STitChEs

Last Tuesday, I had my morning all planned. Collin was going to {preschool in the park} for 2 hours and I was taking Weston with me to a girl's house in our ward that was teaching a class on how to can meat. Instead, Collin threw a huge tantrum and wouldn't go to preschool. No idea why, he's loved it every other time. There was no persuading, bribing, or threatening the kid. He was not going. I was pretty dang annoyed to say the least. I didn't want to have to take both yahoos to the class. So I drove home, put Collin in time out and was in Collin's bedroom when I heard the crash and cry. 

It was a different kind of cry. I came running and all I saw was blood. I picked up Weston and his mouth was filled with red. My first thought was that he had busted his teeth out. I ran to the kitchen to grab a towel and dab at his face. Then I saw the gash. I knew it needed stitches, but I didn't know where the hospital or an urgent care was. He was hysterical and I am not good in emergencies!!! I was completely panicked. I grabbed my purse and yelled for Collin to follow me to the car. I half buckled Collin in with one hand, then tried to put Weston in his car seat, but he was not having it. I didn't know what else to do, but just drive with him in my lap and pray we didn't get in an accident. I tried calling Trav several times, but he never answered. I started driving down 30th street where I remembered seeing a medical center. I didn't know if it was just private offices or maybe had an urgent care, but it was really close so I figured it was my best bet. When we were almost there, Weston calmed down and was doing the little {hiccuping sighs} against my chest. So then I thought, OK, Trav always said if our kids needed stitches, he'd do them... maybe I'll just go to his office and see what he thinks first. We were right at the turn off to go to his office anyway. A few minutes later, I walk into the waiting room, with blood all over me, a wounded child and a 2 year old, who can only be described as incredibly perky to be out of time out. Luckily, no patients were in the waiting room. I walked to the back rooms where I saw Trav, gloved and in the middle of a procedure on a patient. I turned Weston around so he could see why I was there, then kept walking to the back where his office was. He shares the office with the other dentist, Martin (pronounced "Mar-teen"), who happened to be in there when I walked in. He is a really nice guy, just a couple years older than us. I was so relieved to see him. It was like my burden was being shared now. He immediately put his arm around me, took a look at Weston and told me everything would be fine and left to grab some gauze. Their office manager came in with treats for the boys and wet paper towels to clean up with. Travis came in a few minutes later, but he was really busy that morning and had a bunch of patients lined up to work on. Martin was almost done though, so he said he would be happy to do the stitches. 

The front office staff watched Collin while he stitched him up. I laid in the dental chair with Weston on my stomach, so I could hold his arms down. His assistant, held his head. He cleaned it first, then gave him a local anesthetic shot above and below the cut. Weston fussed the most for that, but it was over quick. They said he was going cross eyed, trying to watch the whole thing. He was a champ for the stitches, but then two came out, so he had to redo them and that's when Weston squirmed the most. I just kept talking to him and he totally listened to me and would grunt replies. I'd say, "Weston should we get an ice cream after this? *Grunt yes* "OK, would you like vanilla or chocolate? Should we call Grandma and tell her what happened? Do you think Uncle Craig will be there too? Guess what, you're going to be on Facebook. Yes you are!" And on and on. Martin and his assistant both commented how amazed they were that he was totally distracted, listening to me and trying to reply, like he understood what I was saying. Well, he DID understand me! That was the beauty of it. He did so good. I was so grateful for Martin! He has been such a help and friend since we moved here. 

This was more to show a bit of how I was covered in blood! I guess the staff even told Travis they noticed blood on my feet. It was seriously everywhere. 

 I can't believe how resilient kids are. When we were waiting in the office, Martin had some music playing and after a while, Weston wiggled off my lap was literally dancing and {gettin' down} in the middle of the floor! With a big gash bleeding down his face. Unbelievable.

I remember telling my mom on the phone that there were huge pools of blood on one of the books where I initially found him. Haha, guess not quite the scene of carnage I described, but it really looked worse in person. Luckily, only spatters of blood got on the carpet and the rest was on the tile.

 This was about an hour after the stitches. He saw me with the camera and was giving me big, goofy grins!

 This was a couple days later. 

We took them out 8 days after he got them. (With the little scissors on Trav's Swiss army knife, while camping... super sanitary. :)

 Hopefully, it won't scar too bad, but in Trav's words, "Men have scars!" 

Oh yes, give the boy an ax and a beer... he is all ready for manhood. :)