"I Bonk A Head"

And that's exactly what happened!

We had our first nice day in a really long time and I could not wait to tell Stella we were going to the park. She LOVES the outdoors and I'm sure she'd live outside if we allowed it. While we were at the park some of our other friends from our ward showed up with there kids which made it even better. One of Stella's favorite friends, Stevie came to play too. Stella adores Stevie, we drive by her house on our way home and every time she see's it "there's Stevie's house!" then for the next hour it's "I need a play with Stevie!". It's adorable actually.

Well they were running around the picnic table area and I heard one of my friends say "oh Stella", I looked up just in time to see her running fast with her head turned behind her watching her friend and giggling. She turned her head just in time to catch the sharp corner or this medal outdoor grill with her head. I ran over there as she was obviously upset, she pulled her hand down off her forhead and blood imediately ran everywhere. I panicked! I've worked in so many hospitals, nursing homes and dr's offices... I've been around this a lot but since it was my little girl my mind just blanked. Lucky for both of us I was surrounded by my friends. Cadi had wet wipes, we were holding pressure until Kathy came up with a first aide kit and Brooke had a sucker for Stella and they were all just there and so knowing what to do because... I blanked! For a moment I couldn't even remember where we were or where I would take Stella to get checked out. I just remember seeing a lot of blood coming from my baby. Pathetic? Probably. Brooke jogged my memory, we have an InstaCare less than a mile from our house so I rushed her over there after Kathy bandaged her head and got the bleeding to slow down. She was being pritty brave until she saw me break down to David on the phone, then she got scared and started crying again.

We got to the InstaCare and had to wait almost 2 hours to be seen. In that time a nurse came out with a cotton ball saturated in numbing solution and replaced the bandage for the cotton. I got scared a few times because she would start shivering, then acted like she needed to throw up, then kept saying how tired she was. She stayed curled up on my lap, watched the movie they had on in the waiting area and practiced her letters on the magna-doodle until the nurse finally came and got us.

I tried so hard to stay strong, I tried so hard not to cry, but I'm also very pregnant and emotional anyway... I don't know what anyone else could expect. They wrapped her up in a cacoon and shot more numbing stuff in her head and gave her 3 stitches. The Dr. and nurse were great and I eventually calmed down enough that I could try and calm Stella down too. I think for being 2 1/2, she did great.

As soon as we got back in the car her whole aura changed. I looked at her from the rear view mirror where she was looking back at me and said, "it doesn't hurt anymore momma, I'm all better. Can I talk a daddy?" So on the ride home she talked to David on the phone and this was the story from her perspective. "I go to a park daddy, bonk a head, momma cry, stella cry. Go to a dr. I'm all better, have a be careful."

We got home and she crashed. I was feeling pritty sick by then not having anything to eat or drink since that morning. So I settled in with some food, and so did a migraine that lasted 2 days. Maybe I didn't pass my first go round with a head injury too well, but I sure was blessed to have awesome friends who were so willing to help and keep us both calm. Each of them kept texting for updates all through the InstaCare visit until we made it home. Thanks Kathy, Brooke, and Cadi (and your friend, I can't remember her name, sorry) You girls are wonderful!

The picture I have posted above was taken from David's cell phone, I haven't been able to take a better one. You can kind of see where she hit, just above the hairline. The way her hair falls though, you can't even see the stitches. I still cringe thinking about the blood, about combing her hair and what if I rip a stitch, and pulling shirts on and off her head. It just makes my stomach turn and my toes curl. She's great about talking about it though, which I'm glad so she can process through it.
(Shana, I don't know how you have been able to do this... twice!)