Man down

We were just going outside to play soccer. Really. That was the plan. In less time than it takes to blink, mexicanjumpingbain hopped onto the hammock , flipped and started screaming. I thought he’d just popped his lip until I saw the telltale drop of blood on his chin. After the foxhole conversation with the mainbain about who was going to take which children where, I got in the car to drive the hour to the hospital.

MexicanJumpingBain sat in the backseat. Quiet. Nervous. Staring out the window. Every time I explained what the doctors and nurses would do, his eyes just got bigger and he nodded. He is stoic, if nothing else.

Having not been to an ER recently (2 ½ years) I was a tad surprised at the crowd. And the face masks. And the people apparently there for social reasons.

Thankfully we’d brought a book of a hundred stories, so we read and watched people and made up games out of various items in my purse. Who knew a tape measure could double as imaginary fishing line?

Of course we had to cruise the vending machines. What else do you do with a 6 year old after waiting an hour with nothing but water? Thank you MRH for introducing him to Hot Fries. He’d never had them before, and enjoyed waxing eloquent on how they are a “good hot.”

I am doing my best not to watch the clock, and we get called back to triage. They take all the info and tell us they are going to “fast track” us. Do they say that to everyone with a relatively minor injury who’s been waiting for over an hour? After slightly less than an eternity we are "fast tracked" back to a room.

Sweet nurse R comes in to clean out the cut. MJB sits on the bed without a sound, flinch or yelp. I would have loved him just as much if he’d bawled his eyes out, but something about seeing my little boy act like a man sealed that he’s my favorite 6 year old. Ever.

After cleaning it all up, Nurse R tells us that Chip will be in a minute.

Mexicanjumpingbain looks at me with the most incredulous look I’ve ever seen. “Chip? CHIP? What kind of name is that for a doctor?”

Chip turns out to be a great Doctor – he’s got 2 kids and is gifted in talking and explaining things to little boys. After the shot, the stitching took no time at all. I did ask Chip what he thought about a CPR type class Moms could take to sew their own kids up. He wasn’t too keen on that. Maybe I’m too practical.

After he’s all done, MJB immediately has to go look in the mirror and check it out. He comes out of the bathroom on Cloud Nine. Literally. He’s in love with himself and stitches. Thinks it’s totally worth it. In the space of 20 minutes, he’s got a soul patch. Which his aunt lovingly referred to today as a “1970’s ghetto look.”

He acts like it’s an early birthday present. Totally thrilled with his new look. One happy meal with lego car later, he’s passed out on the way home. You can’t see it too well in the picture, but he’s currently out showing off his soul patch to brothers and cousins.

Thankful that the accident just made a good story.

Lib