Tye and the Big Black Eye

Remember how I talked about the stomach flip-flop sensation when something bad happens?  Well, this past week, I experienced something worse.


Wednesday morning, the girls and I went to the local La Leche League meeting in the home of one of the leaders.  Near the end of the meeting, Tye became restless and started playing in the hallway just outside of the room.  With Etta in the carrier on my chest, I followed Tye and found a place where I could see her and still participate in the discussion.  Then, Tye walked over to the steps and started to sit down at the top.  As I started towards her to ask her to stay upstairs, Tye's socked foot slipped out from  under her.  I watched as she tumbled, end over end, down the entire flight of about 20 steep, wooden stairs, begging God to please protect her head while I  whispered, "STOP! STOP! STOP! PLEASE STOP!" 


Never before have I experienced my child's life flashing before my eyes.  I remember thinking of all kinds of horror stories of people dying from falling down stairs, and how those stairs were probably just like these- a really long flight, hard, and so steep that even adults climb them extra cautiously.  Then I remembered asking Tye to put on socks that morning because I was afraid her feet would be cold, and then how Tye chose yellow leopard print socks and put them on by herself- one inside out.  At one point, I saw Tye's face looking up at me with her eyes wide in terror as she barreled down the stairs.  Ugh.  Just thinking of it now makes me want to cry.  


An eternity later, when Tye finally reached the bottom and stopped tumbling, I was already halfway down the stairs.  Tye had a swelling, purple bump over her right eye along with a tiny cut.  When I asked where she was hurt, she could only point to her eye through her tears.  With Etta still on my chest, I threw Tye on my hip and walked her up the stairs. 


One mom fixed an ice pack for Tye and another took Etta while the meeting continued.  As Tye nursed, I was extremely grateful to be able to nurse her, both to comfort her and to calm my own frazzled nerves .  But every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face, frozen in terror, as she flew down the stairs, out of control.  After about 30 minutes of ice, we decided to head home.  Not much later, Tye was more than ready for her nap, during which I snapped this shot.  

And here she is later in the week as the bruising progressed.  

I alternated applying arnica cream (a homeopathic remedy to heal the bruising) and lavender essential oil (to reduce the swelling), but Tye usually didn't want any medicine on it.  Thankfully, kids heal quickly.  I was amazed by how much the bruising changed shape and color even during the course of one day.


In the end, Tye learned a new, healthy respect for stairs.  I learned that when we remove our shoes when we enter someone's home, we also remove our socks.  I was reminded how amazing children's bodies are- that they can roll, bounce, and collide much more easily than adults, and that they heal so much more quickly, too.  I now have another scary experience under my mothering belt.  And I have a new understanding of why parents attribute their gray hairs to their children.