5 little stitches sitting on a chin...

Dearest Jackson,

You are such a boy!  And boys play a lot differently than girls.  For instance, I would never attempt to use a ball as a platform for jumping onto the couch.  After Sunday, I don’t think you’ll ever attempt it again though. 

So…Daddy ran to the store to pick up some pieces that were missing from a bed we purchased the day before.  I had just put Colton to bed and my back was really bothering me so I was resting on the chair.  You got our big exercise ball and started playing with it.  Typically, I wouldn’t let you use it as a toy – but since I was feeling out of it and there were only a few minutes before your bed time, I just let it go.  At this point, your daddy came home and you were excited about that.  In all your excitement, you decided to stand on top of the exercise ball and leap onto the couch.  Except you missed the couch and your chin caught you on the hardwood floor instead!  It seemed to happen in slow motion.  As I saw the ball fly out from under you, I screamed “JOSH!!” before you even hit the floor.  It took Daddy only a second to know that you needed stitches.  I cradled you in my arms and held paper towels over your chin to stop the blood that quickly got all over the place – the floor, your hair, our clothing...  Daddy called Deanna and Kristy and they were here in a matter of minutes.  As I got up to get ready to go, my little fainting issue reared its ugly head.  I could barely even explain things to Kristy and before long I was on the floor just trying to catch my breath.  What a scene it was!  Colton woke up from all the commotion so Kristy was trying to comfort him.  Daddy was attempting to find our insurance card.  I was in the middle of the kitchen floor hyperventilating.  And you were sitting in front of the tv – now holding the paper towels all by yourself! 

We made it to the hospital a little before 8:00 and they took us to the back right away.  You were given some numbing cream and we were told we had to wait for it to take effect.  That wait turned out to be an hour and a half long!!!  Luckily, we had your v-reader in the car so you played with it the entire time.  I, however, knew I needed some pictures of our first emergency room visit.  These are from Daddy’s phone – but it was the best we had available:

When it was finally time to do the stitching, I knew I had to leave.  I shuffled to the waiting room where I sat for about 4 minutes.  Then, I heard your screams coming from 8 rooms away.  I went back to you as quickly as I could and found you on the table, in some sort of straight jacket for kids, with a blue cloth over your face and 2 nurses holding you down while the doctor gave you 5 stitches.  You were screaming for me and it hurt to hear you in so much pain.  Your screams turned to pleading as you told everyone, “I want my mommy!” and I couldn’t help but tear up.  They uncovered your face after she was done and my heart broke as our eyes locked.  I swear I saw a bit of innocence leave from your face in that moment.  You didn’t understand that those people had just helped you more than hurt you and you looked frightened and confused by it all.  You were unwrapped and then I scooped you up again as Daddy and I began praising you and telling you how proud we were of you.  You were given a popsicle while we waited to be discharged. 

We finally returned home a little after 10:00 and you were so exhausted that you didn’t even finish the cookie treats that Deanna had waiting for you!  We gave you some pain medicine and tucked you in bed.

I haven’t seen you messing with it but we don’t get the stitches taken out for another few days.  Daddy took the band-aid off of it tonight and you were not happy about that!  I wanted some pictures of it and, in taking these pictures, this was the first time I actually saw the damage. 

You will have a little scar there but you’ll always be my handsome guy!

I’ve been told by too many people that this is the life of boys.  I really don’t think I’m ready for this!