Saturday, January 26, 2008

Lauren's Guardian Angel

We didn't start the weekend off very well.

Friday afternoon Lauren woke up from her nap and was cranky. Sometimes 2 year olds are just cranky. She was so cranky that she woke up Tyler. He was cranky that she woke him up. I got both of them out of their cribs to head down stairs. John tried to pretend that they weren't up early and stayed in his crib. Three cranky 2 year olds are challenging.

Austin was downstairs watching TV. I was at the top of the stairs holding Lauren. Tyler was mad because he wanted me to carry him down the stairs. I was explaining to him that I would be back to get him after I took Lauren down.

The next moment probably took 5 years off of my life. Lauren and I started tumbling down the stairs together crashing through the gate at the bottom. My pant leg had gotten caught in my shoe and I couldn't keep my balance. We both screamed the entire way down.

Austin ran over and said, "Mommy! Do you need a doctor?" I said, "I think so." Tyler watched the whole thing from the top of the stairs. Ever since he has been saying, "Mommy...stairs....fall...careful!"

To make matters worse, I was home by myself. Clif was about 20 minutes away. My biggest concern was Lauren. The whole way down I felt like we were in a clothes dryer and I was trying to keep her above me. I just kept thinking don't fall on her. I couldn't begin to tell you what happened as we fell. It keeps playing through my mind, but I don't know if it is accurate at all.

I do know that I hit several places. I have tender spots and some pretty deep bruises on my arm, hip and both shoulders. My ankle is messed up and scratched on top where I took out one of the balusters on the stairs.

The 30 minutes after the fall were very long. Lauren was crying and I didn't know if she was hurt or hungry. She was asking for crackers, milk and her pacifier. The pacifier was upstairs and so was John. He was crying because they woke him up and he had to hear all of the commotion. I made it upstairs to get him and her pacifier. He was livid that I didn't carry him down the stairs.

After I made it back downstairs I found two little gate inspectors. Austin and Tyler had gotten their tools to inspect the broken gate. They got past mommy and Lauren falling down the stairs quickly.

I grabbed the phone and called the after hours number for the pediatrician. It was the most chaotic phone call. Lauren and John were crying and Austin and Tyler were fighting. I explained to the nurse that we had 4 kids 4 and under. She asked if I was alone. At that point she said, "Are you ok? When your husband gets home you need to go the the closest ER." I guess she figured I was in no shape to assess either one of us.

We went to the ER and got Lauren checked in. Then I went to check in. I was so worried about her I didn't realize that I was hurt. She and Clif were in the pediatric ER while I was in XRay. It turns out she is just fine and I may have a fractured foot.

I'm confused about my foot because when I talked to the doctor he said that I had an old fracture in the foot which was news to me. He said this injury was probably a tendon on top of my foot and when this type of injury occurs it moves a bone. Who knows exactly what he said? I was still waiting to hear if Lauren was ok.

My discharge papers said "fracture talus". They sent me home in an air splint with crutches for 3 or 4 days and orders to see an orthopaedic surgeon. The doctor said that I didn't need surgery, but I should follow up.

Remarkably, Lauren only has one scratch and bruise on her left wrist. She definitely has a guardian angel that kept her safe down the stairs. We thank the good Lord for that.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so glad you guys are okay. My biggest fear is falling down the stair with one of the girls. I fell down them when I was 28 weeks preggers and it tore a hole in Isabelle's sac, but her head was a cork that let me stay preggers another 3 weeks.

Here's hopeing you foots heals soon and you don't have to have surgery.

Kimberly and the GA Guinn Trips
www.guinnfamilyhome.com

Anonymous said...

So glad to hear you all are okay. Hope your foot heals quickly.
Love to all.

Aunt Heather

Michele S said...

Oh my goodness! Wow! YOU are her guardian angel. Bless your heart, that must have been so scary I can't even imagine. I can't tell you happy I am to live in a ranch. I've always wondered how the other triplet moms managed stairs. SCARY! Glad to hear that Lauren is okay and hope your foot heals quickly!

Our Home Schooler and Jen said...

thank goodness it wasnt worse

praying for you

scary stuff A

take it easy
Jen

MaryBeth said...

Oh my goodness... that scares me to death. My parents live close and have stairs so I'm always afraid of falling while carrying one of the girls, too. Luckily we live in a ranch style home. So glad to hear that Lauren was okay, and we'll be praying that your foot will heal without any surgery or anything invasive!

2Forgetful said...

Oh I'm so glad you're both okay. My biggest fear is hurting myself when I'm home alone with the kids. Rest that foot...if that's even possible with four kids... :-)