Explanation of ER Visit # 2

Timothy got three more stitches last night. Different doctor, younger and nicer. He didn't ask us to leave while he sewed up Timothy, which was nice. Leanna and I were able to see what he was doing, we both ended up looking away. This doctor actually listened to us too and didn't strap Timothy down. I know it's silly to care, I understand that they are doing their job and that they are trying to prevent further injury when nurses and doctors insist on holding down or strapping a child. But it's also nice to feel like someone listens when you talk, and that they believe that it is possible for you to know your own child well enough to understand their personality and needs. If it was Justin, I would have agreed to strapping him-Justin gets too scared. Tom said last time Timothy just layed there quietly whispering, "Ow. Ow. Ow." That is completely like him. This time HE ACTUALLY FELL ASLEEP, and STAYED SLEEPING WHILE HE WAS STITCHED UP! They were amazed. The doctor said if this was his kid acting like that he'd be worried. But we assured him it was completely normal for Timothy to be quiet and still. And he'd been up late the night before, he woke up and couldn't fall back asleep, insisting that he wasn't tired. So it wasn't at all out of character for Timothy to be quiet and calm and lay down and actually fall asleep in the very very warm hospital. We told the doctor he'd probably go home and run around and play. Which he did.
The man who assisted-I don't know if he was a nurses aide or a nurse or what-was really nice too and had Justin just giggling away. There was very little blood this time, even less than last time. The wound wasn't as deep, just longer. No throwing up either.

How it happened this time: Justin and Timothy were chasing each other and Timothy ran over by me and jumped up on a big bucket(not can) of paint that is by the computer. He slid right off it and fell backwards again, hitting his head on the radiator, not the same one as last time. This pretty much proves that it was the radiator he hit his head on last time because the wound looks exactly the same, just not as deep. It happened so quickly, there was no way to prevent it. It is in a different spot than last time, at first I thought he had re-opened the same wound. I didn't enjoy explaining to them that the same kid got the same kind of wound, about a month after the first. With four kids, a month ago is the first time we've ever had to take one of them to the hospital. I think we're pretty lucky.

Sue, I understand your concern, but I really don't see how I could have prevented this or future similar injuries. I can't tell him he's not allowed to run or play! Actually that's one of the biggest criticisms aimed at parents today-they don't let their children engage in outdoor and risky play which allows kids to have adventures and to learn how to appropriately judge risks. It wasn't like he was doing something he's not supposed to do. While I still feel a bit of guilt-I'm a Mom, it's what we do-I know that this happened in a split second and wasn't preventable. Hopefully it's God's plan for him not to have any more head injuries!