dog bite to the head

Posted on November 25, 2011 by mommyinthemidwest

Last Wednesday I woke up early and was lying in bed with my eyes closed, willing myself to go back to sleep. For ages. So I finally looked at my phone and it was only 3pm (I usually get up at 4). I also had a text from my husband saying “Theo was bit by [the babysitter’s dog] today just above the ear. Broke the skin. She washed it out with warm water and peroxide. I called the nurse and the doctor wants to see him at 425. Said they usually treat it with an antibiotic. Theo is doing fine.”

Exsqueeze me?

Good thing I woke up early. After I managed to get my heart out of my throat, I jumped out of bed and got ready in time to meet them at the doctor’s office (with a few wtf-themed texts in between). I don’t really know how to describe how I was feeling. So many thoughts were racing through my mind. How much did he cry? How did this happen? Was he scared? Will he hate dogs forever? Where was the babysitter? Will he have a scar? More than anything, I was sad. Sad that he had to experience that. Sad that I wasn’t there to comfort him. Sad that the whole dumb thing happened.

We got to the doctor and of course I scooped him up and hugged him – it was like any other day for my brave boy, he just smiled and acted like nothing was wrong. Little ones are so resilient. I had to search through his long hair above his right ear to find the marks, but there they were. Three puncture wounds. Really, really, really sad. Later I found 2 more, so that made me wonder if the dog bit him more than once. Anyway, the doctor actually came out to the waiting room and wanted to see us before he officially “saw” us. He looked at the wounds and said that due to the nature of the wound, infection was very unlikely and rabies was virtually impossible. He didn’t even prescribe an antibiotic. He said that because the wounds were flat and open, they would heal nicely on their own and we didn’t need to be concerned with scarring due to the location.

The babysitter assured us that the dog couldn’t possibly have rabies. She apologized over and over and cried into the phone about the whole incident. I felt bad for her, because I know if I had been in her shoes I would be devastated that this happened while someone else’s kid was in my care. She said that they had been outside playing and had just come in. The dog was relaxing on the couch before going back in the crate or garage or bedroom or wherever he usually stays and the babysitter was changing diapers. Theo went to give him a kiss (as he calls it – he lays his head down on the dog’s side) and the dog snapped. I don’t know why. It certainly doesn’t sound like Theo did anything aggressive, but for whatever reason, he snapped. I ~~hate~~ don’t care for that dog, y’all.

And as much as I hope Theo isn’t afraid of dogs because of this, I am kind of afraid of dogs for him. If that dog snapped for no reason, why wouldn’t any other dog? Am I supposed to tell him not to love on my mom’s dog or my friend’s dog because of the possibility of them snapping? What didn’t sink in until after we left the doctor’s office was how unbelievable lucky we were. Centimeters and the dog would have taken a chunk of his ear. An inch and he would have bitten his cheek. It could have ended so, so much worse.

So the big question is, what happened to the dog? They still have it, I would never ask them to get rid of him on account of this. He has been their family dog for 6 years. But I did ask that he is not around my kids. At all. Ever. And of course the babysitter had already planned on that before I mentioned it. She even said they are thinking about giving it to her mother. So for now, the dog stays in the garage while the kiddos are up and running around. I’m sad for the babysitter. I’m kind of sad for the dog. I’m most sad for my kid, that he had to experience such an awful thing.

I’m incredibly relieved that the whole thing ended as well as it did.

P.S. Dexter’s surgery consultation is next Thursday!

~C~

baby Dexter’s bally balls

Posted on November 23, 2011 by mommyinthemidwest

I mentioned that things have been crazy around here lately and apparently I failed to tell anyone and everyone the most important details. I’ve had texts and phone calls and never knew how many people cared about my little Dex until now. Or maybe they’re just nosy. Eh. Give ’em what they want, right?

I debated about posting this, but it’s a big part of our lives and thoughts right now, so why not? When Dexter is old enough to read this, I can delete it so he doesn’t hate me. You won’t embarrass him about it, will you?

Dexter was born with hydroceles, which is fairly common for newborn boys. Basically, their ballies look super big and swollen and there’s extra fluid around the testicles. The fluid usually reabsorbs or goes away on it’s own. I think Dexter’s have gone down but they are still swollen. It doesn’t seem to cause him any discomfort or anything like that, but apparently one of the risks of not repairing it is hernia, or when abdominal organs somehow get down into the scrotum. WHAT!? I mean, they’re not that big. They’re still just baby balls. Anyway, I’ve never noticed anything out of the ordinary. I’ve read stories online lately about parents seeing big bulges that were intestines or something (lesson: don’t ever run to google with a medical question), but no…that is not happening.

We don’t want it to happen, anyway. So at Dexter’s 6 month appointment last week (he was 15lbs 6 oz – 12th percentile – and 27″ – 68th percentile), the doctor stuck a flashlight under his junk and said if it glows, he goes (to the surgeon for a consult). He glowed.

He supposedly set up something with these middleman appointment schedulers, and they were supposed to call by yesterday, but surprise surprise! They haven’t. So I will be calling them today and hopefully we will have an appointment for the consultation. If it has to be done, I really really want to get it done this year. Ya know, since we’ve already spent a bazillion dollars on giving birth two years in a row and all. New year, new deductible.

It’s a pretty minor deal, altogether, but I’m majorly freaking because he has to be put to sleep with anesthesia for the procedure and that breaks my mommy heart. He’s just so little. What if they give him too much? What if something goes wrong? I just can’t stand the thought of it. Has anyone ever dealt with this??

scared for my baby,
~C~

what mommy in the midwest is thankful for

Posted on November 22, 2011 by mommyinthemidwest

Today’s Toddle Along Tuesday topic: What are you thankful for?

That sounds easy enough, sure. But when I think about how lucky I am and how the story of my life is unfolding before me, what am I not thankful for?

First things first, I’m thankful for my little family. My husband and our two perfect babies. It isn’t always easy, but no one ever said it would be. I wouldn’t change a thing. I love those three dudes more than I could ever express in words.

I’m thankful for our families. Without my mother, sister, and late father…without my in-laws, we would not be who we are and would not have had the chance to create this little life of our own. My mom and sister have been my role models for motherhood. I’m thankful for their love and support. That sounds like a cliche, love and support, but what else can you call it? I don’t know what I would do without my in-laws. They have helped us out in a pinch more times than I can count.

I’m super thankful for my health, and that of my family and friends. Again, that sounds really cheesy and obvious, but almost every day I hear or read about a very sick child. A very sick parent with young children. Someone who was perfectly healthy but died or nearly died in a car accident. I’m thankful for this day, for this right now, because there might not be another one.

I’m thankful for the friends that I have who have been patient with me. These last two years have been a whirlwind and I haven’t been the friend I want to be. But I know which ones I can still count on to be there in a heartbeat when I need them, because they’ve stuck around for years and years and never given up on me yet. And I love them so much for that. They know who they are, too. With that, I’m so thankful for the newer friends, my mommy friends, that I can bond with over the joys and pains of raising little ones. I’d be lost without having them to lean on.

I’m so thankful that my husband and I have maintained good, steady jobs throughout all of this economic instability. I’m thankful for my health insurance and the peace of mind I have, knowing if something catastrophic does happen – we’ll be okay.

I could go on for days like this, I swear. Here’s the materialistic side of me…

I’m thankful for: my cell phone…fleece pajama pants…McDonald’s sweet tea…Vince Vance and the Valiants…the occasional pedicure…amazon.com…my camera…my wedding rings…cheesy potatoes…vacations…etc etc etc!

And FINALLY, I’m so thankful that Sarah at It’s A Vol chose me for one of the recipients of the Kreativ Blogger award – wow, I feel honored. I’ve never been on the receiving end of such a nice bloggy gift. And you know what she said about me? I’ll tell you:

8) Mommy in the Midwest because ~C~’s smile is infectious even over the internet, not to mention she is mommy to two of the cutest little boys I’ve seen!

How sweet is that, right? Thanks Sarah!

I know I still need to update on some of the craziness that has been going on. Within minutes of posting yesterday that Theo was bit by a dog and an impending surgery was looming (for Dexter), I had calls, texts, emails, and facebook chats. I guess next time I need to wait to announce such things until I am ready to explain! But to everyone who was concerned, thank you for checking in and thank you for reading. Feeling especially THANKFUL for you all today.

xoxo,
~C~