More stitches!

Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture, but Patrick had to get 10 stitches last night!  Mom was at church for a dinner for work, and the boys were in the babysitting room.  When I dropped them off, I thought they were being a little squirrely, and even commented to the kind (and volunteer) babysitter “Good luck!”  At the end of the evening – almost 8 – Joe came into the room with all of the adults and told me that Pat hurt himself.  Pat often hurts himself and it’s not too big of a deal.  There was no panic in Joe’s voice, so I said a few more goodbyes before heading to the door.  On my way out, I saw another adult looking for me, and he DID have panic in his face.

He lead me to the men’s room downstairs where Patrick was covered in blood (the babysitter, too) and crying.  It was a pretty severe gash, right on the corner of his forehead near the hairline.  That poor sitter.  She has several kids of her own, but she was pretty distraught that this had happened on her watch.  Apparently, Patrick ran in to the corner of a metal TV cart while he was being a bit wild.

Scott was out of town and the rest of the boys were late for bed already.  It took me a minute to try to think of a strategy to avoid four cranky, tired boys waiting for hours in an ER.  Lucky for me, my boss Joan and another woman that I hardly knew was right there with me.  The other woman, Beth, I later learned, took charge.  She told me to get in her car with Patrick and that Joan would take the other kids home to bed in my car.

Beth was the most perfect person for the job.  She worked with head injuries at the hospital we went to.   Plus, she understood my aversion to all things bloody and my usual pregnancy nausea.  She was so kind to stay with Patrick for the stitching when I just had to go take a walk.  He was already asleep by then anyway.  She was the angel sent by God to help me get through that day!

Pat has recovered nicely.  Just a little headache from the trauma and in need of a good nap since we got home after 10.  He even got a beany baby at the hospital – a rhino named Spike.  Cute.