Half-pint Gets Stitches...

On Thursday evening, Half-pint decided that he was finished eating his dinner before the rest of us. This is not unusual, and we're not real sticklers for him staying at the table. He generally plays in the family room, (just off the kitchen where we usually eat). While Daddy, Quarter-pint and I were finishing our meal, Half-pint was up to his usual antics: climbing over the top of the couch, and who knows what else. Then it happened-the blood curling scream that can only mean injury and pain. I jumped up from the table and rushed to him; he was writhing on the floor, crying. When I picked him up I did the usual scan to try to figure out where he was hurt (I didn't actually see him fall, so I really wasn't sure where to look). I quickly realized he hit his ear on the side of the coffee table (which has beveled glass on the top) as he fell off the couch. There was a GAPING wound on the side of his ear! We quickly got a cold, wet paper towel to help stop the bleeding; and Daddy and I agreed without any words between us that he needed to go to urgent care (we thought that would be faster than the ER). We loaded everybody in the car and off we went. There was very little waiting at UC (thankfully!) We didn't tell or show Half-pint what happened, partly because we didn't want him to get too worried, and I was trying not to freak out myself. When it was our turn to be seen by the UC staff, Half-pint's only concern was "No shots!" I knew he needed stitches, and I knew he was going to get a shot first. He was really brave until they laid him down on the table and wrapped him in a sheet to keep his arms from moving (I was worried about having to hold him still-that goodness for that sheet!). He got really worried when they covered his face with a paper sheet with a hole exposing only his ear. Then the panic set in. He was hot, tired, scared of shots, and in pain. The poor kid! He ended up getting a shot in his ear, and then they began the process of sewing him up; 5 or 6 stitches, it's hard to tell exactly how many. Thankfully, all the ear tissue was still there (both Daddy and I thought there might be a piece missing, but his laceration was only hanging open, as I guess often happens with that sort of injury) and it should heal "nicely" according to the PA that did the repair. When he hit the coffee table, the impact cut through the side of his ear, and also behind his ear. There is a HUGE bruise on the bony bump just behind the ear, and a laceration there. That spot didn't need much attention. About half of his little ear is bruised-in all shades. So, stitches for 5-7 days, then I get to take him back in to have them removed. That should be fun! He's done very well, just taking pain medication. Occasionally he'll say, "Mom, we take the stitches off now?" I'm a little surprised it's taken almost four years to have our first set of stitches.