Today started fairly simply; got up late after a truly awful night with a snotty Josie, motivated everyone to get out of the house to catch a train, took everyone into Exeter for a Happy Meal and a mooch round the Early Learning Centre and the finally met up with The Portico’s, amid great excitement, at the museum.
Spent a couple of happy hours there; exhibits included Romans, King Alfred and mention of the Tudors, so my big two in 7th heaven, plus they laid eyes og the moth eaten giraffe that daddy had told them about from his youth. Decided in the end to go back tomorrow for more looking as Porticos all rather done in by train journey, so went back to Sarah’s.
I’d had a call to say the car was done, so decided to go off, pick it up, shop and leave Alison with all 8 children “Yeah yeah, i’ll be fine, you go, see you soon…” Did indeed shop and on the way back my mobile rang. Didn’t look but just knew it was going to be Alison and equally knew it WAS NOT going to be to tell me that Josie was crying for me but was nearly home so just kept going.
Pulled up to find Gwenny standing in the road looking anxious; she runs up to the car and says “Everything is okay but Amelie dropped a glass on her foot and mummy has called an ambulance…” *CLASH of dramatic instruments* ARGH…. run in, think Alison said something vaguely reassuring at the door but can’t really remember, to find Amelie lying on the floor looking all broken and white and silent, with a bound foot up in the air and rather a lot of blood lying around. In retrospect i really don’t know how dramatic it was but she was desperately shocked (as i imagine was Alison) and it did all seem a bit scary.
Definitely something very weird about waking in on an accident involving your child when its all in the middle of being taken care of as i just got no adrenalin rush at all, it immediately seemed like all i need to do was keep Ammi talking, checking she was okay, as whatever the bloody end of it was, i probably couldn’t help and someone far more able was obviously going to take care of it pretty soon. So i’ve got no idea how long it was till the ambulance arrived, but probably only a couple of minutes, i can only really remember asking Amelie a few things to check she was responding okay and then they were there.
Ambulance men were great, pronounced it not too serious but in need to X-ray and decent dressing and a very white and silent Amelie was taken to the ambulance stretcher. i had to bring Josie too, who needed feeding and Ammi held it together very bravely until we got to hospital when she unleashed a positive tornado of tears. Medical staff were brilliant and melted away and after 15 minutes of so she calmed down and all the colour came back into her face. Then it was just a case of waiting for an X-ray (where she bled on the floor and a consultant cleaned it up, which probably cost about £30 in terms of NHS wages!) – didn’t seem to be any glass in it so they all debated stitching it for a bit, as its very ragged and goes down to the fat layers, but in the end didn’t.
Bit of a scary end to the day, but she perked up after a few cakes and thanks to Alison for the cool headed care she gave her. Not bad going to manage child bleeding profusely on floor so perfectly when you’ve got another 7 to look after as well. 😀 Such an uber-mum 🙂
