I realized I never posted on our ER drama a few weeks ago!
A week before Halloween, I had my first panicky what-the-hell-am-I-going-to-do moment as a mama of 3, when Delia fell at the playground and bit all the way through her lip -- blood gushing inside and out, tons of swelling, and she was screaming her head off. I was solo with all three girls, across town (30 min or so from home) they were all hungry and ready for a nap. It was a Saturday so our doctors office wasn't open, which meant the ER was the only option. Lonnie was home and sick with what might have been swine flu.
THANK GOD FOR OTHER MOTHERS! It happened at the tail end of the twins club Halloween party, and there were still a few twin mamas inside cleaning up. Someone stayed with Emma and Elsie while I went hunting for some water. Another got ice and gave Emma and Elsie a snack bar. There were two postpartum doulas there (I think they were there to help out and drum up some business?) and they jumped into action, one got my car, one offered to drive Elsie and Emma home so I could take Delia to the ER. It felt strange, but letting her take them home seemed like the best option at the time (I felt better knowing it was a certified doula known and used by other moms in the club). Emma and Elsie were totally fine hopping into the car with a stranger -whew! Supposedly they both fell asleep on the way home.
We sat in the ER (of the Children's Hospital) for 6 hours, waiting for this and that (tons of really sick kids there, luckily we got a private room after a couple hours). After a check to see if it actually went through (it did, just a bit) we had to wait for a plastic surgery consult, but they thought it only needed outer stitches so the regular doc did that. They had to immobilize her up with a pillowcase and sheets, and I had to hold her knees and feet so she couldn't push off while the nurse held her mouth shut when the Dr was stitching. Only two stitches but they took a long time and she was HYSTERICAL (she screams when she even catches sight of a dr or nurse, even for regular check ups, so she was crying off and on all afternoon!). They told me she won't remember the stitching part due to the anesthesia they gave her, but the whole affair certainly didn't help her fear of doctors, AT ALL.
The worst part (well, other than the injury and stitching) was that she had no lunch, no nap, and she couldn't have snacks or liquids the whole time we were there, in case they had to give her the anesthesia. I couldn't even nurse her, and she really wanted to! We got there at 1pm and didn't get out of there until 7pm. She did sleep for about 20 on me at one point, but that was not much. I had no toys or books or anything with me (note to self, always stock diaper bag with said items!), and she was SO bored and bouncing off the walls by the end. And I was freaking exhausted.
But, somehow we survived! Emma and Elsie were asleep when we got home, and Delia had a quick bite to eat and slept pretty well too. The next day it all looked BAD and I was worried about infection, but after that the swelling went down and in a week the stiches were removed. There is a little scar there now, but it should fade away and not be noticable. Poor Delia -- only a few months earlier she had her other accident (riding her bike off the steps!) and had a mouth injury and chipped teeth for that. Hoping to avoid any more injuries for awhile now!
