In an Instant.....

So much can happen in 2 to 5 seconds. I debated whether or not to post this as I know of a couple of readers who will think I'm a terrible mom and no doubt I certainly felt like a terrible mom when it happened. But I am not a terrible mom; I am also not a perfect mom and no mom has ever been or ever will be. Praise God, we are all in his hands to protect or bring good from an injury or harm. Needless to say, I am thankful for the guardian angels around my children.

I took Elisabeth to the doctor for her regular check-up this week and took Jonah with me. The doctor saw her and commented about how great she was and how she had the social development of a 9-month old and was really good with using her hands (which we were hard pressed to keep away from the tools of his trade so that he could use them). All the while, Jonah was telling us about things in the books he was perusing and pointing out aspects of the themed decor. The doctor left the room, and we were waiting on the nurse to give her the expected immunizations. For efficiencies sake, I decided to start dressing Elisabeth so we could make a prompt exit once she calmed down from her shots. So I put her up on the exam table and put her onesie on. Jonah started telling me something exciting about one of the books and I saw a page torn out and in his hand so I turned to put it back and make sure he wasn't tearing out the pages. After that I really can't remember exactly what happened - I just know I shrieked and was picking Elisabeth up off the floor and the nurses came running in response. (It makes me cringe to attempt to recall that moment.) All I could do was hold her and try to calm her and myself. One of the nurses distracted Jonah and another called for the doctor. I sat down with Elisabeth and the doctor came over to check her out. I thought she hit the back of her head but there wasn't really any signs of a knot or anything. He checked her eyes and head and ears (he said the inner ear can show signs quickly if there has been a real smack to the head.) He didn't see anything but wanted me to stay for a while for observation which was ended up being another 45 minutes or so. After he left, Elisabeth nursed and then took a short nap 15 or 20 minutes and then she was babbling and smiling like nothing had happened. I had calmed down by this point, but felt like an idiot. So the doctor finally came in again and looked her over again and said she looked fine and that babies are actually very resilient and that babies fall in the floor all over the world. This last part didn't exactly make me feel better, but I appreciate the effort. He did want me to call if I saw any odd behavior and to wake her up a few times that night to be sure she wasn't showing any signs of a concussion. Thank the Lord, she has acted normally and has shown no physical signs of the fall, not even a bruise since. I wish I could say this is the first time this has happened on my watch, but, alas, when Jonah was about the same age he rolled off of our bed onto the hardwood floor in our house. He actually had a bump on his head for a couple of days from his fall but was otherwise fine. When I told Kelly about all this he said that it seemed like every kid had to hit the floor once - like a right of passage or something. He also said that if it was going to happen anywhere it's best to happen at the doctor's office. I just wish they had carpet. :)