I wasn't going to post this, as I feel so awful that it even happened, although I know now that I wasn’t to blame. I’m mostly posting so that others know what to do if it ever happened, and to N&P a few who really deserve it.
Last week there was an accident. I was making a cup of tea with my MiL in the kitchen and J was in the sitting room. I'd poured 2 cups of tea, and put a tiny (an inch max.) of water into a beaker for him. My intention was to dilute with the tea bag from my cup and a lot of milk. I do this a lot as J loves to have a cup of tea with us (despite the fact its mostly warm milk) I turned to get milk from the fridge and when I turned back - in a split second, J had come from the other room and grabbed his mug. It splashed all down his hand, arm and neck.
Thank goodness my MiL was there as I might have gone into melt down, but through his screams she got his clothes off, and we rushed him up the stairs where we put him under a cold shower. He was in such a state, and she really held it together for us all. (If I've ever said anything bad about her I take it all back),although I know to to cover a burn with cold water, I’m not sure I would have thought of it at that time, as I was so freaked out. I was just in a daze. Then she chucked us in the car and we rushed to our local A&E. While I was there she ran out to get H who works 2 mins away. J was so brave, but clearly in destress. He just kept shouting "Hot. Hot. hot" although he joined in when I was singing Horsey horsey to him, to see if I could calm him down a bit.
The girls at Cirencester A&E were amazing. Really lovely, calm and so helpful. Eventually after about half an hour of cooling the burns, they gave him some morphine to stop the stress and pain. Wrapped him up and sent us to Frenchay Children’s Dept - The Barbara Russell ward. We were seen by the plastic surgeons within a couple of hours and they agreed that he needed to have a general anaesthetic so they could put on a certain kind of dressing that needed him to be completely still. Sadly they couldn't do this that day as it was late, so we stayed in overnight and he was seen first thing on Friday morning. I slept in his room all night; H went back to his parents as they live 40 mins away.
After the proceedure, they then asked us to stay in for 48 hours to keep an eye on him and make sure the dressings stayed put and didn't get infected. So H and I stayed with him – although H slept over night for the next 2 nights and I went to the in-laws. The hospital could have put me in another room but in the end we decided there was no point both of us having terrible night’s sleep in a hospital when one could sleep better in a nice warm bed – and as I am 8 months pg then I went home.
I can’t praise the staff at Barbara Russell more, as they were so kind and helpful throughout our stay there. I know that’s their job but still – so helpful, so kind and so gentle with Jacob (and us).
I can’t praise my MiL more either. Please remember, if you or a loved one ever get burnt – put it under cold water immediately and for as long as you can. It really helps. Also, driving us to A&E. If I’d been on my own, I would have had to call 999 and they would have taken ages to get to us as we’re in the middle of nowhere and no one ever finds us even with sat nav.
We have to go back next week for a check up, but the mobile unit came out to us yesterday to redress his hand and shoulder and said both are looking really good and clearing up fast and they have no worries.
I now just want to keep this baby in, until J’s one hundred percent better. I was having terrible Braxton’s throughout the weekend and I’m petrified baby will make an early appearance but so far so good. Mum is away (she left just before the accident) and in-laws are going away tomorrow – there is a crossover of 2 days so a friend is on call for the weekend to look after J if I do go into labour. I just want him completely better – he can’t get his hand wet and needs to have it all rebandaged on Monday by the mobile unit again, and see the specialists at Frenchay on Thursday.
Needless to say we’re all shattered. J’s not sleeping great, and neither are we, but it could have been so, so much worse – I know that now. I’m usually so careful but it just takes a split second. Anyway, thats us last week.
This isn't flying, its falling - with style