yesterday carys cut her chin open and needed three stitches to close her face up.

i am so grateful for good friends and neighbours. we were at the boat club, and i was chatting with another mum of multiples when i saw carys approaching me, streaming wet but with a thin trickle of pink coming down her neck.

i knew it was blood, even before carys said, "mummy, i hurt myself."

our friends, mark and weng were there, and mark immediately got bandages and gauze, and then agreed wtih me that this was going to require stitches. carys was as brave as a lion. there was no sobbing, she was stoic.

mark offered to drive me and my bleeding bikini girl to the hospital, but charles said he would. so mark and weng, even though they had plans, stayed behind at the club, and let our kids swim and play. their kids were fully dressed, but they looked after our kids for us. good friends.

charles and i raced back with still stoic carys, and while carys and i waited downstairs, charles got carys' passport, a change of clothes, the portable dvd player, books and snacks. and then he dropped us off at the hospital.

the olympics were blaring, table tennis and hong kong was playing. i don't think i have ever seen such an enthusiastic ER waiting room! people were actually hesitating before heading off to see the dr after their name was called.

no surprise, carys needed stitches. because her cut was so close to the bone, they couldnt give her a jab to anaesthatise the area. they sprayed it a bit, but she was still in discomfort. the dr tried to kick me out of the room while they gave her the stitches, can you imagine? ho ho ho, like i was going anywhere while they were pulling a needle in and out of my child's face!!!

but eventually, it was over and we left. we came home, i put on dora the explorer, gave her some pain medication, daubed some salve on the red scrape on her throat, helped her into her pajamas, and then watched her fall asleep on the couch.

interestingly enough, even though carys was a trooper, last night i had the toughest time sleeping. i kept seeing that wound, all the blood, the bits of the wire clippings dropping into carys' blonde hair and my fingers pulling them out, her hands with the chipped nail polish holding my hand but not gripping it very tightly. poor little possum.

i am not meant to change the dressings, but they are filthy already. after one day. she was playing hard today and i was so proud of her.

Comments

[Louise M]

I got stiches in my chin when I was 2, slipped on the kitchen floor. Ended up getting stiched twice that day, because 30 minutes after getting home, I pulled all the stiches out (Dr. has tried a new spray-on bandage, he put a huge normal one on the 2nd time...) Both my kids split their chins and required stitched as well before they were three... Hope she only gets a tiny scar that "diappears" as she grows.

[GDad Blake aka Dad]

We are proud of you Carys. Chin up sweetheart.
Love to all.....dad

[Auntie Pammie]

Hey Tess,
What a horrible but thankfully fixable thing to happen. I am so proud of Carys (and you), she is one brave little lady and she is strong!! You tell her how proud Auntie Pammie is of her !!
Love to you all

[Carrie in Minnesota]

Aww poor sweet pea! Alex has has stitches twice. Give her a smooch for us!

[Mo aka Maureen aka Grandmother aka Mum]

Oh Carys, I am so proud of you. Well done, little one. And your mummy was so brave too. I love you both.

M xox

[Amy]

Poor little one! I'm glad she was brave and on the mend. My experience is that these things always harder on me than the kids.

[JoeInVegas]

Yes, seemed you were more upset than she was. Ah well, that's part of being mom.

[knobody]

what is it with chins? it's like they attract trouble. mine came from a coffee table when i was 2. carys is such a trooper! and look at her proudly show off her stitches. unquenchable spirit.

[Boulder]

Ouch! I hope you're both *mostly* (because I don't think you ever forget these things as the adult, and I can't imagine the cut is fully healed quite yet) recovered from the experience by now.

If it is any consolation, my poor mother was known by first name at the local hospital for all the things my brothers (one in particular) did like this growing up, and everyone survived. :)

xoxo

[Jody]

Anything that reminds me of the NICU sets off something deep in my brain that makes sleep difficult. Not good, considering all the normal injuries of childhood!

I hope she's feeling all better now. And you, too.