Monday, April 21, 2008

Another Story Where Vomit Makes An Appearance

I sat down several hours ago to write about how, although the last few days have been very trying, I am grateful for the little things that helped get me through them. For example, when I awoke yesterday morning as nauseous as could be and purging every hour or so, I thought at least this is happening today when Brad is home and not in the middle of the week. That's a pretty good spin on the positive, right? If I can find something to smile about while wiping the contents of my stomach off my shirt, I think I'm doing ok.

Even this morning, when Brad informed me that I would be van-less today because my battery was dead, I thought at least he works right across the street from Les Schwab so he can bring me a new battery this afternoon. AND, at least that battery is under warranty so it won't cost us a thing. Pretty good, right? I could rearrange carpools since today was my day to drive and I could find SOMETHING for us to eat since my fridge and pantry were completely bare. At least my attitude was good and that would see me through.

That lasted for approximately one hour.

By 9 o'clock, I had called on dear Tiffani to rescue me by driving me down to Brad's school to get his car. Besides the fact that we were in dire need of groceries, I just had this feeling that I needed to have a car this afternoon. I am grateful I followed that feeling.

After getting groceries, picking up the preschool crew, and returning home to make lunch and get settled for a nice relaxing afternoon, I sat down to write my post on perspective and gratitude. I was about a paragraph in when I heard a tremendous thud and a piercing scream coming from the sweet mouth of Sienna.

I ran to the kitchen where she had been quietly eating lunch only to find her sprawled under the kitchen table howling. You know how certain cries just let you KNOW, know that something is really wrong and your child is really hurt? That was the scream. I scooped her up and held her close as she trembled and yelled. I tried to get her to tell me where she hurt but she literally couldn't talk from all the crying so I pulled her back and then saw IT. The inch long, 1/2 inch wide and deep gash on her chin that was pouring blood. Gratitude gone.

Ok, no problem. Think fast. Hannah and Tye, get your shoes on. Sienna, hold on to this towel and try to stop the bleeding. Call Lindsay, please watch the girls, I'm off to the hospital. So much blood, so much blood, so much blood....

Here's where I found the positive again. The staff at the ER took me straight back, primarily because I was a very pregnant woman holding a very scared little girl and we were seen right away. Sienna calmed down and acted perfectly as her wound was washed and irrigated. She didn't make a noise as we slathered the cut in numbing cream and waited for it to take effect. Once everything was cleaned up and the bleeding had slowed, the doctor determined that gluing it together should work. I am grateful, I am grateful, I am grateful....

We were out of the hospital in an hour and I drove my grateful self to McDonald's to get Sienna some ice cream for being so brave. We were about half way home and Sienna was about 10 bites into her ice cream when THE LOOK crossed her face. She started purging with significant force all over herself and the back of Brad's car. Over and over again. I'm not grateful, I'm not grateful, I'm not grateful...

So now I am back home. The car has been cleaned up. Sienna has been bathed which was particularly tricky since I'm not supposed to get her face wet at all and she had vomit in her hair, but we managed. Hannah has cleaned her room. Spence and Michael are doing their homework. The amazing Kristen called and is bringing my family dinner. All I have left to do is go pick Brad up from school and take this gaggle of children to a baseball game in the freezing cold weather. But Sienna is ok, and so, I am grateful, I am grateful, I am grateful...

I wonder what the rest of the week will have in store for me.

16 comments:

Sara said...

Oh wow, that is just to much for me. I hope you are doing ok, and take a much needed break tonight when all is calm and the kids are in bed. Hope you have a better week.

Kris said...

Karen, you are such a trooper. I just look at you with amazement. You are so good at keeping your cool with everything you have going on. I'm sorry to hear about Sienna's chin, the throw up, the car, and everything else. I hope the rest of your week goes better, and I'm glad to hear you got in and out of that ER so fast and that Sienna is OK.

Shayla said...

Wow, that's a Monday where you wish you hadn't gotten out of bed at all. Glad to hear Sienna is okay and Kristen is bringing you all dinner. I don't know how you do it, Karen. It makes for a good blog post, right? There's a try at a positive spin for ya!

Debie Spurgeon said...

Not Fair. So not fair.
I'm glad Sienna is Ok, but why do these kids insist on scaring the life out of us. I know that cry and I'm cringing right now!!
Tomorrow HAS to go smoother.

Stacia said...

Holy Cow! A LOT has happened since I saw you in Brad's car! I know what you mean about trying to put a positive spin and think, I am handling this well. Then BAM! Get hit with another twist.

You are my hero!

Heather said...

Whoa! What a busy day. Glad Sienna is ok and you got the puke out of her hair.

Brooklet said...

Wow, life is a battlefield- when it rains it pours and you handled everything magnificantly!

Sarah said...

Wow, I was getting stressed out just reading that, I'm sure you handled everything a lot better than I would have. I am so glad Sienna is ok. Tomorrow has GOT to be better!

tharker said...

I'm so glad that you followed that little prompting that you needed the car, and I was happy to help. Of course it gave us a chance to gab for a few minutes, so it was great!

Even after talking to you this afternoon, I'm still amazed with the calmness and the grace that you handled this particularly horrible day. You are just wonderful.

Alicia Leppert said...

Oh my goodness. What a day. Never a dull moment at the House of J. I too know that cry...all too well. It's the "we'll be spending the next few hours in the ER" cry. But one hour?! That's amazing! Seriously, you deserve a looooong bath tonight...hopefully a vomit-free one.

dandee said...

I second Stacia. You are my hero. Seriously.

polka dots said...

Craziness, craziness, and more craziness. How do you do it?

Kelly said...

You poor thing. I want to rush over there right now and give you a hug.

You have had too many vomit filled days, I think your turn is over.

So glad Sienna is ok, I HATE that dreaded cry...it makes your stomach turn.

Today will be a better day for sure!

emahaf said...

I am so glad that sienna is ok, that is a horrible day, I cannot believe you handled it so well, hopefully today will be better I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Annette Rose said...

Oh my heck! U R superwoman I think! What a day! I think its awesome that you keep thinking happy thoughts... I may have just given up and cried at the point of the puke in the car. At least it was Brad's car though, right? :)

Ms. Kristen said...

It was wierd that I called you at that very moment? I am glad I could do a little something for you on that "Day"! Hopefully, all will calm down! Sienna.....does she need a vomit bag at preschool next year? I am used to the throw up thing! I have to send one with my kindergarten boy next year! Gotta love it!