It's a two-for

There are so many firsts you look forward to when you have a kid. Their first smile, steps, words and the like. There are also firsts that you dread. One of those firsts happened to us last night.

Due to Tim's work schedule, John usually goes to bed around 10:00 PM. At 8:30 PM last night, Johnny was playing and Tim was sitting on the floor with him. John tripped over Tim's leg and landed head first onto one of his plastic toys and screamed.

At first, I just thought he was mad at Tim over something. I told him to give John to me and then I noticed it. It was a goose egg shaped bump on his left temple. I wasn't too worried. He stopped crying as soon as I picked him up. He's gotten some bumps and bruises before, but never so close to his brain and this one got me a bit nervous.

Awhile back, one of my brother's friends' kid fell running around the kitchen and bumped his head. I don't know much of the specifics other than he ended up having a brain injury. This was in the back of my mind and I called my sister Kelly who is a nursing student.

Kelly was sick and didn't want to get John sick and put my mom on the phone. Mom, citing the incident with my brother's friends, insisted we'd take John to the ER since all the Immediate Care centers were closed. John was his old self, but we didn't want to take any chances. We picked up his bag, put ice in a baggy and a kitchen towel, left the house, strapped him into his car seat and we were speeding down I-80 in no time.

I felt silly and panicky at the same time. Silly because deep down, I knew he was okay and panicky that he really wasn't. I talked to him in the back seat to make sure he didn't fall asleep while he swatted away my hand with the ice bag over his wound.

We were back to Silver Cross for the second time in the week. Maybe I should have asked if there was a two-for-one special this week! We got in, they took John's vitals. He was okay and the admitting nurse didn't seem too worried.

We got into a room and was registered by a nurse. Ends up her cousin works at my school! Small world, huh? Anyway, who walks in except for the very same ER doctor I saw two days before! She looked at Johnny and made sure he was okay before examining his wound closely. She told us it was a small injury from a short fall and that he'd be okay. She wasn't concerned about him sleeping that night and just suggested we'd look in on him in the middle of the night for our own piece of mind. She gave us information on head injuries and what to look for before declaring him a healthy, if somewhat bruised, little boy. She also asked how I was feeling. I'm sure she doesn't get many follow ups!

I looked in on John later that night. He was sleeping peacefully. This morning, he was himself and was quick to leave me for his morning date with Joni, the babysitter at the gym Tim and I go to.

This was one first I wasn't looking forward to, but I'm glad it was minor (probably not warranting an ER visit). However, better safe than sorry!