Heart Attack?
Almost, I'm sure. I so hate little scares... especially when they involve Jake.
I'd just finished bathing him, dressing him and brushing his hair. I left him standing in the living room, leaning against the window ledge and watching TV. I walked down the hall to Jake's room to hang up his towel and was almost finished when I heard him scream. I dropped everything and ran.
When I got to the living room a split second later, Jake was crying. He walked toward me with his arms out to me. There was thick, red blood in his mouth and all over his chin. And more was coming. I grabbed him and ran to the kitchen, shouting "what did you do". He screamed and kicked while I tried to ascertain whether or not he'd bitten his tongue in half, which was what my imagination was telling me he'd surely done.
Finally, after several sheets of kitchen towel, the bleeding slowed. By this time, I'd repeated "what did you do" a zillion times and Stephen was standing beside me, wondering whether or not a trip to the hospital was needed. With very shaky hands, I poked and prodded Jake's mouth and came to the conclusion that he'd badly bitten his lip. I can only assume that he'd tried - again - to climb onto one of his toys and had stumbled, banging his chin on the window ledge.
As a means of calming the beast (distraction!), I took him out on the front porch and let him watch the birds and cars. Within a minute, the tears stopped and we went back inside.
And while Jake ran off to watch Barney, I sat down and shook like a leaf and wept like a baby.
I never again want to see my son's blood.
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Jeni / Website (1.4.06 17:18) It's horrible isn't it - I've had that horrific experience twice - when Matthew had a nosebleed and last wee when he ran headfirst into the cat hammock and bit his lip. Poor Jake, hope he's ok now (and you too!). |
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(2.4.06 09:19) . It's horrible but it's parenthood. We're all careful but it's a matter of "when", not "if". And doesn't a little blood go a long way? . I climber drainpipes when I was six (to the roof), split my lip three times jumping off a settee, broke my shoulder bone, the list is long. My girls have both come down the stairs, broken bones, and been to casualty their fair share of times. . It doesn't soften the mental blow. We just cope better each time. Now I get a text from Casualty from Gill rather than a call to join her there. I see the plasters or hear about the accident when I get home. . I hope Jake's ok. |
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(3.4.06 01:20) Thanks, guys. I'm slowly learning that Jake is going to hurt himself sometimes and that I've just got to get used to it. Or at least be able to handle it! It's hard though. |
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Lynanne / Website (6.4.06 23:21) How absoultely terrifying! It's amazing how fast things like that can happen. I think you're right that you might not ever get used to it. Every time your child bleeds, your heart bleeds more. I once saw an advertisement with a kid wrapped in bubblewrap. Don't we all wish we could do that to our children? |
