What is it with us, Valentine's Day and stitches?

Some of you may remember that two years ago, on Valentine's Day, we made a trip to Urgent Care to stitch up Jonah's lip after a Nicolas-inflicted injury.  If you need a refresher, you can read about that story here.

In a horrifically strange twist of fate, this year, (not on Valentine's Day, but the night before, whatever, close enough) Nicolas went to the Emergency Room to stitch up a gaping hole in his forehead after a Jonah-inflicted injury.

A low-down of what happened:
Three little boys practicing baseball out in the front yard, excited about the upcoming little league season.  Excited that this year, they will all get to play.   

Mom giving them explicit instructions that they are not to swing the metal bat when anyone else is standing nearby.

Mom having some kind of complete lapse in parenting skills, thinking that it'll be fine if she watches from the kitchen window and keeps the window open so that she can listen to them play while she fires off an email to the GreenHouse Board and Staff.

Riley having a meltdown.  Jonah has skipped his turn two times.  Riley coming inside crying/whining/carrying on about how Jonah has skipped his turn. 

Mom going outside with Riley to make sure he gets the next turn.

Jonah refusing to give Riley the bat and taking one more forceful and semi-wild swing at the ball on the tee.  Nicolas standing nearby, but not dangerously close (or. so. i. thought).

Jonah spinning all the way around on his swing and accidentally SMACKING his brother hard in the head with a metal bat.

The sound.  Oh, that sound.  Bat hitting skull.  I will not get that sound out of my head for quite awhile.

Nicolas streaming.

Mom screaming.

Jonah screaming.

Mom picking up Nicolas.  Running inside.  Scared to look at his forehead.  Taking a quick peek.  Blood.  LOTS of blood.  Dripping onto clothes.  Very large, open wound.  Not the kind you use a band-aid with.

Dish towel on forehead to stop the bleeding.  Mom and Grandpa scurrying everyone inside the van.  So thankful Grandpa is home to help.

Mom looking for brand new Kaiser cards (which kicked in Feb 1st).  Mom having NO IDEA where to go for an emergency when you have Kaiser.  Mom calling fantastic friends who give her directions to Kaiser hospital on Morse Ave.

Grandpa holding towel on Nicolas' head as we drive.  Making sure he stays awake.  Arriving at hospital.  Getting called back right away, despite a full waiting room.  (one look at the gaping hole in my son's head was all they needed to see). 

Waiting for the doctor.  Nicolas is calm and quiet.  Towel is working to stop the bleeding.   

Thankful that Grandpa is with Riley and Jonah in the waiting room.  Realizing the boys must be starving since it's 6:00 pm.  Sending the three of them to McDonald's while Mom waits with Nicolas. 

Doctor finally arriving.  Nurses wrapping up Nicolas' arms as if he's in a straight jacket.  Nicolas no longer calm.  More screaming and lots of crying.  Really not liking the feeling of being "squished" and making sure everyone in the ER knows it.  One nurse holding his head straight.  One nurse pinning down his chest and arms.  Mom holding down his legs.  Nicolas very unhappy.  Time for nerve blocker.  Enormously long needle.  Medicine gets put into several places along the wound.  Wound starts bleeding heavily.  Mom putting her head down several times.  Too much to take in.  

Nicolas numb.  Stitches begin.  Nicolas is calm and doing great.  Mom not enjoying the sight of her son being sewn up or seeing the inside of his head for that matter.  Glue on top of stitches.  Butterfly bandages on top of glue.  Nurse gently cleaning blood off cheek and out of hair.  Awesome nurses.  Discharge papers. 

Dad stopping on his way home from the train station to pick up ice cream for one brave little boy.  Nicolas smiling by the time he gets home.  Daddy and ice cream make everything better.

Mom reliving the evening's events.  Having a hard time relaxing.  Knowing it could have been worse.  What if the bat had hit his eye?  His temple?  Can't think about that.  Wishing she could erase that moment in time and make it so that it never happened.  Wishing she could always protect her children from harm.  Frustrated, knowing that she can't.  Realizing that its moments like this that make her heart swell outside of her chest - and fall more and more in love with the three bundles of joy she's been blessed to care for.

Next day (today):
Nicolas was the first child awake this morning. He came bounding into my room, with a big smile on his face and said, "Happy Valentine's Day Mommy!" as he ran into my arms.  I felt such enormous relief at the sight of his smiling face.  He was okay!  My heart swelled even more as we hugged.  I held him for an extra long time and was thankful for the few minutes we got to share alone this morning.