Wounded Soldier

Soooo Jude fell and bonked on an iron rod banister the other night.  It was really only a wee little gash, but deep enough to need a stitch or two (or three, actually).

#1)  I know this sounds bad, and Lawrence probably wishes it otherwise, but I'm so glad I wasn't there when it happened.  Ugh, I hate the sentence.  But, it's true.  Lawrence was so calm and collected on the phone, that even though I immediately got stressed and worried, it wasn't that frantic crying what-the-hell-do-I-do??? panic.  When we showed up, he had Jude calmly laying in his arms.
 

#2) I'm so thankful that Andrea (my sister's sister-in-law who is a RN at Primary's) was nice enough to come by and take a look at it--and then call around to the Kid's Urgent care centers to see who was working that night.  She totally gave us the VIP set-up--"ask for Terry, she knows you're coming.  Make sure Wendy does the stitches."  This was such a huge help, and allowed me to walk into the place feeling confident that we'd get great care.  Plus, she saved me a trip to Primary's ER and therefore saved me like 500 bones.  We're totally best friends now.

#3) This proves that I have the mellowest kid on the planet.  He was a total champ.  After the numbing gel set in, we went back and had to roll him up in a sheet like a burrito.  He panicked a bit with this step.  But after that, really only let out a few wails here and there.  Mostly he just sternly looked up, and then at me, and then at the Doctor.  He was very still.  The best distraction for him was me clicking my tongue, which I can tell, he is just dying to figure out how to do.  

#4) Rachel went with, and I'm so glad she did.  She was snapping pics with her phone and saying, "I feel dumb for doing this, but you'll thank me later."  Later that night, after I was home and Jude was asleep, I got to thinking.  Rachel is one of the most maternal people I know.  She's like my mom in that she just knows how to comfort people.  When we got to her house, she walked right in, and was all, "Oh Bear, Oh Bear...hiiiiii, oh did you fall down?  Ohhh.  Did you cut yourself?  Yeah, you diii-id.  Ohhh, and did it huurrrt??"  Meanwhile, I probably said something like, "Oh hi, little guy.  You OK?"and then I was all about talking technical details with Andrea about insurance copays and stitches, etc.  And it's funny to have your little sis remind you things to do with your own kid, "Lis, hold him.  He wants you to hold him right now."  And while he was getting the stitches, I was mostly just focused on keeping my energy calm, so Jude would be calm--and I focused on the process, which is why Rach chimed in..."Lis, what other songs does he like?...Stroke his cheek...distract him."  I wish I had this...this instinct to soothe and comfort...I'm just so logical at times that it gets in the way.

#5) We got home late, so I thought Jude would pass out in the car.  Nope.  But he was tired, so I put him to bed still in his clothes.  And wouldn't you know it--he laid in there hootin' like an owl for a good 30 minutes.  We were cracking up, until he managed to rip off his band-aid, and cry bloody murder.  After we got things settled, I sat rocked him while he just looked all around the dark room with his big eyes.  Then he matter-of-factly said, "Mommy"-- closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Awe, that kid slays me every time.