worst. day. ever.

Yesterday was probably the worst day of my life.

EVER.

As a parent, you do everything you can to protect your children. Child-proof the cabinets, never leave your child unattended in the bath, research the safest car seats, always wash their hands when coming inside, etc. I've always though of myself as a conscientious parent...keeping harmful objects out of my children's reach.
Who ever thought that something so innocuous as THIS:

- A children's chair- could do SO much damage!

(Maybe I should sue IKEA! j/k)

As Jolee was trying to get up on said chair...she got off balance and fell. And somehow managed to get her little pinky finger smashed in between the wooden chair and our hardwood floors. Mitch was standing right next to her, and saw the blood so yelled at me to get a towel. It looked like a pretty deep cut, with a lot of blood, so I quickly wrapped it up and we rushed her to the ER. On the way there..I kept thinking, she'll probably need stitches!

Talk about understatement of the year!

When we got in, and removed the towel from her finger, my heart dropped. The chair had managed to nearly amputate (almost 80%) the tip of her tiny pinky.

After a couple tortuous hours of X-rays, exams, and just plain waiting, they wheeled her into the O.R for surgery. Initially, the ER doctor informed me that the most likely scenario would be to completely amputate the tip a bit above the top joint of her pinky, where the chair had basically crushed the tip. (sorry for the graphic image...) But after reviewing the X-rays, the Orthopedic Surgeon decided he would try and save the tip...and reattach it. And hope and pray that that the tissue will find a way to heal and regenerate itself.

And that's what he did.

After a short-but excruciatingly LONG- 45 minutes of surgery...the doctor came out and informed me that all went well. And that with luck, the finger will heal and all she'll be left with will be a little scar on her pinky.

Here she is minutes post-op. She's still sleeping off the general anesthesia.

Having never undergone general anesthesia, and never seeing a child put to sleep...it was very scary. Thankfully, all went well! She had NO complications with the medication or the procedure.

Maybe because she was so little...or maybe because it was so late at night...it took her nearly 3 hours to come out of the anesthesia enough for them to let us leave. She was still groggy...but was awake enough to respond, so at a little after midnight, we got to go home!

After a light meal of soup and oranges...and her medication...she fell back asleep for the rest of the night.

It was a long day. Probably the longest day of my life. And quite possibly the worst!

Mitch had taken the girls home earlier, so I was grateful that he was home from work and able to take care of our other two girls. I can't imagine what I would have done had I had to take all three kids with me!

I'm also grateful for the Priesthood Blessing that Mitch gave to Jolee before and after the procedure. I KNOW it has helped in her miraculous recovery!

This morning...she woke up all smiles! Amazingly, she hasn't shown signs of being in any pain or discomfort. She was even running around and playing with her sisters and cousins.

It's hard to see her encumbered by her cast...not being able to make any use of her arm because of the HUGE and HEAVY splint the doctors put on her entire arm. But, so far...she doesn't seem to be too bothered by it.

(Although, she did try and take the baby scissors to it while I was turned away. I know, you'd think I'd learned my lesson and keep a better watch on her!)

Next week...we'll find out how her finger is healing...and if the surgery has been successful. Hopefully...she'll be able to keep her whole finger!