Stitches

Asher has entered the world of stitches now. Well, technically he HAS already had stitches. But now he has had his first non-surgery, injury-related stitches.

Sunday evening, we went to a barbecue for Adam's work. 95 degree weather and a park equals very sweaty kids. So, when we came home, we plopped them all into the shower so they could quickly and easily get cleaned off before bed. Just as I opened the door to pull out Asher out, he slipped on the floor. With his finger in his mouth. And chomped down, hard, on his finger. Screaming immediately began. I bundled him in a towel and laid him down to get him dressed for bed, not realizing he actually did some damage. Then I saw the blood on the towel, and looked for the source. I nearly gagged when I saw his finger, dripping blood, with perfect little teeth marks in it. Adam helped with Ash while I ran to get band aids. We quickly realized that wouldn't do the trick, and I found gauze and tape and wrapped his finger with that.

Of course, then Adam tried convincing me that he didn't really need stitches, and a bandage would be fine. So I called the pediatrician, and he said probably stitches, and we needed to treck the 30 minutes to the Children's Hospital, (I live a block away from a different hospital) because he would probably have to be sedated for them. Wonderful. So, 8 pm I got to the hospital (Adam stayed home with the kids). Checked in, and saw the doctor after about an hour. She looked at his finger, and determined he would need 4 stitches, and an x ray to see if he broke it, because he bit all the way to the bone! (So gross!)

After an x-ray showed he didn't break his own finger, they started sedation (nasal versed), and stitches were done. He was a great little patient and didn't squirm much, and by 11:15 pm we were on our way back home. Now the trick is getting him to keep his bandage on! He's also on an antibiotic to help prevent infection.

On a side note, apparently most bite injuries are NOT self inflicted. They were very surprised that he managed to do this to himself! Yet another adventure in the James house. Oh, and it's very sad, I'm starting to recognize people who work at the ER.