… that needed stitches!

OK, he didn’t NEED stitches, the dr just said it would heal better if he had them, and since he was so calm they might as well give them to him.

I, however, was not calm. I broke my record of very serene injury review. Up until this incident I had always managed to maintain composure after falls, cuts, concussions etc.

I had walked into the kids’ bedroom to get Matthew’s pajamas when I heard him and a friend I was babysitting screaming. I walked quickly into the living room and Matthew ran up to me crying. If Matthew’s crying you know it hurts, because he’s a tough little guy (I think he’s missing some pain sensitivity neurons).

He buries his face against my leg and I put my hand in its accustomed place on the back of his head… to find it covered with blood! Blood all over the place. running down my hand, dripping on the floor. AAAAAAAAAAAAH!

This particular friend has a history of sudden violence. He’s not a bad kid, but you just have to be aware of him getting upset because he can kind of erupt in a physically aggressive way. In my mind I’m picturing that this child grabbed a brick and fractured Matthew’s skull! Of all the ridiculous things to think!

Anyway, Glen was Mr. Smooth. He has told me about the time his elementary school mate’s teeth sunk into his head in such a way that blood was spurting out. The school nurse screamed when she saw him and his shirt was covered in blood. So he was comfortable dealing with this situation.

Matthew, after getting over the first hurting part, was terrific:

2 stitches that will dissolve, administered after a local anesthetic.

I think he actually had fun. The sticker and popsicle they gave him is probably what he remembers most! Hopefully he’ll remember not to walk on the coffee table also.