One year ago today our lives changed for the better. We hope Jay's did too!
Happy Family Day
One year ago today our lives changed for the better. We hope Jay's did too!
Minus 10 years
I had the worse scare of my life about 8:15pm on Tuesday evening. Jay and I spent a few days at my folks' house and we were just about ready to go (Pete was out of town for work). Jay was washed up and in his footed PJs. My mom, Jay and myself were headed to the living room. Jay stepped down but never had balance and went head first into the corner of the brick fireplace. (Just writing that sends chills back down my back and my stomach to drop). I was in the motion to grab him when I saw him lean but he's too fast. I grabbed him up and in one split second I saw the damage, ran to the kitchen with his head securely against my shoulder. I grabbed the kitchen towel and put it on the wound and prayed while Jay screamed. I knew it was bad and told dad to call 911 (about 5 times). Mom had to help me keep the rag on his head and keep him from wiggling loose. He's so strong and he was so scared and upset and surely it hurt. We walked outside with him where the air was cooler to be sure he didn't go to sleep. As the EMS arrived he got quiet and watched the lights. The EMS arrived fast (answered prayer) and took a look at him and yup they agreed he needed to go to the ER via lights and sirens. They put him on a back-board in case the fall damaged his neck. They were checking his vitals to be sure his pupils were responding and he was fully conscience. Once he was strapped to the board they took the towel off and put some square gauze and taped it across his head. He actually started to calm down and I was singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" about 100 times. Upon arrival at Metroplex in Killeen they got him out of the bus and he loved when the made the gurney go up. He was enjoying the short walk into the building, up a short ramp and when the door automatically opened and he saw the bright hospital lights he actually started laughing (answered prayer). Everyone got a kick out of that. 
I'll make the rest of this a bit shorter...he was accessed, a CT scan of his head and neck were done and they came back clear (negative). After that they could take him off the board and I could hold him until they came back to do the stitches. It was a while as they made final review of the CT scans and prepped. He was given Tylenol with Codeine and eventually got very quiet and almost asleep (they had already put gauze with Lidocaine on the gash). Except he wouldn't sleep. The doctor came to do the stitches. He was wrapped up and that's when I stepped out. I couldn't stand to hear him him holler. But he did really good, screamed mostly because he was being held down and they put a drape over his face.
Sweet Jay received 10 dis-solvable stitches inside the wound to close it and 9 regular on the outside to close the skin. They are to come out in 4-5 days (Sat or Sun) so we'll take him over the Dell Children's this weekend and have them removed. They said if they stay in longer they might leave the little railroad tracks. The doctor said it should heal up fine in a couple of weeks and eventually it will heal completely leaving little or no scar (answered prayer).
Ha ha for this getting shorter.....
Two days later and Jay is doing great. He was doing great the next morning. For him it's like it never happened but for me I'll never forget it. I've shaved off 10 years of my life because of that incident. There wasn't any blood on the carpet (I'm quick too) and none on Jay's cute PJs. It was all on the sweater I was wearing and mom got that out with peroxide. So there is little evidence it ever happened except for those stitches.
I thank God for listening to my prayer and bringing Jay through this. God is good and I'm grateful.
PS: Last night Pete was reminded by his mother of a similar incident involving him and stitches in the forehead. Like father, like son.
I'll make the rest of this a bit shorter...he was accessed, a CT scan of his head and neck were done and they came back clear (negative). After that they could take him off the board and I could hold him until they came back to do the stitches. It was a while as they made final review of the CT scans and prepped. He was given Tylenol with Codeine and eventually got very quiet and almost asleep (they had already put gauze with Lidocaine on the gash). Except he wouldn't sleep. The doctor came to do the stitches. He was wrapped up and that's when I stepped out. I couldn't stand to hear him him holler. But he did really good, screamed mostly because he was being held down and they put a drape over his face.
Sweet Jay received 10 dis-solvable stitches inside the wound to close it and 9 regular on the outside to close the skin. They are to come out in 4-5 days (Sat or Sun) so we'll take him over the Dell Children's this weekend and have them removed. They said if they stay in longer they might leave the little railroad tracks. The doctor said it should heal up fine in a couple of weeks and eventually it will heal completely leaving little or no scar (answered prayer).
Ha ha for this getting shorter.....
Two days later and Jay is doing great. He was doing great the next morning. For him it's like it never happened but for me I'll never forget it. I've shaved off 10 years of my life because of that incident. There wasn't any blood on the carpet (I'm quick too) and none on Jay's cute PJs. It was all on the sweater I was wearing and mom got that out with peroxide. So there is little evidence it ever happened except for those stitches.
I thank God for listening to my prayer and bringing Jay through this. God is good and I'm grateful.
PS: Last night Pete was reminded by his mother of a similar incident involving him and stitches in the forehead. Like father, like son.
Passport
Halloween Saturday
Here are some photos if Jay and I enjoying the neighborhood Halloween carnival.
www.jfmanza.com
First folder Halloween. It's awesome.
Will add more after Jay trick or treats with his cousin Garrett.
www.jfmanza.com
First folder Halloween. It's awesome.
Will add more after Jay trick or treats with his cousin Garrett.
Alexa
...ain't got no time to waste, we got too much life to taste. (Sent via iPhone)
Jay officially walking
Well he's doing it! He's walking, doesn't want to hold my hand anymore. The proof of all this is in the bruises. Forehead, chin and somehow a scratch on his cheek. He even stood up twice by himself at park, without pulling up on me or something else. I think he's got it!! Big boy.
Alexa
...ain't got no time to waste, we got too much life to taste. (Sent via iPhone)
Walking with cart
Our friend gave Jay a shopping cart, complete with groceries, for his birthday in August. He's been terrified of it so I've let it be. I left the cart with the groceries in it sitting right by all his other toys. His physical therapist used it once as an exercise but he still didn't want to touch it. He would put things in and take things out and that was the extent.
This evening Jay and I were on the floor playing blocks and I got up to refill his water cup. When I looked back he was standing up next to the cart and he just started pushing it around. I watched him for a while and realized he was going to be doing this for a while so I grabbed my camera and took some video. I've included the link to YouTube to view the video if you like. It's about 3 minutes and I just couldn't shorten it anymore. He doesn't do anything extraordinary. What I love about it is he's being a 2 yo and he's so proud of himself and having such a good time. I'm very happy about that. Hugs everyone!
or link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnrQIUnnJ1Y
