The Long Family

I took Efton to the ER the other day.

He was playing next to Malias at our little coffee table like table that hold the toys... anyways I was in the room with them when I saw Efton fall hard and fast to the floor. I wonder if he had "help" because of just how hard and fast he fell, but we won't accuse anyone (cough, cough, Malias). No, really I didn't see how it started so I haven't said anything to Malias. I only saw him falling and then start crying really hard. I hurry and picked him up cause I figured he had probably gotten hurt and started checking him out right away. Then I saw the blood start oozing. I have seen MANY, many tongue bites on toddlers from falling this way, but not like this one. It was more of a slit than the usual punctures I've seen and when he put his tongue out (trying to get the pain away) it would open so wide and it was bleeding like crazy! It kinda freaked me out.

Me in my PJs, hadn't done my hair or anything grabbed a diaper bag, Efton and a cloth I was using to soak up the blood and told Malias to grab his shoes and follow me. I think he was confused but he was good and obeyed.
*I did call our pediatrician and they told me to go ahead and take him to the ER if I thought it was that bad.

Once we got the the ER his tongue wasn't bleeding so much and while standing in the entrance I started second guessing myself. Then I got another glimpse of how wide his cut opened and proceeded to enter the ER. I felt a little silly waiting in the waiting room because other than the bloody cloth sitting by the diaper bag...we all seemed fine. Efton and Malias were preoccupied by all the chairs and tables and magazines to explore and neither seemed upset or were crying.

Once we got called back it was the typical routine and long waits. The boys started breaking down as we were waiting in the exam room because one was bored and the other in pain and ready for a nap. Of course at the peak of their meltdowns the registration ladies come in and try to get all the other info from me, acting as if everything is normal as I try to sooth and hold and referee two screaming kids while repeatedly asking them to repeat their questions.

Finally the Doctor comes in takes a 5 second look at his tongue, tells me it will heal fine on its own in a few days probably, and just to give him pain meds and no hard/crunchy foods.

That IS really what you want to hear.

Everything is/will be fine.

But at the same time in some twisted sort of way, when you make a trip to the ER... it almost like you don't want "it's all fine."

I don't know what else I'd want to hear and I definitely don't wish for more serious situations, but I hate the feeling of 

"That's it?

This is going to cost a couple hundred dollars, and that it?"

Maybe I am the only one that feels that way, lol.

Anyways, after a day or so of medicine and time Efton's tongue looks much better. It still has a nice slit but it doesn't seem to hurt and its not red anymore.

Here is his tongue in the ER exam room. (i just happened to have the little camera in the bag from the night before! ha ha)

This was later that day. He was on medicine and feeling much better...and probably because his tongue felt weird, he kept it hanging out more than usual.

He was just being cute here... trying to work the remote.

So much concentration! ha ha