Illness, Injury, and Infection . . .

Discussion in 'Parenting & Family' started by Boundzy, Jun 27, 2008.

  1. Boundzy

    Boundzy BigSoccer Supporter

    Jul 1, 2003
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    A funny thing happened on the way to swimming lessons . .

    We park our car in the lot across from the YMCA, where my 3-year-old daughter is taking swimming lessons. Our next door neighbor is a dentist who works in an office nearby. We notice him and his wife leaving the building and, being the friendly neighbors that we are, we waive and start walking toward them.

    Concurrently, we see my parents emerging from another car in the lot. Lindsey, my aforementioned daughter, sees Granne and Papa and is as giddy as . . . well, as a 3 year-old getting an unexpected visit from her grandparents. She starts to run toward them.

    A 3-year-old child on the run is not necessarily the most graceful expression of human movement. A 3-year-old running in flip-flops with a towel around her neck is even less so.

    Accordingly, as she is running to her smiling grandparents, Lindsey manages to trip over my foot. She lands face-first on the concrete parking lot. She is crying, obviously, so I pick her up expecting the typical skinned hands, knees, and elbows. What I find, however, are copious amounts of blood coming from her mouth, two cut and swollen lips, and a large gap where a front tooth once lived.

    Luckily, our neighbor, the dentist is there. He and his wife escort my wife, the grandparents, my screaming and bloody daughter, and me to his office. After a quick check, he determines that the tooth is pushed up into her gum. He informs us that, somehow, this is a good thing – or, at least, not a bad thing - all things considered. He advises that no immediate action is necessary, other than Tylenol or Motrin for pain, but that we should schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist, ASAP. He hands us the cards of several he recommends, while his wife assists my wife in applying an ice bag to Lindsey's still bloody, and now even more swollen, mouth.

    With two bloody, cut, and swollen lips, a front tooth jammed up into her gum further than any tooth has jurisdictional rights, and another front tooth that is loosened but still holding on, my daughter’s primary concern, and the reason for her continued inconsolable crying, is that she wants a band-aid on her bruised, but mildly skinned knee. Band-aids are cool.

    After some Tylenol, careful application of a Dora The Explorer band-aid, and doting visits from all of her grandparents, my daughter is managing the situation significantly better than either of her parents!

    The following morning, the pediatric dentist confirms that an extraction of the tooth is necessary, but there are no other complications or issues. My daughter is scheduled for the extraction next week.

    We have never experienced problems getting her to take medicine. Until now. The penicillin prescribed by the dentist is the nastiest, most bitter concoction we’ve encountered. A mixture of super strong, super sweet lemonade, a splash of cherry juice, and 1 teaspoon of the medicine makes it tolerable enough that she will drink it, albeit very slowly.

    Concerning the extraction, I have to admit that I am not excited about my daughter taking a combination of Versed, Vistaril, and Nitrous Oxide next week for the extraction – it seems more appropriate for an ill-fated weekend at college, than as a sedative for a tooth extraction. But, compared to the 2 weeks she endured in the NICU after her birth, this ain’t so bad.

    Parenthood changes one’s perspective and priorities. That can be quite liberating, as the proverbial trials and tribulations of work and life appear less dire and significantly more manageable.

    Parenthood

    Best. Gig. Ever.
     
  2. Ian Lozada

    Ian Lozada Member

    May 29, 2001
    The Pick Four Pool
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Poor dear. Hope she feels better soon.
     
  3. Boundzy

    Boundzy BigSoccer Supporter

    Jul 1, 2003
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    She is feeling much better now, thanks.

    Lindsey was quite the trooper at the dentist. Of course, having a video monitor in the ceiling that was playing Ratatouille certainly helped, as did the drug concoction.

    Watching the extraction was, well, impossible. I had to turn my head as more and more force was required to extract the offening central insisor. The tooth was a monster.

    The only time she cried was when we told her it was time to leave - she wanted to continue playing in the waiting room!

    The Tooth Fairy was kind to her and she still thinks that the going to the dentist is a pretty cool thing. Overall, it turned out very well.
     
  4. sj_quakes_fan

    sj_quakes_fan Member

    May 18, 2001
    San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry to hear about all that! It must have been a heart wrencher! Poor Baby!

    Next time, make sure they flavor the penicillin. My baby girl is on some now and they flavored it with this sweet citrus flavor. It stinks like heck to me, but she literally sucks it out of the medicine dropper and then cries for more.



    And I have to agree with this whole part:

    "Parenthood changes one’s perspective and priorities. That can be quite liberating, as the proverbial trials and tribulations of work and life appear less dire and significantly more manageable.

    Parenthood

    Best. Gig. Ever."


    It really does change your life in ways that are impossible to explain in words, even though you've done a wonderful job explaining it there.
     

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