ER visit for mister B

It happened. We had to visit the ER last night. 10 years of being a parent and this was our first trip...one I hope that we don't have to repeat.

Brayden took a spill of a bike and hit his forehead on the handlebars. He has only been riding a 2 wheeler for a week. BLAST!! Now...there is a lesson I hope he learned about obedience. Both Brayden and Drew had their bikes taken away earlier in the day for not obeying a few family rules. They are hanging from the garage rafters. While I was getting Ella ready for bed, I let the boys play outside for just a few more minutes. There is a knock at my door and a neighbor is cradling Brayden and his head is bleeding. He had decided he wanted to ride a neighbor boys bike...without his helmet on. I knew instantly that we were going to the DR by the look of the cut. Matt is out of town with Morley so I rushed Drew & Ella into the van, I carried Brayden and we sped off to the ER. Yes, I did give him a little lecture about obeying on the way there...we was conscience so I took advantage of his undivided attention. I explained that he broke 3 rules...which resulted in our little trip to the hospital.

1. If your bike is taken away, you cannot ride any other bike

2. Always wear your helmet

3. Do not leave our yard without asking permission

Only in a small town do you arrive at the ER and it is completely empty. The reception desk was even deserted. Once we were noticed, I carried him back to our little room and they started to clean up his wound and they called the DR on call...who happened to be our family doctor. Once he arrived, he said we had to have stitches. Brayden had been really tough until he heard that and he started bawling. I told him about the time I fell off my bike and had to get stitches in my chin and when I ran into a door knob and had to get stitches over my left eyebrow.

The DR and nurses tried to explain to Brayden how the litacane shot was going to hurt, but it wouldn't hurt to actually put the stitches in. I held one hand and Ella while another nurse had his other hand and a different nurse held his head still. He SCREAMED when they stuck him with the needle, over and over again. Drew was crying, I was crying and Ella had her head buried in my neck. He was so tough and I know he was so scared. He was a champ while they stitched him up and put a cool Transformers band-aid on. We thought we were done...but he had to get a tetnus shot in his toosh before we could leave. Yes...I have to still get the kindergarten shots done. We were in and out in less than an hour, that must be some kind of ER record. They let him keep the 'tools' to fix his head as special treasures.

He slept well and has been on the couch most of the day watching movies. I don't think I'll be able to keep him down for too long, I can wish though. His bike will be hanging from the garage rafters for a while longer.

***beware...wound pictures***