In case you caught bit and pieces of my Twitter stream last night (like my father did, on my blog — poor dad), let me fill in the blanks.
For amusing vacation anecdotes, please come back tomorrow.
Michael and I returned to Pittsburgh via the Cranberry exit of the turnpike, and were home by about 4 p.m. And locked out because Dan had the house key. Fortunately my in-laws were home, and we said our hellos and got our house key from them.
Dan and I traveled separately because we needed two cars for all our stuff. Well, the kids’ stuff really. Plus, you know, the kids. (It’s time for us to invest in a bigger vehicle.) Sunday after packing the car and having brunch with my parents, sister, and her family, Dan took the girls to visit a friend near Seven Springs, while M and I headed for home.
M napped about an hour in the car, and was, not surprisingly, cranky once we got home. He threw a fantastic tantrum, and I figured he was headed for an early bedtime. We had cheese and noodles for dinner — we need to go to shopping — and took a nice little walk.
Once we got back home, he played in the tub for a bit. Then he decided he wanted to get out as I was rinsing the shampoo out of his hair. As a result of his eagerness, the slippery tub, and my hands being full and wet, he slipped and smashed his chin on the edge of the tub.
I was terrified for a moment that he had hit his *teeth* — he went down hard. But it turned out he had just put a nice gash in his chin. I called my MIL because it looked to me like a trip to the hospital was in order. It wasn’t bleeding a lot, but it was… well, gaping. After the fall, he didn’t even cry that long, and he didn’t knock himself out. Once the first wailing stopped, he actually asked for ice, which I was more than happy to give to him.
My FIL drove us to the ER, where they were friendly and efficient. Instead of stitches, Michael got Dermabonded — basically superglue for your skin — and then got an orange popsicle.
As we left the ER, I said to M, “Let’s not come back here for a long, long time.” The male nurse who was assisting us said, “I have bad news for you. He’s a boy.” Seeing as M has already attempted to climb a tree, ride a scooter, and reach the monkey bars on our jungle gym, he may have a point.
On the way home, M happily babbled in the back seat, and once home, we snuggled, he had his bottle, the girls peered at his wound, and everyone (except the grown ups) went to bed. Not the best ending to a five-day vacation (which was really nice), but everyone is fine. A couple of days in our normal routine should get everyone back in equilibrium.
Do boys go to the emergency room more than girls? Or do they go to the ER for injuries more often than girls?
Red Pen Mama 
My one and only ER trip as a child was for — wait for it — stitches in my chin. No slippery bathtub for me, though. I was chasing my little sister around the basement and tripped on our playhouse (a refrigerator box my mom painted to look like a house. Landed right on my chin. I got cool blue thread for my stitches and, yes, a popsicle for not crying too much.
I’d love to suggest that based on my experience, you’re already done with emergency room trips for M. I’d love to say that, but I don’t think I will 😉
I should check with my brother to see how many ER visits he’s made with his kids — four boys. That would give me a little more anecdotal evidence, yes?
We have been to urgent care for Ben for a bee sting, stitches in his chin, dislocated elbow, and a jammed thumb (which we eventually found out we needed surgery for). Katie for a bee sting and foot and mouth disease or hives, I forget?
We’ve taken Flora twice (one fall, one ear infx at 9 months), and M twice already (this visit and because he had an ear infection that was not responding to abx). Relatively speaking, I guess we’re doing all right.
Another boy with chin stitches? Sounds like this is a thing…
Dan’s whole family has chin scars: MIL, FIL, Aunt, and Daddy. Now we know who M’s father really is. 😉
My nearly 9 year old has been to the ER just once, when at 5.5 she fell back into the register and needed staples. Knock on wood and pray to God that is it; my first time in the hospital was when I was 18 or 19 and getting my wisdom teeth out.
My SIL has four boys, and the first three have been to the ER more times than I can count (the fourth is only a week old, so hopefully he has some time). In fact, she has received coupons (they live in TX; maybe it is a thing there) because they are frequent customers. I think the nurses know them by name.
Good luck!
Right! (Knock wood), I’ve never needed stitches or broken a bone, and neither have the girls. M is definitely going to keep me on my toes.
My 9 year old had an ER visit when she was 3 for shutting her head in the van’s sliding door. I was about 8 feet away watching it happen in front of me. She was trying to climb up in the van, meanwhile the door was sliding to close and I couldn’t get there in time. It looked bad, but two staples in her scalp closed it up nicely. That’s the only ER occasion we have had with two girls. I hope M is doing well!!
At 7 Springs, M managed to fall down and give himself a fat lip while I was HOLDING HIS HAND. I mean, come on, kid. He seems fine, and is healing well. 🙂
I had stitches 4 times before I was 10. Fell face first onto a brick, got ran over by a big wheel, nearly sliced my ear off at a store at Westmoreland Mall, and ran into a half open door. The door was the worst. Entire eyebrow split open, required a plastic surgeon, and learned getting a shot in your forehead is quite unpleasant. Needless to say, being female did not keep me from the emergency room : )
I played lots of sports and outdoor activity and was able to avoid ERs for the most part. I don’t think boys go there anymore than girls do. But then I’m the weird anomaly kid who still has never had a stitch or broken a bone. Lots of bruises, scrapes, and sprained ankles and wrists, but nothing more. It’s made me a baby about going to the doctor, though. Mainly because I’ve been there so rarely.