Franken-Baby!

My best laid plans for yesterday all went straight down the toilet. M never did take a nap. Ever. All day. He normally takes 2, each 1-2 hours in length. Instead he was ornery and cranky and demanding (imagine that!) and just before 3pm he toppled over while playing with his push-along-poppity-pop. He fell against a corner, right on the baseboards and only cried for about 5 seconds. So I gave him kisses and carried him into his bedroom for a changing. He wriggled away and I noticed that he was bleeding profusely from his little noggin! I mean really really bleeding. It was everywhere--his face his head, the changing pad, my shirt. I frantically began to pat his head with a damp cloth, trying to find the wound, but couldn't what with with all the bleeding.                                                                                                                                 I called the doctor's office: answering machine, dang.  I really didn't know how to gauge the situation as I'd never had a bleeding baby with a head wound before! The phone range, it was B, all I said was: "M is bleeding, come home now!" Note: M was just toddling around as normal, albeit exhausted and covered in blood. B came home (I think he actually flew), I tried the doctor again: "My baby is bleeding from his head he fell down I can't tell how bad it is I don't know if he needs stitches."                                                                                                                                      So, we took him right in and they (gasp) put 3 staples in his head! Staples! After numbing it of course, which sent M into a sobbing fit of pain. It was horrible and heartbreaking! 3 big shiny staples in his head where his hairline gets all swirly. Apparently they don't do stitches in this kind of a situation because the hair is problematic and also because children can yank the stitches out. B held M on his lap while I held M's hand. I couldn't watch the stapling. Naturally, M  calmed down the instant he received his Banana flavored Dum Dum. I'm quite certain this is only the first of many stapling and stitching related visits to the doctor for us. Thank goodness B was there (only fair, since I handle the immunizations solo, also horrible) and thank goodness for Dum Dums. Thanks also for prompt care from the pediatrician's office.

You can see in the photos a sleepy little guy, yet one no worse for the wear. The little shiny specks on the back of his head are the staples...they are just a bit creepy...