We had a somewhat eventful and rather bloody start to our weekend. Beatrix, dear Beatrix. She’s just so bouncy.
Thursday evening I worked hard to make sure we were well prepared to make an early start Friday. Best clothes were pressed and ready, gifts wrapped, directions printed. Friday morning everything went well, and we actually made it on time to the Mass at which dear friends would be joining the Catholic Church, and their older boys receiving First Holy Communion. The kids were antsy during Mass, the result of being in a new place, and having ridden for over an hour in the car to get there. We made it nearly to the end of the service when Beatrix told me that she needed to go to the bathroom, again. I didn’t really believe her, but asked Larkspur to take her anyway and then to just join Jonny in the vestibule where he had been wrangling Silas throughout Mass. That way, I could spend the last few minutes of Mass in peace. It turned out to be a bad decision on my part. Minutes later, my friend Sarah came to tell me that Jonny needed me, and that we needed to take Beatrix to the hospital. I was momentarily very confused, because she was fine just a few minutes before. But as I exited the sanctuary and saw Jonny holding her, I understood. She was covered in blood: her dress, her hair. Her face was hidden by the giant wad of bloody paper towels that Jonny was using to stop the bleeding.
There are giant glass windows in this church between the sanctuary and the vestibule. Beatrix, bouncing toward a friend, tripped over her sandals and went face first into the glass. Thankfully the glass didn’t break, but her forehead split open, a long, deep cut right across the middle. Kind strangers surrounded us offering help, advice, and directions to the nearest hospital. We were overwhelmed and it took us a few minute to come up with a plan. We were supposed to be celebrating with our friends, and all of our children, including poor Beatrix were looking forward to the party after the service. We went round and round with different plans. Realizing that there was no salvaging the situation, we explained to the kids that there would be no party, and that we were going to drive home, and take Bea to the hospital near our house. I felt relief as Beatrix’s head had stopped bleeding, and we had a plan now. Beatrix stopped crying, but Larkspur just couldn’t. At one point Larkspur wailed, “The worst thing is when something bad happens to one of the kids younger than you. I wish I was the one who got hurt!” Jonny and I were mildly shocked when Beatrix agreed out loud that it would indeed have been better had it been Larkspur who cut her head. She must have sensed our surprise at her words, because she quickly changed her mind, deciding that actually it would have been better if it happened to one of the big boys instead of her. I’m sure they appreciated that. Actually, it made everyone laugh.
Three hours in the E.R. and Bea was fixed up almost good as new. The physician’s assistant wanted to stitch her little forehead closed, but I insisted on glue. The cut was clean, straight, long, and so prominently positioned. I didn’t want the scarring that comes with stitches. Once all was said and done, he agreed with me, that glue was a good choice. By that time he had already said so much about the possibility of the glue not holding up as well as stitches, about being able to do a better job with stitches, etc. that I walked away a bit of a nervous wreck. But, I’m glad I stood my ground on this one. I believe there will be less scarring with the glue. (Just a note: glue burns like crazy. Beatrix screamed and cried. It was really hard for a couple of minutes.) I’m worried now though, about her falling down, bumping her head, and doing something to mess up the cut, so carefully glued together. So for the next week or so, I will be playing the role of overprotective mom. On errands over the weekend, I carried her from the car to the store. I found myself yelling “Slow down! Walk!” when we were outside in the yard (to little avail.) I ever so carefully washed her hair in the bath, careful not to get the glue wet.
Oh, Beatrix. You terrify me sometimes. I love your bounce and your wild abandon, but right now, I’m worried about your head. I promise to stop telling you to stop running and being so bouncy in a few more days.
Poor thing! I hope that she mends well and quickly.
Oh Ginny……reminds me of the time my son ran into a dividing wall and needed stitches under his eye.
I am a bit older than you ( not much) 🙂 and my patience couldn’t handle it now. Children definitely test that! I always admire how you handle stressful situations. You are a great mom….:) hope she is doing better…. And that you’re feeling ok too…….:) take care…God Bless you all.
I am well over 50……that being said I had stitches three times before the age of 5 and the day my father took the training wheels off of my bike I fell and fractured my skull! Missed the first month of first grade and as my Mom will tell you graduated from college anyway!
Hope this helps. 😉
We all pray for you and your beautiful family
God takes such good care of his little ones. It could have been so much worse. I can only imagine what it’s like to see the blood and provide comfort through the tears. I continue to be struck by Larkspur’s calm wisdom in pictures and in moments like this one. How much you children love each other! May Bea’s Go First Think Second be tempered by caution as she matures but no lost completely. It is a gift. I pray that you will find peace over the next few days and not be so anxious over the glue splitting (and I pray it doesn’t split).
Ginny,
So glad she’s alright. I had a wound on my face that was looking like it was going to scar and I started using our magical healing salve on it and it helped so much! It started vanishing what I thought was going to be an awful scar on my face. The comfrey is simply amazing when it comes to that. Do you have any left? If not, I’ll send you so more. 🙂
Love,
Taryn
Oh, Ginny—that last picture says it all!
Oh poor Bea! For a minute I thought you meant super glue! I’m one of those lucky kids that just broke bones instead of getting stitches. I’m sure my parents are glad 🙂
Oh Ginny, poor you! And poor little Beatrix. We’ve had a few big accidents like these over the years, and they are always scary. Love love love the pictures of the children in the field of flowers. I hope Beatrix is feeling better soon! xx
Kiss her boo boo…it looks like it really hurt.
Your surroundings are just magical. Like we dont even live on the same planet.
My son opened his forehead a little before Christmas, and at the ER his dad insisted on glue too. The cut is more little, and placed like Harry Potter’s, really!
The glue fell out quickly, in a matter of days. He had some on his eyebrow and a part of it fell with the glue… It grew back quickly too.
Now some months later it doesn’t show as much, and with his hair on his forehead, people are not noticing.
http://demilunes.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/MerrickHP.jpg the picture is a couple day after. Sorry I can’t find a picture where we see the scar now, it’s always hiden by hair. But I tell you, once the swelling go the scar fades 🙂
Oh poor B and poor you! I’m not sure who hurts worse in these situations. My son once threw the smallest of rocks up in the air and it came down on his forehead with a sharp place that hit him. As he ran across the field to our house it looked as if he had been hit in the head with an ax. So much blood all over his face and the cut was so small you could barely see it!
Oh, head wounds bleed so much! I always freak out until I can get things cleaned up enough to assess the damage. Isn’t that the same spot on her forehead that met with your tile floor last week? She’s like my Adrian–he always seems to get it on the noggin, too!
Once it is healed, vitamin E is very good, applied daily, at minimizing the scarring. Hugs to you, poor Mama!
Poor girl! Ginny you are a trooper…I felt anxious just reading your story!! Well handled 🙂
Oh. No. What a day! I have several scars on my face from stitches. One on my lip you can see and one under my nose that you can’t see. I’m not sure there was a choice 41 years ago when I had stitches in those places. I get cracks on my thumbs in the winter because my hands get so dry and I started using super glue on them and it’s amazing how much faster they healed being glued shut rather than using just a bandaid.
As me, being a nurse, I would have told you to stitch it up. Really.
But I´m also my fathers daughter, and I do still remember his face, when he saw me and the bloody hole in my forehead. It´s 25 years ago.
Every time, I look in the mirror, I see this really small scar, which looks like a little star. Nearly every time, I remember my fathers sorrow. Than I know again, how much he loves me.
I´m really thankful for this scar.
And so will Beatrix.
( Don´t worry, this scar will be really, really tiny. I´m sure.)
It is good to read, that there are peope like you, who listen to their inner voice, when they make decisions about healing their bodies and souls.
I like your blog. Best wishes from Germany.
Janet
( Sorry about my really bad english)
manuka honey will help keep the wound free from germs and helps with any scarring. my husband cut the corner of his eye pretty badly a few years ago but didn’t want to go get stitches. we applied manuka honey for about a week plus used arnica, orally, and his eye has healed with NO scar:) so sorry for your stress. my bouncy child worries me every day. fortunately, no broken bones or stitches just knocked out teeth@@…i carry arnica with me at. all. times.
Poor mom, poor Beatrix and poor Larkspur! 🙂 My son split his son open and the glue worked very well, very small scar. We put the tape stitches on top of it when it was first healing so it couldn’t split open. It worked very well although he looked like he had a white railroad track across his little chin for a week or so. Might work for Bea and make mom feel better too? 🙂
Blessings,
My son was accident prone until fifth grade. He was the child that never tried to break a fall and his face would absorb the impact. I still worry about him although he shows more caution as an adult. He had a glued forehead like your daughter and there is NO scar, you did a good thing 🙂
Oh the poor little darling.
My son had a ‘glue job’ done on his face when he was 18 mths (it was a smaller cut than Beatrix’s) and it has healed just fine, only the tiniest mark. I agree, glue is a better option on such a visible spot. We had to be very careful with the sun on the scar for months after.
She is going to have so much fun and laughs reading about all her adventures in a few years time. Yay for blogging!
Do you know that you can get full head and chin bike helmets in very small sizes these days, just an idea!
I am so moved by Larkspur’s compassion. I remember pictures of her smiling adoringly at Silas when he was very small, and it shows there too. I think you made a wise choice to use the glue, and I hope for your sake she slows down a little this week, maybe time for more knitting lessons with you! Blessings to all of you!
Everytime I read about Beatrix doing something I am reminded that my Liliana will probably doing many of the same things in a year or two. I hope she doesn’t give you too much worry and that her head heals quickly.
Oh I’m sorry about Beatrix’s head! Here’s hoping it heals fast!
Oh that girl, what a gift to you!
Oh my goodness. That last photograph is priceless! Poor sweet girl. I have a matching scar that I got when I was three. I know that gave you quite a scare!
I have a Jordan just like that. Oh my, poor baby.
What a scary situation, I’m glad that she’s better.
I’m so sorry to read this! It sounds like you came up to my parish for the FHC and the baptism. I was planning on attending, but we’re all under the weather here!
The wildflowers are beautiful! Love seeing the bouncy Beatrix!
All Saints in Manassas?
Yes! My son attends the Renaissance Atrium, not the full school.
Oh Bea. I have a bouncy one too. And he’s loud and can be rough. But when it comes to faith and love of God – whoa boy he is the go to guy. “Mama God has the WHOLE WORLD in his hands remember?!!!” “Mama, so many people LOVE Nellie and Marin and want them home because of GOD!!!”
I try to remember this when picking up broken glass, or applying the band-aides, or asking him for the 100th time to not kiss his sister with his teeth!! 🙂
Give that head a maple syrup kiss from Massachusetts.
Much love!
Kim
Aw, poor baby girl. She’s just like the little lamb that I names after her. Always getting into little messes. It looks like it will heal without too much of a scar. But a scar she will remember. I love all the pictures. The bees must be so happy out there in the middle of all that clover.
oh! how stressful and disappointing! Will be praying for her to heal well ~ I think your Mom instincts for glue were right and we will pray for her ~ and light a candle. Lord have mercy and protect!!!
Oh poor sweet girl! Good job for standing up for what you thought was right! My oldest daughter had 5 broken bones and a concussion before she was 8! I feel your pain.
Come link up to me today about your weekend at my site.
Poor kiddo! I’m already not looking forward to the days that ill be taking Little Man to the hospital for stitches. I’ve taken him to the hospital too much already but that’s a different story. He doesn’t walk anywhere, either.
Awww…..sweet wee lassie! I pray she has a very speedy recovery! I’m sure you can make plans to visit your friends and celebrate with them when all is well again <3
Your weekend adventure reminds me of when I was a little girl and my head met a wall unexpectedly. It was during a little league basketball game and I’ve never seen my dad move down bleachers so fast! There was so much blood for such a small cut. Ended up with two or three stitches, but it’s under my eyebrow so you can’t see the scar. Glad Bea is okay…she’s one tough little cookie 🙂
Oh my, your poor Beatrice! Her sad face in the last photo is just adorable! But in all honesty, such a blessing that a church where you were strangers was so willing to offer help and advice in your difficult situation!
Oh my, poor Bea! I’m so sorry you all went through that and that you missed the party 🙁
Head wounds bleed so much, don’t they? Our David is our bouncy child, and he’s gotten a few splits in the head and it’s terrifying! I agree with the glue. We’ve always done that with David, and have not regretted it. I think there is so much more blood when it’s a head wound, at least that’s what I’ve heard (and experienced)!
Praying for a peaceful recovery…for you both. 🙂
Perhaps some reading about Pooh and Tigger is in order. Tigger came immediately to mind when you talked of Bea’s bouncing!
Bless your heart Ginny, and poor little Bea’s too. So thankful to read the glass didn’t break, I was gettting worried for a minute. I think you made the right decision about the glue and hopefully in a few days life will be back to normal and Bea can be her bouncey self. Life with wee one’s is never dull is it? Take care and I hope your poor nerves have settled down.
Poor Bea! Larkspur is so sweet!
I just had my first experience with a glued child two weeks ago. I have spent the last week wishing they had just used stitches. Ours is above the knee and with the motion of the knee, it has pulled at that glue so many times. We have been to the pediatrician twice for steri stipping and pinching together. Had I been there, I would have asked for stitches, but my husband is the one who took him in to the ER.
Three years ago, I had one with a large gash across the eyebrow. I took him in to the ER and asked for a plastic surgeon since it was on his face. The ER doctor assured me that he himself was a pro and asked me to trust him. Nine stitches and 3 years later…I can only see a very fine scar IF I am looking for it. I am glad I trusted him.
poor sweet baby girl! (and poor momma!!) I would suggest getting a hold of some nexcare steri strips (preferably the 1/2″ wide, instead of the 1/4 in ~ but if the thinner is all you can find – just kinda double them up width-wise) I think they would go a long way towards easing your mind about the wound re-opening. Also (while I’m offering up advice 😉 Sovereign Silver is supposed to be fantastic at helping wounds heal quickly.
My Lexi (whom I often think sounds very much like your Bea!) broke her arm recently. Rather than putting it in a cast, they just put a brace on it (while nice for HER to not have to deal with a cast – it was definitely harder on ME 😉 although, I was able to remove it once or twice a day to put helicrysum e.oil on it, so that was good) I, too, found myself constantly saying, “be careful!” “get down” “stop jumping” etc.
Oh heal up quick sweet little girl. My niece had brain surgery a few month ago. She is the same age as Beatrix and she too is very bouncy. She felt so good after the surgery my SIL couldn’t keep her from running around even though she wasn’t supposed to play. It was a very very long two weeks, but she healed up quick and I am sure Beatrix will too! My SIL got her a mini shuffle so she could listen to her music. That was the only thing that helped keep her settled. She felt so cool listening to her music, but she was only alouded to use it if she was sitting on the couch or in her bed.
Oh Bea! I’m glad she’s okay- what an awful scare!!! Sending love from us:)
She’s just beautiful in these pictures. I admire your strenght when you told the doctor what to do. I often wondered how it was if my baby got hurt. You sure have many years of eperience already.
Thats some bruise she has there, lets hope it heals without a scar, what a scare for you all
Poor Beatrix! Poor Mama, and poor Larkspur. I would have been similarly frazzled, I’m sure. Good for you for standing your ground on the glue. I wouldn’t have even thought about it, honestly. I’m sure Bea will thank you one day. ((hugs!))
Bouncy indeed. I have a bouncy, jumping, running girl here too…full speed ahead (always).
Oh poor Bea! I hope for a rapid recovery and very little scarring! That last picture is classic and a definite keeper. Wrap her in bubble wrap?
Bubble wrap–perfect! 🙂
Bubble wrap? Her siblings may not be able to resist pinching her in bubble wrap!
Aww, sweet girl. Sorry this happened to her, and it sounds like it hasn’t slowed her down much. Take care, little one!
My Nate cannot walk anywhere. He and Beatrix could bounce along together. I mean, you don’t want to be Rabbit, right? A Tigger who doesn’t bounce is an awfully sad Tigger.