Ryder . The Stitched Forehead

**WARNING: Up-close picture of stitches in this post**

So - two ER trips in less than one week is too many (well, technically it is an ER trip for Harvick's leg, and "InstaCare" for Ryder).

Friday morning Patrick and I decided to take some time to organize a few things in the basement.  Harvick was sound asleep upstairs, Jarrett was fussy, so he came downstairs with us, and of course Ryder joined us.  Ryder was having a fun time, running around finding various toys (both his and cat toys, along with things from my Craft Room that he found interesting). 

I was in the back "bedroom" area going through some boxes, Patrick was in the "cold storage" organizing things, and Ryder was running around . . . Patrick and I suddenly heard a crash, followed by Ryder crying.  We both ran over to him - when Patrick picked him up, we instantly saw that Ryder had gashed his forehead (above his left eyebrow) open, after tripping on a piece of carpet and hitting his head on a piece of wood.  It was obvious to us that it required stitches.

I brought Ryder upstairs to get something to put pressure on the wound, while Patrick grabbed Jarrett and followed us up.  Fortunately, because of Patrick's tendency to require more than just a bandaid for his cuts from work, we have a nice first aid supply stash.  We bandaged Ryder's forehead with a non-stick pad and wrapped gauze around his head to keep it in place.

Patrick took Ryder to InstaCare while I stayed with Harvick and Jarrett at home.

After being evaluated (and a comment from the nurses on the good bandage job), it was determined that Ryder would need stitches.  The nurses wanted to first numb the area with cream, but quickly came to the realization that it would require Ryder be strapped down to a papoose board while the cream was applied, and the wound temporarily bandaged.  Once the cream took effect, the doctor and two nurses came back into the room to give additional numbing medication via a shot, and to stitch the wound.  Again, Ryder was strapped to the papoose board, with the assistance of Patrick and both nurses holding him down so the doctor could complete the stitches.  By the time the doctor completed the (6) stitches, Ryder's back was so sweaty that his shirt could have been wrung out.

We were given instructions to keep the wound covered in a "pressure bandage" for 2 days, followed by an additional 8 days of being covered.  Unfortunately, due to the location of the wound, Ryder will require the pressure bandage for all 10 days in order to keep it covered.



The bandage from the doctor's office.



The stitches. 
It doesn't look very bad now, but when the wound was open, it was very deep.  The doctor said that children this age have so much fat in their foreheads that the wound should heal with minimal scaring.

Ryder was so worn out form the whole ordeal he fell asleep in the car on the way home.  He slept in my lap for a few minutes, but when he woke up he was ready to play!  Unfortunately, he took off the first bandage in less than a minute - however, since then, he has left it on for the most part, only touching it when he is upset.

I said it already, but I think this just confirms it even more . . . life with 3 boys is going to be interesting . . .