Parents this one is for you:
You know how sometimes you think “Man, this parenting thing isn’t so bad. I think I’ve got it down pretty good.” And then the Universe is all “HAHAHAHAHAHA, hold my beer.” That was this week. Saturday night, I was laying in bed trying to fall asleep when Maya texted me from the living room saying she had gotten a big splinter in her foot from the floor. We have very soft floors in our rental and I’m constantly gluing down splinters. It’s just the nature of the floor and not something I had thought too much about. So I go downstairs and she shows me a big splinter indeed! It was maybe half an inch long and had definitely gone all the way in. It looksed like she got it out though so we cleaned and dressed it and kept an eye on it.
By Monday night, she was still having quite a bit of pain and some redness started to appear. Hmmm time for a trip to the doctor. They got us in right away and started looking at her foot. That’s when things went off the rails. “Well we can’t see anything but it looks infected so there may still be some in there. I think you should go to the hospital.” Uhhh ok. That’s an upgrade. So I haul ass over to the hospital because I already know that foot infections can get nasty quick. We make it there and everyone’s like “Hmmm.” The wound wasn’t much to look at but she was having some pain in other places and they started thinking that perhaps we indeed didn’t get it all out. I’m already mentally thinking of how I will accept my “Worst Mother of the Year” award.
X-rays didn’t show much so they decided to keep going and ordered an ultrasound. We got super lucky and there was an immediate appointment. We collectively hobble to the ultrasound room on the 4th floor. Maya is cracking jokes about hoping it’s a girl and what she’ll name her splinter if there’s anything there. Sure enough, a small piece shows up on the monitor. It’s only 1.5 cm so big but not obscenely big. We hobble back downstairs and await removal.
Once we got in the room, the medical team sprang into action. There was the main doctor and then several trainees who were all very interested in Maya’s foreign object. Maya has quite a bit of anxiety about medical procedures but she made it through the numbing process by cracking even more jokes and talking about how much ice cream she was going to get for her troubles. The doctor finally got to work and there were a few tiny pieces taken out. Then, as if he’s King Arthur, he pulls a splinter the size of Excalibur out of her foot. The entire room gasped and we were all like “OH MY GOD!!!!!!!” You guys, this thing could have supported Jack after the sinking of the Titanic. I could have pitched a tent under it. If you really want to see it, click here. Suffice it to say, I felt HORRIBLE that I didn’t immediately take her to the doctor two days before.
So the kicker to all of this is that she and Josh were due to leave on their Daddy Daughter trip in two days (Thursday). Wednesday morning she was still having significant trouble getting around despite keeping off her foot. As much as I hated getting crutches with the trip coming up, she really needed them (the hospital staff initially didn’t think she’d need them). So back to the hospital we went to get some crutches. Thankfully they gave us elbow ones instead of the old school under arm ones; The elbow ones were much easier to manage. Maya was world’s better and it was definitely the right decision to get them.
We were all determined to keep this trip as planned. Now that she was more mobile, our concerns shifted to ensuring she and Josh both knew how to care for it without me there. I’m the nurse of the family so I always take care of this stuff. Now, though, it would be up to them. After several training sessions, we got a system down and she felt like she could do it all herself with minimal help. Knowing she had medicated ointment and 10 days worth of penicillin has also been helpful for my nerves.
So, the departure day finally arrived. Maya was in good spirits and went to school. When she got back, I packed her bag for her, made her a “go pack” with all of her supplies and medicine, made sure one last time she knew what to do, and then nervously drove them both to the airport and sent them on their way. They’re due to land in their destination in 30 minutes. I’m home alone for 11 days and I’ll be spending all 11 days feverishly (poor word choice?) neurotically finding things to keep me busy so I don’t think of all the ways Maya’s foot will fall off due to necrotic gangrene. Meanwhile, Maya is having the time of her life being treated like the princess she is. Wheelchair assistance at all the airports, people giving up their seats, perhaps even some extra scoops of ice cream. I know in my head she will be fine and have a wonderful time but OOF…
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Faking It in Denmark 