Nothing dampers our Little Goofer's spirits - not even a trip to the ER

Last Wednesday, just as I was sitting down to eat lunch my phone rang. Taking note of the Caller ID, I saw that it was indeed a real call from the girls' school rather than the three-times-a-day misdial for Wal-Mart Pharmacy. I answered and the school secretary began relaying a bathroom mishap.

Coryn is in 3k all day MWF and has yet to have an potty-related accident at school. Nevertheless, all the kids keep a change of clothes at school, just in case.

Quickly, I learned that this was not the typical preschool bathroom accident.

CoCo was perched on a step stool to wash her hands when she slipped and fell. Somehow she hit the back of her head on a sharp edge of the sink. She was bleeding and the principal thought she may need stitches. I said I would come right away.

As I was driving to school I called my mom (who happens to be my go-to medical professional since she's not just a mother of four, but an RN). Luckily she was off from work that day and answered her phone. Within minutes she had calmed my worried nerves. She figured CoCo was probably upset from the fall and the teacher/secretary/principal weren't able to console her. She also recommended I call our pediatrician's office to talk to the triage nurse about possibly coming in for stitches.

I dialed the ped's office and spoke with a triage nurse. She told me to find out if CoCo had lost consciousness or thrown up. And, once I was able to look at the cut myself, she could help me decide whether she would need stitches.

Ten minutes later I was at school. CoCo was with the secretary, who was holding an ice pack to the back of her head. I expected Coryn to be red-faced and crying. Astonishingly, she looked a lot like this:

The secretary said CoCo had been her normal cheerful self. She hadn't lost consciousness or vomited. She didn't even shed a single tear. But, the cut on her head was deep and still bleeding.

CoCo stayed with the secretary while I ran downstairs to grab CoCo's jacket, backpack and snatch Jo out of class. I told Jo what happened and asked her if she could help her sister be brave. Jo has always been squeamish around blood. As soon as she heard CoCo was bleeding, Jo was anxious and scared. She was worried the stitches were going to hurt REALLY BAD. Jo was on the verge of crying and she hadn't even seen her sister yet. Sorry Jo, but I have serious doubts about you entering the medical field.

With the girls buckled in Debbie, I called the ped's office and talked to the triage nurse again. She asked where I was and said it was best for us to go straight to the nearest ER. Considering Jo was a basket-case, still fretting over CoCo getting stitches, I opted to drop her off at home with Matt on the way to the hospital.

CoCo and I parked close to the Emergency entrance and went in. This was the first time I had been to an ER. I expected there to be lots of noise and chaos and blood - something like an episode of ER. Much to my surprise, the ER was quiet and nearly empty. I walked up to the lady at the front desk and explained how my daughter fell at school, cut her head, and likely needed stitches. She took down her name and told us to take a seat in the waiting area. I pulled some coloring books and crayons out of my purse.

Two-and-a-half hours later, CoCo had two staples and a regular band-aid stuck on the back of her head.

Coryn had been cooperative, unruffled and unafraid. The doctor said she was his best patient that day. 

We had just enough time to swing back home, pick up Matt and Jo, and head over to Nino's Bakery in The Falls for the Wednesday Night Spaghetti Dinner. We were meeting my parents and Grandma Jo there to celebrate my Dad's birthday.

Today (while Jo was at school) Coryn and I went to the pediatrician's office. Nurse Lisa asked CoCo a few questions and gave her a high five for answering all the questions herself and for acting so grown-up. Doctor Darcy came in, had CoCo lay down on her belly and look at a book. They talked about their favorite animals to see at the zoo. As Dr. Darcy pulled out the staples, Coryn chatted about elephants and didn't flinch. The doctor had Cokes pick out three stickers for being so brave.

When we got home I asked to take a picture of CoCo on the day her broken head healed. And our Little Goofer posed, making her best silly face.