Life
Stitches, Derma-bond, and Scars – Oh My!
Sep 8th
After having had to take both of my daughters to the Emergency Room in their first two years of life for facial lacerations (try saying that five times fast!) I’ve done quite a bit of research on the best ways to reduce scarring in young children. There are lots of helpful tips on the internet and I’ve learned quite a few things both there and from doctors, a plastic surgeon included. When my girls’ injuries first happened, I was so caught up on how they would each be left with a terrible scar. It really bothered me and I was, and still am, determined to make them as invisible as possible.
So, I’m going to share with you some of the things that I have learned in case you are ever in this position with your child, or even yourself! Please note that my experiences are both with facial lacerations in the forehead region so other areas of the body may have different protocol.
First, if you have any doubt in your mind whether or not the injury may need to be stitched, go to the Emergency Room. If a wound does require stitches they must be done within a certain amount of time, generally six to eight hours, but the sooner the better. It’s also important to control the bleeding as much as possible by putting pressure on the wound.
When you arrive at the emergency room, be sure to tell the intake person about how the wound happened, whether or not the person lost consciousness, and the severity of the bleeding. They should ask you most of this anyway, but be sure to volunteer it if not asked. Then you will have to wait which is the hard part.
Once you are taken back into the room, be sure that you or your child are being treated by a doctor and not just a physician’s assistant or nurse. In the case of a facial laceration, or would in another very obvious/prominent area of the body, you may want to seek more than one opinion on it’s treatment. This is a piece of advice that I wish I had known before taking Nora in. Also, if the wound is going to require stitches you always want to ask for a plastic surgeon to perform them whenever possible. Remember you are the patient/parent and you have a right to ask.
Whatever the case may be, stitches, Derma-bond or just a dressing, be sure to care for it properly when you get home. When Brinley had her stitches we had to put an antibiotic ointment with a band-aid on it for a week and then we had to take her in to the doctor to have the stitches removed. For Nora’s Derma-bond we were told not to put any type of ointment on it and not to get it wet for the first 24 hours. So be mindful of the proper care because it’s not always the same.
When I took Nora in to see her pediatrician for her follow-up visit, that is when I found out that I should have gotten a second opinion on the way in which her wound was treated. Her pediatrician felt that since it was a facial wound that it probably should have been stitched. Though he didn’t see the wound fresh so he couldn’t say that matter-of-factly. It killed me to know that I may not have done the right thing for her but I really had no idea that I should have pushed back. Lesson learned.
The most important factor in minimizing scars though, is the care that comes after the stitches are removed or the Derma-bond falls off. The number one most important thing is to make sure that you apply sun screen to the area every single day for at least a year. Even if it doesn’t seem sunny out or it’s the dead of winter, the virgin skin can still burn very easily. You also want to massage the scar to increase the circulation and help promote healing. It is recommended to use vitamin E oil and massage it into the scar. It’s not known whether the oil itself helps diminish the scar or if it’s the massaging. Maderma or some other scar reducing ointment is also recommended.
I am happy to report that Brinley’s scar from almost two years ago, where she received six stitches, is hardly visible at all. Granted it is in her hairline, but it still healed very well. Only time will tell with Nora’s but I have very high hopes. It already looks 100 times better since the Derma-bond has fallen off. In fact, we were at a BBQ this past weekend and no one even noticed it.
Every time I think about one of my girls being “scarred for life” it really eats away at me. But I heard something on the radio this weekend that made me look at scars in a bit of a different light…. “A scar is like a tattoo, but with a much better story.”
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and I do not claim to be one. I also don’t play one on TV. The advice given above is based solely on my experience of having two daughters who have both visited the ER and were treated for facial lacerations. Please be sure to seek your own medical advice from a professional.
How the tables have turned.
Aug 27th
In my former life, as a teacher, I hated this time of year. It meant going into school to set up my classroom, memorizing students’ names, digging out the school year wardrobe and saying goodbye to the summer. It meant commuting and packing my lunch and setting the alarm clock. The lazy days of summer were over. Even though I worked in some capacity over every summer, I was still always outside and having fun.
Now I’m looking forward, in some ways, to the end of summer. It’s been very hot and humid and that’s getting old. I prefer the cool, crisp mornings of the fall. And I look forward to the changing leaves, apple picking and cider donuts. I’m also looking forward to more routine in our days. Summer is lots of fun and it means many spontaneous outings and vacations, but it can get a bit chaotic. By the time the end of summer rolls around there’s a sense of boredom and redundancy in our days. We’re all ready for a change. New clothes to wear, new meals to make, new places to go. And most importantly, time to head back to school!
Brinley is entering her second year of preschool this year. She’ll be going three mornings each week. I’m not sure who is more excited about it – me or her. She really misses school and all of the fun things that she does there. She loves being around her friends and doing all sorts of activities. She’s been asking for a few weeks when she will be going back. For me, it’s a mixed blessing. I’ll miss her company and the lax attitude of summer. I’ll miss being able to take our time getting out the door in the morning and sitting around in our PJs just a bit too long. But at the same time, we’ll have more routine once school is back in session. Three mornings a week we’ll get up, get dress and head off to school. Once Brinley is there Nora and I will have some one-on-one time together to do some of the fun things that Brinley and I used to do. I’m really looking forward to that. I used to dread this time of year but now I’m welcoming it with open arms!
Play area police.
Aug 25th
Rain, rain, go the eff away!
I say this with mixed emotions. Most of me is completely hating the rain right now, but the homeowner, lawn owner part of my really likes it. It means our near lifeless grass which we’ve watered (according to the water ban) with no avail, is now getting a grand old drink and beginning to look green again. But this is day four of rain and the girls and I are beginning to go stir crazy.
Over two of the past four days we’ve visited malls. And apparently so did everyone else. They were both crowded and filled to the brim with kids of all ages. We got some shopping done and had some delicious lunches in the foot court, but we also had some too close encounters in the play areas. See, I’m used to going to the mall in the winter during the week when there is no one there except for me, some old ladies, and a few other SAHMs. So, going to the mall int he summer when school is not yet back in session is a whole ‘nother beast!
Our mall’s play area looks a lot like this one:
It has a little club house with a slide and a tunnel and then 2 or 3 other climb in/sit in play structures. The flooring is soft and it’s enclosed with benches. The sign at the entrance specifically states that the area is for children under 42 inches tall and that children must be supervised by a parent/adult at all times. However, no one mans the entrance or makes sure that people abide by these rules.
So, on Monday, we ate lunch and then hit up the play area. It was teeming with children of all ages and heights. I knew it wasn’t going to be an enjoyable time. Just as I was about to scoop the girls back up and leave, a boy, probably 8 or 9 years old and well over 42 inches tall, clotheslined Brinley and she fell to the ground. He kept right on running. No one stopped him or came over to see if my kids was ok. I took the girls out and went over to the “Member Services” booth. I asked the lady working there if anyone checked up on the play area to make sure that people were playing by the rules. She was very nice and said not typically but that if I had a problem that she could call the security guard over. I said yes, please and left the area to do some shopping. When we returned to the play area it was much more calm and the girls got to play for a little bit.
Today, we went to a mall again (I know, I know but sometimes you just gotta get out of the house!). Again, this mall was crowded but I expected it after seeing the mall on Monday. We did a little shopping and then went to have lunch. After lunch we went to this mall’s play area which is almost identical to the other one. It was pretty crowded but most of the kids seemed like they belonged there. I decided to assume the role of “play area police” today. I wasn’t mean or rude, but I stood watch near the slide for a bit. Kids have a hard time waiting in line for the slide and I was simply there to help them remember to take turns. (I was also watching out for Nora as she climbed the stairs.) So anyway, Nora made her way up the stairs and then down the slide. Once she got to the bottom she was so proud. She stood up and started clapping. Within a fraction of a second, one of the too big kids ran by her and stiff armed her to the face. She fell and he kept right on running.
Now if Brinley, who is almost four, gets bumped into a little too roughly I usually let her work it out and things are fine. But it’s a different story when a 7 year old boy stiff arms your 15 month old daughter to the face. So, I did what any other mean concerned mother would do. I stopped the boy and told him that he should slow down and watch where he was going. I reminded him that the play area was for small children and that if he was going to play here he really had to be careful. He apologized. I’m not sure where his parents were but within a minute or two he was gone from the play area. I win!
So, yes, I’m THAT mom. I refuse to stand idly by and watch my sweet little bruiser girl get stiff armed to the face by a boy who is clearly too big for the play area. I just wish some parents would be more responsible. I know the day will come when my girls are just on the cusp of being too big to go in the play area. They’ll beg to go in and I’ll have to tell them no. Rules are rules. And they’re there for a reason. ::Stepping down from my soapbox::
Just remember.
Aug 17th
Long before I was a mother I knew that when I had children I wanted to be home raising them. It’s the way I always envisioned my life. But, I never thought about it from a financial standpoint. In my mind, all I saw was myself getting married, having children and being home to care for them. It wasn’t until I was actually part of the working world that I realized not working would mean not having an income. It’s not that I didn’t understand the fact that not having a job = not making money, I just never really, fully, though it through.
Luckily, when Scott and I discussed having children (even before we were married) we both felt strongly that I would become a stay-at-home-mom.* Even so, when I was pregnant with Brinley we discussed how this would impact us financially and whether or not we could make it work. We weighed the cost of daycare vs. me losing my salary and agreed that we could, in fact, make it work. Although I pretty much had my mind made up about the whole thing even before I was pregnant, it was still very difficult leaving a job that I absolutely loved, teaching. Not only did I have to leave lots of amazing colleagues and an extremely admired principal, but I had to say good bye to students that I had made very strong bonds with. Hard stuff I tell ya!
Anyway, once I resigned and said good bye to my friends, students and paycheck, I was ready to face the reality that I dreamed of. The day Brinley was born my life changed forever. I no longer had a commute, a boss, or a job. It was both fantastic and scary at the same time. My days included changing diapers, folding tiny laundry, and watching her sleep. I loved every single second of it. There were days when I missed going to work and having adult interaction but with time, that faded. I’ve almost reached the point where I’ve been a SAHM for as long as I was a working woman.
Now I have two amazing daughters and my life as a SAHM is exactly what I imagined it would be. We’re busy girls and have lots of fun together. I do lots of cooking, cleaning and chauffeuring and I love it all. But sometimes the person who is really the key in making this all happen gets overlooked or under appreciated. Quite often people will tell me that I am an awesome mother and that I really seem like I’ve got it all down (and I’m very flattered by all of that). But the job that I do would not be possible without an extremely supportive, hardworking, and never doubting husband. He is my rock, my lifeline and my best friend. So just remember, behind every amazing stay-at-home-mom there is an equally, if not more, amazing, hard working, unselfish husband and father.
*Just because I feel strongly that being a SAHM is right for me and my family, I realize that it’s not the right decision, for whatever reason, for every family. I am in no way trying to start a SAHM vs. WOHM debate. The End.
Hitting the trail.
Jul 26th
On Friday Scott and I were out doing some shopping. We stopped in to a sporting goods store so he could look at some golf equipment and home gym stuff. We had both of the girls with us which always makes shopping for anything more difficult. As Scott was browsing the weights and pull-up bars, my eye was caught by a stroller. For a few months now I’ve been looking for a double jogging stroller. Our new neighborhood is perfect for walks and it’s a great way for me to get some exercise in. Well I have previously attempted these walks with our tandem Graco stroller and man, it was a workout! The stroller itself weights nearly 40 pounds. Nora weights about 23 pounds and Brinley weights about 33 pounds. So I was pushing nearly 100 pounds around my hilly neighborhood. But I digress..
Anyway, I had been scouring craigslist and local tag sales for a jogging stroller, but just couldn’t seem to find one that was in pretty good shape for pretty good money. So, I peered over to the double jogging stroller sitting near the bike display in the sporting goods store. I could see the tag hanging from the handle but couldn’t quite make out the price. All I could see was the last part of the price, $79.97. I knew there had to be a number in front of the 79 but I couldn’t make out what it was from where I was standing. So, I grabbed Nora and left Brinely with Scott to go and scope it out. I walked over and read the tag: InStep Safari TT Double Jogging Stroller with front swivel wheel, Price $79.97, You save $179.00.
At this point, Scott was by my side asking me if that could really be the price of the stroller. I thought to myself, there is no way! I kept thinking back to the insane deal that I thought I was going to get on a Britax Marathon car seat about a year or so ago on Target.com. The car seat was listed for like $40 and it’s typically nearly a $300 car seat. Of course I added it to my cart and thought I had scored such a deal. A few days later I received an email from Target saying that it was a pricing mistake on their part but they could not honor the price. I received a $25 gift card for my disappointment. Again, I digress…
So now a sales person walks over to us asking if we need any help and we ask him if that is really the price for the stroller. He says yes and it’s because they’re getting rid of them to make room for the new models. He checks to see if they have any left in boxes but we find out that the display model is the last one. I strap both girls into the stroller afraid to leave it where it is because someone else might snatch it up. We decide that we’re going to buy it. Scott continues shopping for his golf stuff and I take the girls to play with the balls. But they’re starting to get antsy because it’s just about dinner time. We head over to Scott and I tell him that I’m going to pay for the stroller and leave with the girls to get them dinner (we had separate cars). When I got up to the register I was still worried that the price would be wrong, but lo and behold it wasn’t and I scored a $280 stroller for $79.97!!
Fast-forward to this morning… The weather is beautiful. The sun is shining but the humidity of the past, I don’t know, two weeks is gone! It’s about 70 degrees and breezy. Perfect for a nice walk. One of the many awesome things about our town is something called the Rail Trail. It’s a former rail road route that passes through 8 connecting towns. When it’s complete it will be about 25 miles long. It’s completely paved and lined with fencing. It’s open for non-motorized use including jogging, walking, biking, rollerblading and skiing. So this morning, I decided to grab the girls and go check it out. We drove about 2 miles into town (I would have walked it but the street to get there is pretty busy and has no sidewalks). I strapped the girls into our new stroller and started a route on the iMapMyWalk iPhone app.
It felt great to be out in the fresh air taking advantage of such a great feature. Having the new stroller really allowed me to move faster but with more ease. The girls were well behaved for the most part. I worried a little that with them side-by-side they’d annoy each other. They were perfect for the first 3 miles. They just sat there and took in the scenes and ate their snack. At about mile 3, Nora started nudging Brinley and Brinley started nudging back. We still had a mile to go before we were back to the car. So I did what any mom would do… I started singing! Old McDonald, Itsy Bitsy Spider and Nora’s favorite (thanks to Mimi) How Much is that Doggy in the Window! It took their minds off of bugging each other and they started singing along. Passers by were looking at me a little funny but I didn’t care. We were having so much fun and I got a great, brisk 4 mile walk in before 10:30am.
I’m going to try to make this a regular occurrence. It felt great and now that I have the right equipment there’s no excuse not to!
