Parker’s crazy week

Our poor Parker has had a rough week these past seven days.  Last Tuesday he visited the allergist and had a full allergy (skin) test.  I should also note that it was that evening that Thomas came down with a high fever and was sick for the next few days. Anyway, on Friday, Parker of course had the T&A.  Then today, he had to get three stitches in his head.  I’m not kidding!

In trying to come up with a low-key thing to do, I knew I needed to pick up some things I was not able to sell in a consignment sale at a boutique where my parents’ live and I figured we could stop by for a little visit with them as well.  We had a nice, calm visit and were minutes from leaving when I heard a thud, a little cry, and an immediate and somewhat concerned-sounding “I’m sorry.” from Thomas.  I hear this sequence quite a lot and no one was screaming or crying like something was really wrong, so I finished what I was doing and slowly made my way to see what had happened.  My mom saw him first and I could tell by her reaction that there must be blood.  Sure enough, there was.

(That picture was taken at the ER by my phone…not the best camera!).

The kiddie ride-on toy was in the upstairs hallway and Parker was apparently riding it.  Thomas wanted to have a turn and I guess Parker didn’t allow him, so Thomas decided to push him off.  When he fell over he knocked his head on the corner edge of the seat of a wooden chair.  It was a curved edge, but still “sharp” enough to do some blunt force damage.  We have tried to use this as a clear example why we should never push or shove our brothers or friends.

Anyway, it took about a half a second for my parents and I to all agree that Parker needed to go to the ER (luckily there’s a small one there in town – actually, there are two!).  Thankfully Dad was able to stay with Thomas while Mom and I took Parker (I was happy not to have to take both boys).

We debated the Dermabond glue vs. stitches question for a little while, but eventually after a closer look the doctor agreed that stitches were the best for his wound.  The stitches may scar more, but if the Dermabond glue doesn’t hold well (as it did not when Thomas had it on his chin last winter), it can cause the scar to be MUCH worse than that.

Parker was a champ, but started to get a little upset when he knew something was about to happen and he really did not want to be held down.  I talked the nurse out of using the “papoose” thing that straps kids to a board and was able to just hold his arms while she held his head.  They had already numbed the area with lydocaine (luckily with a cottonball soaked in it that was then held by a bandage on the wound for 20 minutes…thankfully no shots!!!).

When the doctor started stitching, Parker quickly realized he couldn’t feel a thing and he hardly fussed at all.  At the third and final stitch he winced a tiny bit, but he was a total superstar.  I couldn’t believe how awesome he was about the entire ordeal.  And then, here’s how he looked after the stitches were in place:

He kept asking me to take pictures so he could see how he looked.  Funny.

Speaking of funny, this was Parker’s first experience with stitches and coincidentally, his brother’s first stitches were from an accident sustained minutes before we were leaving my parents’ house a little more than four years ago – I blogged about it here.  It’s funny to go back and read that entry and compare my reaction today with the one then.  I was much more calm driving to the ER and the whole experience was much easier!  This time around, it’s surely not my first time at this accident or illness rodeo.  Another interesting tidbit, the nurse today was the same nurse we had with Thomas…and she’s a childhood friend of mine.  Always comforting to see a familiar face when you are going through a completely unfun ordeal!

So now I’ve been through stitches twice (and Dermabond glue once that should have been stitches).  I would like to hope they will be my first and last for both boys, but since I do have two boys, I know that’s probably not a reasonable expectation!