Seeking the formula for parenting

Blogger Content: September 2006 - April 2010

Flexible Links

My Blogging Inspiration
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants

Flexible Affiliations


Parent Bloggers Network
- Crazy/Hip Blog-Mamas+
(Random Site)
A Member of Bust's Girl Wide Web
Parenting Blogs - Blog Top Sites
blog search directory
Search For Blogs, Submit Blogs, The Ultimate Blog Directory

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

The Case of the Missing Paperclip and a Trip to the ER

Have you ever wondered if you're really still asleep? Or had one of those days that's just so crazy that you just have to laugh? How about when you're in the middle of the emergency room? Then you really have to watch it in case people think that you are insensitive or a lunatic. That's how I felt yesterday.

After picking up OS yesterday from preschool and getting his prescription for pink eye, I declared a TV day and the boys excitedly gathered in the living room. I flopped down on our big comfy chair with my laptop and decided in light of OS being contagious to take advantage of a free grocery delivery promotion that Sally HP had emailed me. Just as I was putting the finishing touches on my virtual grocery cart I heard OS exclaim that my younger son (YS) had just swallowed a paper clip from in between couch cushions. I looked over to see YS swallowing with one hand still stuffed between the cushions of our couch. He giggled and then ran away which confirmed to me that he did indeed swallow something that he shouldn't have.

I called the pediatrician's office expecting to be told to keep an eye on it. Instead I was told I needed to take him immediately to the ER. I admit that I did experience an inward groan at that particularly while watching YS leap around the living room, a picture of perfect health. No problem, I would just call a friend to watch OS. Oh, wait a minute! OS had pink eye. Maybe a neighbor? Nope that wouldn't work either because of pink eye. So instead I needed to take OS to the one public place where it is safe to be out and about with contagious pink eye: the ER. Sure enough, the triage nurse and the doctors didn't even bat an eye so to speak.

In the meantime both boys appeared to be fine. They were running around the waiting room. Surprisingly quickly we were called to have YS x-rayed. After hearing that there was nothing in a dangerous spot and that YS would be absolutely fine, I relaxed. A couple of the nurses commented on my being there by myself with two energetic little boys. That's when I looked at the boys, one with pink eye, one who swallowed a paper clip and myself who still hadn't taken a shower and started laughing. The nurses looked at me quizzically. Perhaps they were thinking they should call the psych ward. I explained to them how OS had pink eye and it had just been one of those days. They smiled too. Of course it could have been at me, not with me!

After 4 sets of x-rays, it was inconclusive whether or not YS had indeed swallowed a paper clip or perhaps something else. 3 of the 4 showed something there, but either it's a weird part of YS's anatomy or I'll find something interesting in his diaper in a few days. We don't keep paper clips in our house, but every once in a while I a letter I receive will have one in it.

The Big Giraffe was able to finally meet me at the ER. The boys did great. Since I never finished checking out, we didn't have groceries which I also found kind of funny. Sure we had the basics to make sandwiches, pancakes etc., but since the boys and I had all skipped lunch due to the paper clip incident, the Big Giraffee picked up Chinese food for us. YS ended up eating a sandwich I had made early that morning in anticipation of taking the boys to the Y for a picnic and play before I knew about the pink eye. Everyone seems fine this morning.

Note to self: look at what else may be in between the cushions of the couch!

A. Elliot's Lesson Learned: Sometimes you just have to laugh.

Labels: ,

posted by Alex Elliot @ 6:54 AM   10 comments
10 Comments:

  • At 3/25/2008 8:31 AM, Blogger Heather said…

    You and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day!

     

  • At 3/25/2008 9:10 AM, Blogger Whirlwind said…

    been to the ER for swallowed objects, but we have had to have a nasal extraction.

     

  • At 3/25/2008 11:38 AM, Blogger Chantelle said…

    I just got home and am catching up. Boy it seems like you have had a quite a week! And it is only Tuesday!

     

  • At 3/25/2008 11:39 AM, OpenID cablegirl said…

    I love it when you're not sure if they did or didn't swallow something. A while back we had a scare when MJ was at my mother's. She says she *thinks* she swallowed a magnet, but wasn't sure. ugh.

    hmmm... hospital for xrays? or just keep her away from any others until it passes. yeah, I just kept her away from a possible second magnet. Turns out she didn't swallow one. It just got stuck to the underside of the fridge.

    *shrug*

    kids.

     

  • At 3/25/2008 12:19 PM, Blogger Jen of A2eatwrite said…

    I hope today is much, much better.

     

  • At 3/25/2008 3:10 PM, Blogger Tracey said…

    I can see why a paperclip would be really dangerous, as it could puncture the intestines or any number of organs. Ugh... Glad he's ok, but it sucks that you'll be getting a lovely hospital bill...

     

  • At 3/25/2008 9:25 PM, Blogger ru said…

    i have never been so glad to own the bottom-of-the-line ikea couch with no cushions!

     

  • At 3/27/2008 6:29 PM, Blogger skiplovey said…

    Wow, that story almost makes the ER sounds fun. Glad YS is ok. Hate to ask if the paper clip ever turned up?? Wait, forget I asked.

     

  • At 3/27/2008 9:55 PM, Blogger Suzanne said…

    I can't believe I am about to say this, but how can you not have paper clips in your house and still function?!?! I swear I use at least two a day.

     

  • At 3/27/2008 9:55 PM, Blogger Suzanne said…

    Um, oh yeah - I'm glad that my godson is OK.

     
Post a Comment
Home
 

My Profile

Name:Alex Elliot
Home:MA, United States
About Me:Professional Mom of two cats, a dog, an ant farm, and oh yeah...two boys: a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Also found in my house is my husband who is known on this blog as The Big Giraffe.
See my complete profile

Flexible Media Appearances

The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, Fox TV, August 3, 2007

Flexible Feeds

More Flexible Parenting

Grasshopper New Media Parents
Just Cause
Birth Days

Flexible Categories

Previous Posts

Archives

For those of us who didn't get an instruction manual with our babies and for whom parenting hasn't always gone as planned. On a more serious note this blog is about supporting a woman's ability to make her own choices about parenting including the choice, for whatever reason, to bottle feed her babies formula.

Powered by Blogger
© Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting


Creative Commons License
Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting by Alex Elliot is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Template Design based on one produced by isnaini dot com