Today we had an appointment with a Neonatologist. I have been looking forward to this appointment for weeks with a mixture of excitement, nervousness, anxiety and various other emotions. To me this was one of our most important meetings. A what to really expect kind of meeting. I went in with a long list of questions swirling in my head.
What kind of equipment would he be hooked up to? How would that affect holding him? How would that affect my children holding him? How would that affect his Baptism which we want to have at birth? When/if he came home what should we expect/plan for regarding his care. Etc. Etc. Etc.
Those questions evaporated within about the first thirty seconds.
Our meeting started with the doctor asking me what I knew about our son's diagnosis.
I told him that I know he has Trisomy 13. I know he has a bilateral cleft lip and pallet. I know he has 2 holes in his heart. (VSD) I know he has brain "abnormalities" typical of a Trisomy 13 baby. I know that babies born with Trisomy 13 typically (and when I say typically I mean pretty much always) have breathing difficulties due to Apnea. I also know that there is a very low survival rate.
He asked me what I was expecting.
I told him that while I am very aware that the survival rate is low and the chances of being able even do anything to save or extend his life were slim, I wanted to do everything in our power if the opportunity presented itself.
I was met with a blank stare.
Then he basically told us that they don't really do any kind of intervention with a Trisomy 13 baby.
I'll be honest, I was a bit fearful of that response. I did worry that I would be presented with arguments on why intervention was a bad idea. At that point I figured we would engage in some kind of dialogue about the different types of interventions, pros and cons and in the end we would have to make specific decisions on what types of interventions we wanted to insist on.
Instead I heard this.
"We aren't equipped for any kind of interventions. If you wanted to do that you would have to deliver at a different hospital."
He basically said that they are equipped to handle premature babies but that is about the extent.
My husband asked for some clarification regarding what they were not equipped to do with a Trisomy 13 baby.
He started listing examples of things they wouldn't be able to do. Like surgeries. For example if the baby needed heart surgery they wouldn't be able to perform it at that hospital.
I pointed out that we had already met with a fetal cardiologist who told us that heart surgery wouldn't be performed at birth for a VSD on any infant. She also pointed out that Trisomy 13 babies don't die of heart failure they die of respiratory failure because of the Apnea. The brain simply does not send the signal to breath. She also specifically stated that the hospital we have been planning on delivering at is "more than equipped to handle the needs of a Trisomy 13 baby." (My husband at the time told me he got the vibe of "since there isn't anything we can do anyway" but I didn't pick up on that at time time. Now I fear he might have been right.)
The response to that was basically, yes that's correct but if the baby did have to be put on any kind of breathing assistance we aren't really equipped to do that and then send them home. For example if the baby needed to go home with a c-pap machine we wouldn't be able to provide one.
He also brought up feeding tubes and said again that wouldn't be something they could provide for at home care.
A pretty much exact quote.
"If you were planning on actually taking the baby home, we wouldn't be equipped for that."
In other words, we are only equipped if the baby doesn't survive.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
A Different Kind of Miracle
"A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway." MIB3
Weeks ago, when we were freshly reeling from the difficult news we had received about our baby, we sat in Mass and listened to the Gospel. It was about miracles. We listened to stories about how Jesus had healed a woman and brought a little girl back to life. I'll be honest. At that moment it kind of felt like a bit of a slap in the face.
I am sure I felt a bit like some of the people in the crowd might have felt. Pressing around Jesus. Looking for miracles. Then one woman who touches the hem of His garment is healed. Her faith healed her. It makes me wonder if any of the people in the crowd asked the question. "What about my miracle? Why her? I have faith too. I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe. Why not me too?"
It was a question I found myself asking. "Where is my miracle?"
Because in that moment all I wanted was a miracle. Not just any miracle of course. My very own custom made to order miracle. I wanted to be able to ask God for exactly what I wanted exactly the way I wanted it.
My vision is very short sighted. I can't see the whole picture and because of that it is sometimes easy to forget that there is something beyond my field of vision.
It's all too easy to call out that challenge to God. God you are all powerful. I know you can do this. So why don't you?
Sound familiar?
It's pretty much the same challenge the first thief called out to Jesus on the cross. "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" Luke 23:39
Of course the second thief had one simple request. "Jesus remember me when you come in your kingly power." Luke 23:42 And we all know what Jesus responded to him. He said, "get down off the cross. Your faith has healed you." Right?
No?
Weeks ago, when we were freshly reeling from the difficult news we had received about our baby, we sat in Mass and listened to the Gospel. It was about miracles. We listened to stories about how Jesus had healed a woman and brought a little girl back to life. I'll be honest. At that moment it kind of felt like a bit of a slap in the face.
I am sure I felt a bit like some of the people in the crowd might have felt. Pressing around Jesus. Looking for miracles. Then one woman who touches the hem of His garment is healed. Her faith healed her. It makes me wonder if any of the people in the crowd asked the question. "What about my miracle? Why her? I have faith too. I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe. Why not me too?"
It was a question I found myself asking. "Where is my miracle?"
Because in that moment all I wanted was a miracle. Not just any miracle of course. My very own custom made to order miracle. I wanted to be able to ask God for exactly what I wanted exactly the way I wanted it.
My vision is very short sighted. I can't see the whole picture and because of that it is sometimes easy to forget that there is something beyond my field of vision.
It's all too easy to call out that challenge to God. God you are all powerful. I know you can do this. So why don't you?
Sound familiar?
It's pretty much the same challenge the first thief called out to Jesus on the cross. "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" Luke 23:39
Of course the second thief had one simple request. "Jesus remember me when you come in your kingly power." Luke 23:42 And we all know what Jesus responded to him. He said, "get down off the cross. Your faith has healed you." Right?
No?
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Water Water Everywhere...
If you know me or have read my blog you probably are aware of our continuing struggle with the creatures I call the Pipe Gremlins.
In case you are not I'll give you a brief summary.
February 2010 we had our first slab leak.
October 2010, 2nd slab leak. This is when we had the pipes coated with Ace DuraFlo to prevent future leaks. This process came with a lifetime warranty.
November 2010, 3rd slab leak. Covered under warranty.
October 2011, 4th slab leak. Covered under warranty.
July 2012, 5th slab leak. Coverage to be determined.
August 2012, it appears we have our 6th slab leak. The epic battle continues.
And now I will inundate you with pictures of our latest round of pipe repair.
In case you are not I'll give you a brief summary.
February 2010 we had our first slab leak.
October 2010, 2nd slab leak. This is when we had the pipes coated with Ace DuraFlo to prevent future leaks. This process came with a lifetime warranty.
November 2010, 3rd slab leak. Covered under warranty.
October 2011, 4th slab leak. Covered under warranty.
July 2012, 5th slab leak. Coverage to be determined.
August 2012, it appears we have our 6th slab leak. The epic battle continues.
And now I will inundate you with pictures of our latest round of pipe repair.
 |
| Our dear friend Jackhammer. |
A Series of Somewhat Unfortunate Events
First I would like to apologize for the long break in my posts. I realize I am not overly consistent in writing anyway but this recent break has been a bit excessive.
Ok. How shall I begin?
I guess I will start by telling you it was the day of The Dark Knight Rises premier. My husband bought tickets and the plan was for him to take our nephew to the trilogy event to watch all three movies back to back. I would join them at the midnight showing. I knew I couldn't manage to sit through that many movies in an uncomfortable seat while this pregnant. I have to pick my battles. Sadly even for BatBale I couldn't put myself through that level of discomfort. (Have I ever told you that Christian Bale is my favorite actor? Has been since 1993 when he starred in the world's greatest movie ever. Newsies. What do you mean you don't think it's the greatest movie ever? Clearly you haven't seen it enough. Watch it again. Watch it everyday for an entire year. When you can recite the entire movie word for word by heart at night in bed, then you will appreciate it's true greatness. What?!)
I spent the day cleaning the house because I have been preparing for the plumbers to come out and drill holes in the floor. (I really have been doing way too much cleaning lately. It isn't good for my mental health.) My husband picked up my nephew and they headed to the movie. I decided to take the kids to grab them a quick dinner before my sis-in-law came over to watch them.
We got in the car and I drove to the end of the block and stopped at the stop sign.
Just as I see my opening to hurdle myself out into a break in traffic, and my foot touches the gas pedal, the Peanut cries out.
"Aaahh, there's a bug!!!"
I manage to control my startled reaction and move my foot quickly back to the brake pedal rather than ramming down on the gas.
I had seen a mosquito flying around a second ago so I figured that is what he was seeing.
"Where?"
"Right there!" "Your arm."
Oh, so it was probably biting me and that is why he is overreacting.
I turn my head and prepare to brush it off my arm.
"On my arm?"
"No, next to your arm."
I glance down.
YELLOW JACKET!!!!!
I choke down the pure panic as I attempt to roll down all the windows. Maybe it will just fly out?
I can't take my eyes off the thing as my hand frantically pounds on the down buttons. My window is the only one that goes down.
WHY WON'T THEY GO DOWN?!?!
In the back of my mind it dawns on me that all the other ones are locked because the kids were playing with the windows the other day.
I can't quite make my mind work enough to figure out what to do about that and I can not take my eyes off the wasp that is about to attack my entire family and what if my kids are allergic and should I just try to smash it with my hand and kill it but what if I don't smash it well enough or I miss and make it mad and it attacks my kids and what if my kids are allergic?!?!?!?!
This is the point that the Yellow Jacket decides to crawl off the console and ONTO MY SEAT-BELT BUCKLE.
Great. Now the option of totally panicking and running out into the street leaving my kids in the car with a wasp is gone. Because how would I get my seat-belt off?!
While I am in complete and utter panic the kids are in the back asking questions. "Is it an owie bug?" "YES!" "Is it a biting bug?" "No, It's a STINGING BUG!"
And then a moment of clarity. Thankfully our car stays about as messy as our house. So, right next to me, in the cupholder, was a cup. An empty cup. With a straw and a lid.
I picked up the cup. Unfortunately I couldn't quite squeeze the cup into the space to catch the wasp.
I took the lid off and angled the straw along the wasps path. I held my breath as it crawled onto the straw.
Now what?
I could try to sling the wasp out the open window but what if it didn't go? I could drop the lid and straw out the window but that would be littering.
So, I simply put the straw with the wasp into the cup and fastened the lid down good.
BZZZ! BZZZT! BZZZZZZ!
The wasp was not a happy camper.
So, I did what any other rational person would do after escaping from a near death experience.
I drove to Taco Bell. Went through the drive through. Ordered tacos. Drove home. Took the kids and food into the house. Went back out to the car. Took out the buzzing cup. And set it on the side of the driveway.
Then I went inside, fed my kids, and started to get the kids into their pajamas and ready for bed.
The adrenaline from the wasp incident was wearing off and I was starting to get sleepy. I figured I would put the kids to bed and sneak in a quick nap before going to the movie.
They put on their pajamas and started to brush their teeth. Peanut was brushing his teeth and I was brushing the Princesses hair. I don't remember exactly why but I ran out into the other room for a second. Maybe to let the dog in? Or I thought I heard my phone ring?
As I am standing in the next room I hear a cry from the Peanut.
"Aaaaahhhhh!"
I run to the bathroom to see what happened.
"I was brushing my teeth and I went like this and it hurted." He makes a gesture of ramming his toothbrush really hard towards the back of his mouth.
Perhaps I should also tell you that in the previous two days, the Princess had somehow managed to accidentally drop two of her brother's toothbrushes on the floor. Why was she holding them? The world may never know.
We had run out of backup kids toothbrushes and so I had to give him a temporary backup adult toothbrush to use until we could buy him a new one.
I looked into his mouth as best I could in the bathroom light. I didn't see anything so I told him he was finished brushing and to put away his toothbrush.
A few seconds later he let out a pained groan.
"Mmmmm!"
He held his hand to the side of his mouth.
This couldn't be good.
Ok, let's get another look.
Not thinking rationally, I didn't do the obvious and get a flashlight to look in his mouth. Instead I had him angle his mouth up towards the light and open wide.
Then I saw it.
OMGOODNESS!
There was a HOLE in the back of his mouth.
That's right folks. He had jammed the toothbrush into and THROUGH the back of his freaken mouth!!!!
Not even kidding.
Remember how well I deal with mouth injuries?
The Peanut is remaining rather calm. No crying. Doesn't seem to be in constant pain. I try not to panic and freak him out.
So, I run around in a bit of a circle and grab my phone. I frantically call my sister-in-law. No answer.
I frantically call my husband. No answer. Remember he is at the movie.
I call my sister-in-law again. No answer.
My husband calls back.
I start to pour out the whole story in absolute panic.
"I might have to take the Peanut to the ER."
Hearing the panic in my voice as I explain what happened he freaks out and starts asking questions.
"What do you mean a hole?"
"I mean a HOLE. A huge gaping HOLE through the back of his mouth!!!"
"Where?"
"Straight back."
"In the cheek?"
"No. Straight back. In the hinge part."
"In his throat?"
"No. The hinge part. Like between where your two wisdom teeth would be."
"So, the cheek."
"Not sideways into the cheek."
"Right but cheek tissue."
"Sure..."
"What do you mean by hole?"
"I mean there is a big freaking hole in the back of his mouth!"
"How big?"
"The size of the end of a toothbrush."
"Is it bleeding?"
"Not exactly. It is bloody looking but no blood seeping out that I can see."
"Are you sure it's really a hole?"
"YES!! IT'S A HUGE BLOODY HOLE IN THE BACK OF HIS MOUTH WHERE HE RAMMED THE TOOTHBRUSH THROUGH!!!!!!!"
At this point I turn around and see the Peanut standing behind me. Tears are streaming down his face.
"Oh buddy! Are you ok???!?"
He shakes his head no.
"Is your mouth hurting?!"
He shakes his head no.
"Oh, am I freaking you out because I am panicking?"
He shakes his head yes.
"You said there was BLOOD." He dissolves into tears.
"Oh, no honey. It's not really bleeding. It's ok. Calm down. Mommy just thought you were hurting and so I was freaking out. But it doesn't hurt right?" He shakes his head no. "See you are fine. I'll calm down now. Don't worry."
My husband on the phone.
"Call my sister."
"I did. She isn't answering."
"Ok, try again. I'll call you right back."
I hang up with him and try to call her again. No answer.
I decide to try her house phone.
Only I can't find the number. I know I have it on my phone. Don't I?
Later I found it. I can only attribute my lack of ability to find it then to the panic. Which must also be why it never occurred to me to call from the house phone which also has her home phone stored in it.
Hubby calls back.
"She still isn't answering."
"Ok, I'll try calling her. Just get ready to come get me and we will take him to the hospital. No, we won't all fit in the car. Just take him to the hospital and I will have her come get me."
He hangs up and calls her house phone.
He calls back. "Ok, she is on her way to watch the Princess. Give him a popsicle to help numb his mouth in case it starts hurting."
"I don't think we have any popsicles."
"Ok, call her and ask her to bring one."
Just then she knocks on the door. (She lives a block away.)
I open the door.
"What's wrong with the Princess?"
"No, it's the Peanut."
I tell her the story taking care not to freak out the Peanut any more.
We use the flashlight to look in the back of his mouth.
"Wow. That's a hole alright."
She remains calm.
"Unfortunately with a mouth injury the hospital can't really do anything. They can't stitch it."
"I know. I just don't know what to do and I feel terrible just doing nothing!"
"Well, he isn't in any pain. Maybe some kind of antibiotic for the germs..."
I remember we have some antibiotic mouthwash from the dentist.
"Oh, I can have him rinse his mouth out with that mouthwash."
My husband on the phone again. "Give him a popsicle first. It might burn."
I go in the kitchen and manage to find one popsicle. I also give him a dose of children's Advil just in case it starts to get sore. I give him the popsicle. He happily eats it. Then he rinses his mouth out. No problem. No pain. All is well. I'm still shaking.
Hubby, calmed by his sister's rational response, returns to watch the remainder of The Dark Knight.
I collapse into a chair and my sis-in-law and I chat with the Peanut for a bit to make sure he is really all well. The kids head off to bed and we sit and talk for a bit.
Hubby calls back to let me know they are on the last intermission and I decide to go ahead and go to the movie (feeling somewhat terrible motherish) because clearly leaving my kids in my sis-in-law's capable hands is the perfectly sensible thing to do. After all she is much better in a crisis!
After two adrenaline rushes in one day I wonder if there is any way I will be able to stay awake for a midnight movie. Amazingly I managed to get a third rush (slightly less powerful than the previous two) when the movie started and stayed awake to enjoy it.
Of course the next morning I awoke to read about the tragedy others endured that night and it certainly put my day into perspective.
Can I just say. Christian Bale is awesome. Thank you. The end.
Ok. How shall I begin?
I guess I will start by telling you it was the day of The Dark Knight Rises premier. My husband bought tickets and the plan was for him to take our nephew to the trilogy event to watch all three movies back to back. I would join them at the midnight showing. I knew I couldn't manage to sit through that many movies in an uncomfortable seat while this pregnant. I have to pick my battles. Sadly even for BatBale I couldn't put myself through that level of discomfort. (Have I ever told you that Christian Bale is my favorite actor? Has been since 1993 when he starred in the world's greatest movie ever. Newsies. What do you mean you don't think it's the greatest movie ever? Clearly you haven't seen it enough. Watch it again. Watch it everyday for an entire year. When you can recite the entire movie word for word by heart at night in bed, then you will appreciate it's true greatness. What?!)
I spent the day cleaning the house because I have been preparing for the plumbers to come out and drill holes in the floor. (I really have been doing way too much cleaning lately. It isn't good for my mental health.) My husband picked up my nephew and they headed to the movie. I decided to take the kids to grab them a quick dinner before my sis-in-law came over to watch them.
We got in the car and I drove to the end of the block and stopped at the stop sign.
Just as I see my opening to hurdle myself out into a break in traffic, and my foot touches the gas pedal, the Peanut cries out.
"Aaahh, there's a bug!!!"
I manage to control my startled reaction and move my foot quickly back to the brake pedal rather than ramming down on the gas.
I had seen a mosquito flying around a second ago so I figured that is what he was seeing.
"Where?"
"Right there!" "Your arm."
Oh, so it was probably biting me and that is why he is overreacting.
I turn my head and prepare to brush it off my arm.
"On my arm?"
"No, next to your arm."
I glance down.
YELLOW JACKET!!!!!
I choke down the pure panic as I attempt to roll down all the windows. Maybe it will just fly out?
I can't take my eyes off the thing as my hand frantically pounds on the down buttons. My window is the only one that goes down.
WHY WON'T THEY GO DOWN?!?!
In the back of my mind it dawns on me that all the other ones are locked because the kids were playing with the windows the other day.
I can't quite make my mind work enough to figure out what to do about that and I can not take my eyes off the wasp that is about to attack my entire family and what if my kids are allergic and should I just try to smash it with my hand and kill it but what if I don't smash it well enough or I miss and make it mad and it attacks my kids and what if my kids are allergic?!?!?!?!
This is the point that the Yellow Jacket decides to crawl off the console and ONTO MY SEAT-BELT BUCKLE.
Great. Now the option of totally panicking and running out into the street leaving my kids in the car with a wasp is gone. Because how would I get my seat-belt off?!
While I am in complete and utter panic the kids are in the back asking questions. "Is it an owie bug?" "YES!" "Is it a biting bug?" "No, It's a STINGING BUG!"
And then a moment of clarity. Thankfully our car stays about as messy as our house. So, right next to me, in the cupholder, was a cup. An empty cup. With a straw and a lid.
I picked up the cup. Unfortunately I couldn't quite squeeze the cup into the space to catch the wasp.
I took the lid off and angled the straw along the wasps path. I held my breath as it crawled onto the straw.
Now what?
I could try to sling the wasp out the open window but what if it didn't go? I could drop the lid and straw out the window but that would be littering.
So, I simply put the straw with the wasp into the cup and fastened the lid down good.
BZZZ! BZZZT! BZZZZZZ!
The wasp was not a happy camper.
So, I did what any other rational person would do after escaping from a near death experience.
I drove to Taco Bell. Went through the drive through. Ordered tacos. Drove home. Took the kids and food into the house. Went back out to the car. Took out the buzzing cup. And set it on the side of the driveway.
Then I went inside, fed my kids, and started to get the kids into their pajamas and ready for bed.
The adrenaline from the wasp incident was wearing off and I was starting to get sleepy. I figured I would put the kids to bed and sneak in a quick nap before going to the movie.
They put on their pajamas and started to brush their teeth. Peanut was brushing his teeth and I was brushing the Princesses hair. I don't remember exactly why but I ran out into the other room for a second. Maybe to let the dog in? Or I thought I heard my phone ring?
As I am standing in the next room I hear a cry from the Peanut.
"Aaaaahhhhh!"
I run to the bathroom to see what happened.
"I was brushing my teeth and I went like this and it hurted." He makes a gesture of ramming his toothbrush really hard towards the back of his mouth.
Perhaps I should also tell you that in the previous two days, the Princess had somehow managed to accidentally drop two of her brother's toothbrushes on the floor. Why was she holding them? The world may never know.
We had run out of backup kids toothbrushes and so I had to give him a temporary backup adult toothbrush to use until we could buy him a new one.
I looked into his mouth as best I could in the bathroom light. I didn't see anything so I told him he was finished brushing and to put away his toothbrush.
A few seconds later he let out a pained groan.
"Mmmmm!"
He held his hand to the side of his mouth.
This couldn't be good.
Ok, let's get another look.
Not thinking rationally, I didn't do the obvious and get a flashlight to look in his mouth. Instead I had him angle his mouth up towards the light and open wide.
Then I saw it.
OMGOODNESS!
There was a HOLE in the back of his mouth.
That's right folks. He had jammed the toothbrush into and THROUGH the back of his freaken mouth!!!!
Not even kidding.
Remember how well I deal with mouth injuries?
The Peanut is remaining rather calm. No crying. Doesn't seem to be in constant pain. I try not to panic and freak him out.
So, I run around in a bit of a circle and grab my phone. I frantically call my sister-in-law. No answer.
I frantically call my husband. No answer. Remember he is at the movie.
I call my sister-in-law again. No answer.
My husband calls back.
I start to pour out the whole story in absolute panic.
"I might have to take the Peanut to the ER."
Hearing the panic in my voice as I explain what happened he freaks out and starts asking questions.
"What do you mean a hole?"
"I mean a HOLE. A huge gaping HOLE through the back of his mouth!!!"
"Where?"
"Straight back."
"In the cheek?"
"No. Straight back. In the hinge part."
"In his throat?"
"No. The hinge part. Like between where your two wisdom teeth would be."
"So, the cheek."
"Not sideways into the cheek."
"Right but cheek tissue."
"Sure..."
"What do you mean by hole?"
"I mean there is a big freaking hole in the back of his mouth!"
"How big?"
"The size of the end of a toothbrush."
"Is it bleeding?"
"Not exactly. It is bloody looking but no blood seeping out that I can see."
"Are you sure it's really a hole?"
"YES!! IT'S A HUGE BLOODY HOLE IN THE BACK OF HIS MOUTH WHERE HE RAMMED THE TOOTHBRUSH THROUGH!!!!!!!"
| Bad pic I took in an attempt to show hubby what I was talking about. The hole is above his tongue on the left (his right) and looks like a black ring with pink tissue in the middle. Imagine it being blood red rather than black. |
"Oh buddy! Are you ok???!?"
He shakes his head no.
"Is your mouth hurting?!"
He shakes his head no.
"Oh, am I freaking you out because I am panicking?"
He shakes his head yes.
"You said there was BLOOD." He dissolves into tears.
"Oh, no honey. It's not really bleeding. It's ok. Calm down. Mommy just thought you were hurting and so I was freaking out. But it doesn't hurt right?" He shakes his head no. "See you are fine. I'll calm down now. Don't worry."
My husband on the phone.
"Call my sister."
"I did. She isn't answering."
"Ok, try again. I'll call you right back."
I hang up with him and try to call her again. No answer.
I decide to try her house phone.
Only I can't find the number. I know I have it on my phone. Don't I?
Later I found it. I can only attribute my lack of ability to find it then to the panic. Which must also be why it never occurred to me to call from the house phone which also has her home phone stored in it.
Hubby calls back.
"She still isn't answering."
"Ok, I'll try calling her. Just get ready to come get me and we will take him to the hospital. No, we won't all fit in the car. Just take him to the hospital and I will have her come get me."
He hangs up and calls her house phone.
He calls back. "Ok, she is on her way to watch the Princess. Give him a popsicle to help numb his mouth in case it starts hurting."
"I don't think we have any popsicles."
"Ok, call her and ask her to bring one."
Just then she knocks on the door. (She lives a block away.)
I open the door.
"What's wrong with the Princess?"
"No, it's the Peanut."
I tell her the story taking care not to freak out the Peanut any more.
We use the flashlight to look in the back of his mouth.
"Wow. That's a hole alright."
She remains calm.
"Unfortunately with a mouth injury the hospital can't really do anything. They can't stitch it."
"I know. I just don't know what to do and I feel terrible just doing nothing!"
"Well, he isn't in any pain. Maybe some kind of antibiotic for the germs..."
I remember we have some antibiotic mouthwash from the dentist.
"Oh, I can have him rinse his mouth out with that mouthwash."
My husband on the phone again. "Give him a popsicle first. It might burn."
I go in the kitchen and manage to find one popsicle. I also give him a dose of children's Advil just in case it starts to get sore. I give him the popsicle. He happily eats it. Then he rinses his mouth out. No problem. No pain. All is well. I'm still shaking.
Hubby, calmed by his sister's rational response, returns to watch the remainder of The Dark Knight.
I collapse into a chair and my sis-in-law and I chat with the Peanut for a bit to make sure he is really all well. The kids head off to bed and we sit and talk for a bit.
Hubby calls back to let me know they are on the last intermission and I decide to go ahead and go to the movie (feeling somewhat terrible motherish) because clearly leaving my kids in my sis-in-law's capable hands is the perfectly sensible thing to do. After all she is much better in a crisis!
After two adrenaline rushes in one day I wonder if there is any way I will be able to stay awake for a midnight movie. Amazingly I managed to get a third rush (slightly less powerful than the previous two) when the movie started and stayed awake to enjoy it.
Of course the next morning I awoke to read about the tragedy others endured that night and it certainly put my day into perspective.
Can I just say. Christian Bale is awesome. Thank you. The end.
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