The Healthy Mom

Just back from the ER with Zevan

June6

Good grief. tired

So, today I went for a 7 mile run, then went climbing, then went to the pool with the boys for 45 minutes before their swim class started.

I took a shower while they started class, and when I came back out, Zevan had to go potty. So we headed back into the locker room. We went through the first door, then I held open the 2nd door, and Zevan slipped on the wet floor (Zander had fallen in the same spot just before we went swimming just an hour earlier), and I saw his head hit the side of the door.

He immediately started screaming, and I scooped him up, and we headed into the locker room so I could comfort him. As I walked in, several girls in the locker room started screaming, “He’s bleeding! His head is bleeding!”

I looked down and blood is just pouring down the side of his head. CRAP. bummer

I sat him down and tried to find the general place where it was coming from. Then I pressed a towel against it. Everyone is looking at me, chattering advice and whatnot. I loudly asked through the din, “Can someone please get me a lifeguard?!” Sheesh. thatsnotright

May had JUST left with Madison minutes before. I asked someone to check my locker for my phone. No dice. She offered hers, but of course I don’t know May’s number doh

The lifeguard came in, already with gloves on and a bunch of gauze pads. They cleared out the locker room. For 10 minutes, she just kept swapping out the blood filled gauze for a clean one. They decided to call the EMTs. This whole time, Zevan is screaming. I’m kneeling in front of him, trying to keep him focused on me, and asking him to take some deep breaths. Every so often, he’d reach up, touch my face with his little hand, and repeat, “Mama, mama, mama, mama…” then start crying again.

Another 5-10 minutes goes by (who knows?) and finally the bleeding is subsiding. The EMTs arrive. He’s now calmer for longer than he is upset. They offer him a sucker, which he gladly takes. The EMTs suggest that he be taken to the hospital to be seen and are giving me the option to take the ambulance or take him in my car. Meanwhile, Zander is finishing up his swim class and wondering where I am. I tell the instructor to tell Zander that we’ll be out in a minute (the locker room is still closed so they can clean up the blood). I tell the EMT that I’ll take Zevan to Penrose Main (in the hopes that my mom is working tonight)

I ask to use the phone, and I call Grandma and Grandpa – they leave immediately to pick up Zander. Then I call Doug to tell him what’s going on. I try to call my parents to see if my mom is working (she works at Penrose Main). No answer.

I see Zander through the glass, shivering because I’m not out there with his towel. The EMT is trying to talk to me, and I interrupt him again – I need to get to my other son, please.

Zander is visibly relieved to see me and is very concerned about Zevan and asks him how he is feeling. I explain the situation, and he’s very agreeable. whew Zevan would rather go with Grandpa, too, please.

We head out to the parking lot, and wait for Grandpa. When he shows up, Zevan and I head to Penrose Main. I keep him talking to me so I know he’s not unconscious or showing signs of a concussion.

We get to the hospital, and I carry him in. We check in and we wait. Doug shows up. And we all wait. Then we FINALLY get in and they take his info and vitals. Then we go back into the waiting room and wait. Doug goes to Burger King and gets us dinner. He also points out to me that my shirt has blood all over it. I hadn’t even noticed. My parents call – from Denver – my mom’s not working today pout I call May and vent a bit.

Doug returns with food. We eat it, play with Zevan’s kids meal toy and wait even more. I tell Doug he should just go home. Just as he is getting up to leave, they call us back. We go into one of the triage rooms. They hook him up to the monitor. And we wait some more. I tell Doug again to just go home. It’s already past the boys’ bedtime, and Zander needs to go to sleep.

Zevan and I cuddle on his little triage bed. It’s actually kind of nice to spend time together, snuggling, with no other distractions. I’m exhausted, and he’s in good spirits, so it’s okay.

The doctor finally comes in and takes a look. He tells me it’s fairly superficial, and that it doesn’t look like he needs stitches. He’ll send someone in to clean it up. whew

Again we wait. And cuddle and play. And then someone comes in – she cleans it up – he protests, and whines a little, but it’s fine. I *finally* see the actual cute for the first time. It’s about a half inch long and already scabbing over. She puts neosporin on it, and we’re good to go. I ask about swim class on Monday. She needs to ask the doctor. Then the check out nurse comes in and I ask again about swim class on Monday. She also needs to ask. Then she comes back in and tells us it’s okay. We can go home! YAY! It’s 8:20 PM.

On the way home, we stop at King Soopers to pick up some groceries and a treat for him. My parents call – on their way home from Denver. As we are checking out, my parents show up at King Soopers – they just HAD to see Zevan. happylove My mom asks how I am, and I tell her I have to be fine right now, glancing at Zevan. Truth be told, I’ve been wanting to cry ever since the first drop of blood. But that has to wait.