So, What's a Little Blood?

It's Saturday evening about 8:15. I suggested to Andy that we do a little date night and watch a movie on his laptop. It's been a long day - half playing and half continuing to unpack. I don't really get a response. So, I decide to check my email while he works in the basement. (More house pictures to come - basics 3 bedrooms upstairs with kids, playroom, library, living room, kitchen. Downstairs is our bedroom, makeshift bathroom, huge living room, storage area and laundry.) About five minutes later, I hear, "That was stupid." (Besides the fact that word is trying to be eradicated from our house...we won't go there at the moment.) I don't even go to look because from his tone it just sounds like more messes to clean up. Then I hear the shower running and, "Linz! I need your help!" I walk in and see this image (imagine a little more stress on the face and the entire shower floor covered with bright red blood). Andy asks for a towel, paper towels, neosporin and band aids. I'm happy to announce I DID NOT FAINT! I asked what happened. Dear old Andy dropped a dirty, gross, dull MACHETE on his foot.
I got him the stuff and also grabbed his cell phone to call our nearest ward member (Brent) who also happens to be a med student, my old roommate's husband, Andy's previous ultimate frisbee competitor, and our friend. Yes, it needs stitches - just barely missed the artery (Great job there, Honey!), but since Brent is not yet a resident, he doesn't have all the neat little tricks in his bag. He had the numbing medicine to administer before placing the stitches but not the syringe. It's now after 9 on a Saturday night and the nearest 24 hour pharmacy is about 20 minutes away. We decided to just plunge ahead and do the stitches without the numbing. (I say 'we' because, well, I would have to watch, so it was really my call...right?)

Of course, this would have to be in pretty much the dirtiest area of the house at the moment! Stellar, right? So, they sterilized as well as possible with a little bit of rubbing alcohol and got to work! He tested Andy's pain tolerance with the rubbing alcohol on the gash..he did pretty well!

If you blow up this image, you can actually see the skin pulling with the needle. Yuck, I know. Andy said the most painful part of this whole process was the needle finding its way back to the surface. "It felt like a needle poking your skin." (That's why I do the blogging!!!) Sweat did bead on his forehead and he got a little bit pale. I offered my hand for him to squeeze but he didn't want it. (Why is it that I have to have the babies with my minuscule pain tolerance???) I asked Brent if he had a queasy stomach during all of this. "No! I love this stuff!"

A little teamwork helps the process move along...let's just be glad I was the one taking the pictures and not near the blood and the puncturing and pulling of skin involved with stitches. (Amazingly, in 9 1/2 years of marriage and three kiddos, this is our first experience with stitches...besides those baby ones, of course)

Wow. That's about all I have to say. I was not very close (LOVE the zoom) and very light headed. I think it's a good think I didn't go into nursing... :)

A job well done! Thanks so much for saving us from a several hundred dollar trip to the ER!!! Andy is well on his way to recovery and back to unpacking and organizing. Have I mentioned previously that I married a work-a-holic? But I love him anyway!!! Brent is going to check those little stitches Wednesday night after basketball...thanks for being a great neighbor!!!

PS - Thanks Ang for loaning us your hubby on a Saturday night!!!