A Quick Trip to the ER

O.k. so it wasn't so quick. Our eldest daughter Kate ended up in the ER on Saturday afternoon after her teeth were jammed through her bottom lip. You would think the injury occurred during her soccer game because she was still wearing her jersey. At least that is what the nurses at the hospital concurred when they saw her, but the incident was much less glamorous.
I was out shopping for new dishes due to a previous mishap that happened earlier in the week (scroll down and read "What Goes Bump in the Night" for further details) and Chad was at home with the kids watching the BYU football game with a friend. No, I am not placing the blame on my husband, just setting the stage for the story. Kate and Emily were horsing around playfully fighting over a toy when Kate started crying. Chad thought they were just crocodile tears until he noticed the blood covering the side of her face down to her chin. After examining Kate's face he could tell that she was in need of a few stitches. Luckily our friend was there (we owe you big time Sean). He cleaned up the blood from the carpet and babysat Emily and Andrew, who napped through the whole incident, so that Chad could run Kate to the hospital.
I was so happy to be out shopping by myself that I couldn't hear the phone ring. I finally heard a faint noise from my phone like someone was trying to text me. I pulled my phone out of my purse and read, "I'm at the hospital with Kate come ASAP." I flew out of the store as fast as I could and called Chad. He was so calm, very UnChad like (sorry honey), and he explained to me what had happened and let me talk to Kate.
When I arrived at the hospital Kate seemed to be fine, just a little nervous about getting stitches. I sent Chad home to relieve Mr. Mom Sean. Then Kate and I just hung out and talked until the nurse turned on the T.V. for her. She thought that was so cool. An adjustable bed and T.V.! At least she was able to take her mind off of getting stitches for a while.
Kate was so brave. They gave her 3 sutures right under her lip after she was good and numb. She kept looking at herself in the mirror. She was so proud of her battle wound. She didn't seem to mind that school pictures were on Monday. Perfect timing as usual.
The nurse asked if this was the first time that Kate had had stitches. I almost said No until I remember that she had Open Heart Surgery at the tender age of 5 months. All of the memories of that painful incident came flooding back to me. Her whole chest was stitched closed after a successful surgery. She looked like she was wearing a zipper down her front. I turned and looked at Kate's scar. It hardly seemed noticeable anymore because it had healed so well. I remember rubbing vitamin E on it every time I laid her down to change her diaper. Grandpa Melendez would show Kate his scar and tell her to be proud and that they were alike. He had triple bypass surgery years prior. I better get off this subject now. Too emotional!
Anyway, I love my little Kate. This post is for her so that she can look back and remember how brave she was.
She was exhausted from the days events and fell asleep reading. I had to snap a photo because she looked so cute with her hand on her stuffed hamster. Looks exactly like her real hamster Fluffy.