Ok, so before I tell this story, I have to warn you, the pictures are GRAPHIC and not easy to look at, so if you don't like blood and gore, DON'T continue on past the story....I won't be offended. My sister, De, told me to write this in my journal, to make myself feel better. I was going to write this in my personal journal, but I can't find it, and since I am using this as my journal, here is where it is getting written, and I happened to take pictures, so that is why it is soooo graphic! I will tell the story first, then, if you want to see the pics, you can look, but don't say I didn't warn you! The pics will be at the END!
So, Maddie and Payton are in a diving class (similar to swimming lessons, but all on the diving board) and they LOVE it! Today they were practicing jumping backwards off of the board and the teacher was getting them to jump away from the board. After class, Payton said he had wanted to do a back flip off of the board, but the coach wouldn't let him. I told him, "yeah, you probably aren't ready, yet."
Then he said that he was going to try it in our pool, in which I replied, "No! We don't have a diving board and you don't know how!" then he said he wanted to do it in the deep part of our pool (only 5 1/2 feet deep) and I replied, "probably not, but we will see."
Well, after swim lessons, we (Donelle (one of my best friends) and her kids) went back to my house to swim for a bit. We had been in the pool area for about 3 minutes, and Donelle and I were just sitting down under the shade. I got up to get my feet wet (mind you, it was 111' today, yes, 111') and as I was putting my feet in the pool I looked up to see Payton standing on the side of the pool, about 2 feet from the edge of the pool, with his back to the pool. Right then he jumped up trying to do a back flip, but instead of getting anywhere near a back flip, or the pool, he landed with the base of the back of his head on the corner of the pool decking, and the rest of his back kind of rolled down on the deck. Ugghhhh....this memory of me watching it makes me want to throw up. My stomach is SICK just thinking about it! I quickly ran over to him as he was trying to stand up, and told him not to move and started holding his head closed. I yelled to Donelle to run inside and get Tyler (I was VERY blessed that Donelle was there, because she is an ER nurse and even more blessed because Tyler is a PA and was home for lunch!). Within seconds, Donelle came back out with a towel and Tyler close behind her. By then blood was pouring out of the back of his head and I couldn't keep it closed. Donelle took over holding the towel and Tyler came over to him. I wasn't as worried about his head, as I was about his neck and back. He landed on the back of his head, but it really kinked his neck. They took Payton in the house and we got all the other kids out of the pool and made them play outside. Inside, Tyler and Donelle cleaned him up and it was easy to tell Payton needed staples or stitches or SOMETHING to keep it closed. His gash was about 2 1/2'' long and about 1/2'' deep. SCARY!!! Again, I am very blessed that Donelle and Tyler were there. Donelle happened to have a stapler at her house and she ran home to get it. They cleaned the area, sterilized everything and put 5 staples in his head. Luckily it was a very clean straight gash, and luckily, Tyler had cut Payton's hair VERY short just last night! HUGE BLESSINGS!! I spent the day watching for signs of concussion and will continue to do that all night, but it looks like he will be ok and just have a big old scar and be sore for the next few days. We kept trying to keep him positive by reminding him how he can tell his 3rd grade teacher and class about it in Aug. when school starts up. :)
Anyways, I know this was graphic, but I had to get it out.
I wanted to say a few things that went through my mind. When it all happened, while I was in the moment, I was ok. I wasn't thinking about anything other than my son and how to help him not be in pain. About an hour after it happened, and when I sat back to think about it all, I burst into tears and wanted to throw up. Just remembering my son, falling on his head, and me not being able to do anything, makes me so SICK! I know there was nothing I could have done to prevent it, but I'm his Mom. I'm supposed to protect him, take care of him, and make sure nothing bad happens to him. I don't want to see my son in pain or hurt. As I am sitting and writing about this tonight, I realized I never said my morning prayers. Summer has made my schedule and routine a little off. I used to pray every morning for my family, mostly that they would make good choices, be respectful to their teachers and others, and that I could help them be good kids and be a good Mom to them. I also always prayed they would return to me safely. I don' think I have ever prayed that they wouldn't get hurt. I guess I have always taken that for granted. You better believe that will be at the top of my list on my prayers from now on. Again, that might not have prevented it, but you never know if you don't ask.
I think I am a little more protective of Payton, since we lost Jake. I can't imagine losing another child, especially my only other son. I can't even fathom that....
Anyways, my prayers tonight will be to sincerely thank Heavenly Father for helping me take care of my children. To thank Him that I had more help than I needed this afternoon, and that Payton is doing fine and will recover without any lasting effects. I truly am so so blessed to be a Mom to my amazing kiddos. I love them and will do whatever it takes for our family to be together forever.
One last comment from Payton. After things had settled down and he was watching a movie he sat up and asked if his back would hurt tomorrow, and I told him it would, and he said, "so, if I am in the car with other kids and they see a slug bug, they can't slug me in the back or head, right??" Haha! I couldn't help but laugh. First off, that is one of the first things he was worried about after having gotten staples in his head??? Second, who slugs someone on their back, or their HEAD!!?? haha! I told him we would make sure to tell all the kids in our car (which is usually Maddie and Lexi) that if they see a slug bug, they can't slug Payton on his back or head!
Ok, here are the photos. I know they are very graphic, that is why I am warning you!! If you don't want to see them, DON'T LOOK past this POINT!!!
Danger!
Danger!
Danger!
Before the stitches! Look at that GASH!!
Great Staple JOB!! All 5!
This picture is so that you can see his profile of the back of his head. If you look closer to the base of his head you can see how it pokes out, and the black line where the gash is at.
Anyways, I am glad it is over. I'm grateful he is ok, and that he is such a sweetheart. He did great getting the staples and great afterwards. I love my Payton!
