Weekend will leave scars

So, Fred was off in Vegas this weekend with his brother, Corey, and some friends. He left Friday morning and we survived just fine until about 7 PM Friday. We had been to Eden Prairie Mall to see Santa and his reindeer arrive. After we returned home they boys wanted to play tag, I told them not to run in the house, they were playing "hide and seek" instead, but still running. Gavin got tripped by Jacob and wacked his head on the one wood step we have in the house and split his eyebrow open. I've always wondered how you know if a cut needs stitches and now I know, you just know. When it is gaping open and you can barely stand to look at your kiddo straight on, it needs medical attention.

I was home alone with the boys, actually feeding Wyatt on the couch at the time of the crash, who then got flopped on the couch to scream while Gavin screamed in pain and Jacob cried in regret and sent himself to his room. I knew I needed to get to the emergency room and I knew taking all three of them would be a nightmare, so I called on my sister Adrea, whom we had just left after the Santa adventure. I just said "I need you, I need to take Gavin to the emergency room" and she put down the bottles she wanted to purchase at the liquor store and was on her way. While I waited for her to arrive I got some ice on Gavin's head while he drank some milk and I feed Wyatt a bit. By the time Adrea arrived, Gavin's head wasn't gushing anymore and I think only Jacob was still crying. I took Gavin to the emergency room and left Jacob and Wyatt with Adrea.

The emergency room receptionist was sure Gavin would need to be sedated for stitches and so she made us wait 3 hours before getting called back, since Gavin had had milk and if they sedate it needs to be at least 3 hours after eating or drinking. When we got back into the treatment room, sedating was never mentioned (so our waiting was for not). They "numbed" the cut with a topical numbing liquid applied by a cotton swab. That in itself was horrifying to me and Gavin, who had fallen asleep finally and was awoken by a nurse firmly dabbing this stinking liquid onto his wound, was apparently horrified as well. After he recovered from the "numbing" they came in, strapped him to a stabalization board (papoose board), and then put in the 5 stitches. I'm not sure if the numbing helped at all, he still thrashed and screamed through that too. This was a minor injury and I don't know how I will be able to handle anything of a larger nature, that was enough for me.

Gavin and Jacob waiting for Santa's arrival.

Santa and his reindeer. For some reason I thought he would

need a bigger sleigh and more reindeer.

Sorry if you have a weak stomach, this is how I knew it needed stitches.


This is what he looked on Sunday after the crash.

On Sunday morning Jacob sang at church with his Joyful Sounds choir. Here is a short clip from his performance. I wasn't aware that he was suppose to be warming up with the choir prior to the performance, so I just shoved him in the line as the were walking up the aisle to perform. So he was a little unsure and unrehearsed.