15 Stitches

Last Sunday, Erik was running down the hall and fell into the corner of the bedroom door, splitting his forehead right open.  I didn't see him do it, but I heard it and ran to him finding him covered in blood.  I picked him up and ran him into the bathroom to clean it up.  As soon as I looked into his gash, I knew for sure he would need stitches.  Bria was the only one who saw it and she was frantically trying to tell me what happened.  Bria was so upset and just bawled as we were trying to take care of Erik.  It was absolutely heart breaking.  Derek bandaged him up and took him straight to insta-care.  It was late, so I was trying to put Bria to bed, but she was so worried about Erik, so we said a little prayer.  We prayed that he wouldn't be scared and that the doctor would be able to stitch him up without problems.

Derek told us later what had happened at the Insta-care.  Erik was so terrified that they had to wrap him up so he wouldn't flail his arms around.  He just had tears streaming down his face as he was crying out, "Dad!"  When the nurse left, Derek asked Erik if he wanted to say a prayer.  They prayed that he would be comforted somehow.  I am so grateful for prayer and for a Heavenly Father who loves his children so much because only after 3 stitches, Erik fell asleep and didn't have to be scared anymore.  I just cannot thank Heavenly Father enough for helping him feel calm enough to fall asleep because it would have been a long night trying to get the stitches in.  He had to have 4 stitches underneath because it was so deep and 11 on top.

Derek and Erik came home around 10:00.  Derek was carrying him in the house and Erik woke up and said he wanted Mommy.  I took him and held him in the rocking chair until he fell back asleep.  It is moments like these that I just don't want to let go of my child and would do anything to trade places.

The next morning, I heard Erik wake up and say, "Owie" so I ran into the room as fast as I could because I didn't want him taking the bandages off.  I went in and laid next to him and he started playing his favorite game, "I spy with my little eye... something that is... a red owie.  Where is it?  Right there!" as he pointed to his stitches.  He now looks in the mirror and laughs.  He is a true boy!

This is the night of when we put him in his bed.  I just sat there and stared at him with a grateful heart.  If my kids only knew the things I would do for them when things like this happen, they might be getting hurt more often!  So that will be a little secret:)

 The next morning.  He thought he looked so cool with his bandages!

 The next night when Derek cleaned it and re-bandaged the wound.  It was a whole inch long.  Poor kid.