Since I have no remaining ambitions to be crowned "Mother of the Year--2009," I will share with you a little story.
Let's say, hypothetically speaking, that a worn and weary mother wants to put clothes on a two-year-old, but that said two-year-old would rather "be nakie" and run around the house in a diaper. Let's also say, for the sake of our story here, that the mother decides to let the be-diapered child run around the house for a moment before taking up the chase. And let's finally say that when, after (literally) two minutes of quiet, a piercing scream breaks out from the next room, that none of this can possibly end well. And if we say all of these things, you will have a hint about why Clara is photographed above wearing that "whatevs" look on her face in our local emergency room.
You will have a hint, but you will not have the specifics.
The facts are these: Clara has had a horrible cough this week, so we did not take her to church. Jeremy went alone to Sacrament Meeting (the first church meeting), then he was scheduled to come home so I could go play the piano in Relief Society (the last church meeting). About 30 minutes before Jeremy was to return home, Clara, running amok in her diaper, went into Jonathan's bedroom, where I had taken out a bin of crafts supplies the day before. She fished through the bin for what must have been two glorious minutes until she found a great prize.
The prize? A tube of superglue. That she opened. And put on her eye.
So yes, instead of taking her to church where she could've gleefully infected 10 other toddlers with her cough, I had to take both of my precious offspring into the influenza-and-MRSA-ridden hospital so that the doctor could see if any of the superglue was on her cornea. It was not. I suppose that's the happy ending of the story. Nevertheless, after my other incidences of gross maternal negligence this week, I have to imagine that this is near the last straw.
So, for all of you parents out there, please be aware: don't leave anything within reach of a curious toddler. And since curious toddlers' curiosity actually knows no bounds, perhaps this will save you a trip to the ER: superglue in the eye turns white, just as it does when it dries on your skin, meaning you can see it. If the superglue is in the whites of the eye (the conjunctiva, if you're taking notes), then it's no big deal. It will be irritating but will flake off and go away after awhile. If the glue dries on the cornea, that's a bit more concerning. I don't know what the treatment is, exactly, but I can't imagine it's pleasant.
So there you have it. Clara just has a smear of superglue underneath her right eye, literally millimeters from her eyeball. She's no worse for the wear, which I guess makes one of us.
This week's motherhood motto: Constant Vigilance.
(By the way, you may have noticed that Clara is indeed holding a pacifier. She only uses it when she's falling asleep. Or if she has to go to the hospital. Don't judge us. Perhaps one day I'll tell you about the time we tried to give the pacifier to Santa Claus and how that backfired. We'll be waiting a little while before trying another tactic.)
14 comments:
I was just going to say she certainly doesn't look worse for the wear, but as you so succinctly put it, "whatevs" is exactly the look on that girls face. I mean, she's got a passie, a blanky and a really big soft pillow. What more could she possible ask out of life? Also, I noticed you got her clothed in the middle of this trauma, so I'm going to go ahead and chalk this one up as a victory. Well done.
Holy cow Rachel!!!! Now that is scary. I'm sorry. I bet even a good quesadilla was hard pressed to settle you down after that incident. You are amazing. Thank goodness nothing is permanent. hurray.
Oh Rachel, how your stories comfort me! Here I was thinking I was the only mother who ever felt like the worst! I have been dealing with a 3 year old with croup (who might I add, has cabin fever). And I am also dealing with a congested little 3 month old who is constantly attacking his face because of the rash I told you about. I thought I was going to lose it yesterday and give Jackson to the neighbors (although I figured that wouldn't be a good plan because they are expecting baby #1 in about four months and I didn't want to make them ask themselves, "What have we gotten ourselves into?" So, instead I begged Matt to give Charlie a blessing (seeing as how I figured he would think I was crazy for asking for one for myself because nothing physically was wrong with me!) But had he truly seen my emotional state, I think he would have had me committed! I even went as far as to tell him that I am not having anymore children, I just can't handle it when they are sick or hurt or being stinkers!! So, anyway, just know you are not alone!
To add to Megan's comment, Clara even matches right down to her shoes and her hair's done. That is one good-looking emergency room baby.
I've wondered many times how children survive past childhood. There really is no (humane) way to keep them completely safe. And yet a surprising number of them make it. Must be angels or something?
Just as I was reading your words "Constant Vigilence", I heard a funny sound coming from my kitchen. It was none other than my toddler recklessly wielding our cheese slicer.
Constant vigilence, indeed. This will be my motto, too.
Great post. :)
Love the "whatevs" look. I think you're speaking my language, I SWEAR if there is a danger lurking ANYWHERE in the house, my kids can find it, climb to it, and are near death at every moment. If they can't find death for themselves, they can certainly CREATE near death for each other, and they can ALWAYS reach each other, so it's all fun and games for them. And that's on our good days. I love this two-child-system that they've got going on, but it can sure send a mom through the roof! But like everyone says, pay your dividends early and it will come back someday an hundredfold! I hope they don't mean that the mischievousness will come back an hundredfold!
And thanks for the tips on the superglue!
What more can I add? Clara actually has quite a regal look in the photo, like, "Yes, I am indeed the queen. So happy you have come to terms with that fact...and thank you Mom for being so accommodating." Ya gotta love her!
If you hear approaching sirens it's the police escort coming with CPS to your house. It's for the best.
SAD! But such a relief that she is okay. We too had a superglue incident (involving only fingers - no eyes), so just know you are not alone in that arena. At least you got a great story to tell out of the whole thing!
Well hospital visits like this, can only help us leave counting our many blessings!
Glad you survived a crazy week!
You children are precious and beautiful!!! :)
I think that every mother needs to hear these kind of stories. There is way too much in the bloggoing world that makes it seems as if everyone's family life is picking daisies and eating out of the proverbial bowl of cherries. How refreshing that some of us are willing to share the not-so-rosy moments of life. :)
OH Rachel. Man... we mom's have to stick together. Little words of advice is so vital in a mom' world. Poor Clara... and you think your house it toddler trained and then realized... it never is. I have to keep vacuuming my floors because Josh is constantly putting papers, and who knows what into his mouth. I always see him chewing on something... one day he swallowed a nickel and we had to take him to get an x-ray to see where it ended up. It was scary. If we made sure there was never anything around for our kids to get into, we would be cleaning all day and doing nothing else. I hear ya, girl. I am in the same boat!
Oh Rachel, what a day that must have been. Isn't it amazing how quickly they get into trouble. I'm glad all is well.
From the official Super Glue webiste:
Eyelid
In the event that eyelids are stuck together or bonded to the eyeball, wash thoroughly with warm water and apply a gauze patch. The eye will open without further action within 1-4 days. To our knowledge there has never been a documented case of adhesive in the eye causing permanent damage. Do not try to force eyes open.
Eyeball
The adhesive will attach itself to the eye protein and will disassociate from it over time, usually within several hours. Periods of weeping and double vision may be experienced until clearance is achieved. Use of a warmed 3% sodium bicarbonate solution to wash eyes repeatedly may assist in aiding more rapid removal of the adhesive.
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