase at Staples. I have forever been traumatized. I was pretty cool, but once we got the the ER I needed to sit because I could even recite our home address at intake. Many ER visits since (I have all boys) I am much cooler. Coolness will come with experience. I promise. ��
My two favorite Women! Jen Hatmaker and Kelle. Cant wait to hear about your trip
I’m glad she’s okay! My son had to get staples in his head when he was 2 and I had to leave the room!!!
Have a great trip!
What a scare, glad to hear she was ok! It is so so so difficult not to panic when you see your child injured. I hope you have a wonderful trip.