Tuesday, April 20, 2010

LESSON LEARNED

When Steve arrived home from the Marine Corps Boot Camp he brought each family member a gift. The girls got t-shirts and Kaleb got a decorative Marine Combat Knife. He was SO excited to have such a treasure in his possession. (His mother...not so much) He's been carrying around the box with the knife in it for days. We went over the rules and he was very happy to oblige. Last night he was lying in his bed looking at his knife in the leather sheath. He took it out and as he went to put it back in, he sliced his thumb...to the muscle. Kaleb was afraid that we'd be mad. He went down to the kitchen and tried to bandage the wound himself. He was bleeding profusely and was scared that he was in over his head. He came back up to find me and in tears told me what happened. I immediately wrapped a towel around his thumb and after a few minutes of squeezing and elevation I took a look at it. That's when I knew he was going to need stitches. I called Steve up from the basement, told him what happened and sent them both out the door to the ER. Meanwhile I cleaned up what looked like a murder scene at my house. It wasn't pretty. Hours of waiting and 6 stitches later his thumb was taken care of. The doctor said the cut was down to the muscle and really close to the joint. If Kaleb doesn't have good movement in 8 days we need to see an Orthopedic doctor. And the ER thanked us...once again...as Steve and Kaleb walked out the door.


11 comments:

shirlgirl said...

Ouch!! That must have hurt so much. Glad he finally came to you even though he was afraid wondering if you would be angry with him. Unfortunately or fortunately, a hard lesson learned. Glad that it wasn't that serious Hopefully you won't have to see an orthopedic surgeon--life in NH is always interesting!!

Sarah said...

Hope he feels better!

Tara Bennett said...

Oh my! That's gonna leave a mark! Sorry that happened, but all boys need scars to show off when they're older. Hoping it heals to a scar soon and that he's learned his lesson about the knife!

Jo Jo said...

Oh dear! Why is the ER DR thanking you?

shirlgirl said...

Jo Jo--probably because they've been to the ER so many times that the doctor is thanking them for another visit!! They must know them all quite personally by this time. Am I right Becky?

April said...

I still can't believe that happened- you guys are in cahoots to make sure someone is always racing to the ER :) Love you! Hope everyone is feeling better!

Becky said...

Yes...it's because we are always in the ER. We keep them in business. :)

Ally said...

Wait....why was Steve doing Marine Corps Boot camp? Poor Bubbie...he has lots of sympathy from me!!!

--Cindi

Alana said...

I can just see my second child doing the same thing in 10 years. There's never a dull moment, hu Beck?

greg.hardy said...

Leslie cringed and said, "I feel your pain, dude!" She was in the ER with a thumb sliced open by a box cutter shortly after we arrived here.

Heather O. said...

Um, the pictures? Seriously, put a warning up next time woman!