What a difference a week makes!

Annalee's stitches came out today! It's been exactly 1 week since her accident, and we think she looks a ton better. All the bruising and swelling are gone, and now we just pray for no scarring. The doctor seemed confident that there will be no scar. I must brag that she was amazing through the whole doctor's visit...so brave and tough. It made me so thankful that she is such a submissive, compliant child; she just laid there and let him do his work. And because of this, she did NOT have to be strapped down, a HUGE relief to both of us! She cried a little because she was scared, but just during the actual removal of the stitches which lasted all of about 2 minutes. Thank you to everyone who was praying for her...we really felt them!!

And here's a cute picture of Addie being her usual playful, goofy self.

new name?

It just occurred to me that we will have to change the name of our blog.

Quick Annalee update: she gets her stitches out on Tuesday. Please pray that it will be a quick, painless, and non-traumatic experience. She will have to be restrained again. Her cut is looking so great, no more swelling and only a faint bruise that is already yellowing. Thanks for all of your prayers.

the past 24 hours

Annalee has been so good since yesterday's event, not even acting like anything is wrong. I'm so proud of her. Cute story: Yesterday afternoon she was asking questions about her cut, and I was explaining to her everything that had happened. After I had described her injury, she observed that it was "Just like my giraffe!" Which is her stuffed animal whose stitching had come undone and you could see inside it. I was astonished she could make this connection between her cut and her giraffe. So I said, "That's right! Do you want me to give him stitches just like yours? She replied, "Yes, but don't put the needle in me!" So I got out my sewing kit and stitched up the giraffe, and she was fascinated!
She slept very well last night (I thought she might wake up, but she didn't), and when I got her up this morning, her eye looked a lot better than I expected. It was almost swollen shut (and has since opened back up to what it was last night), but there wasn't nearly as much bruising as I'd anticipated: just a slightly purple tint. Here is a link to a picture I took last night of her with her stitches. And here is a picture of what she looks like this morning.

I've been dreading this day...

I knew this day would eventually come, but I don't think you can ever be prepared for your first trip to the doctor for stitches. Annalee was running, tripped, and fell hard into the corner of our coffee table. I was a few feet away in the kitchen and didn't actually see it, but I heard the thud...and the blood-curdling scream that followed. I ran to see the damage, and I was definitely not ready for all the blood and 3-cm cut that goes across her right eyebrow. It was a nightmare come true. I scooped her up and ran to get a towel to apply pressure, and my mind was racing to figure out what to do. I never had anything like this happen to me; I'm pretty sheltered when it comes to injuries. I called Lee and he met me at the house, and Terri was able to come take care of Addie while Lee & I took Annalee to the doctor. The cut was deep enough (the muscle underneath was split) that she needed 2 layers of stitches. She was scared to death, mostly because she knew she would have to get a shot (which was by far the worst part). They also had to put gauze over her eyes so she couldn't see, and tie her down so she couldn't move. Lee and I both stayed by her side and tried to comfort her as the doctor and nurses worked on her. She handled it amazingly well. She got a total of 12 stitches: 4 underneath and 8 on the outside. I took a picture of the cut while we were waiting on the doctor, but I don't want to post it here incase anyone has a weak stomach. But, if you want to see it, click here.
The whole thing was excruciating for me to watch, and at times Lee was comforting me as much as Annalee. This is the first time I have experienced that overwhelming sense that parents always talk about where you will give anything to take your child's pain away. I felt so helpless. And now that it's all over with, she seems to be doing just fine. After we got done, we asked her what she wanted for lunch. I can't say I was surprised to hear "macaroni and cheese and green beans!" Her appetite was not at all affected by the event, because she ended up eating 2 helpings of each as well as some fruit.

Reflections....
As I am looking back on that experience, I must admit that in the heat of the moment I was questioning God: "Why did this happen?" "Why her face?" "Why such a large wound?" But now after having time to think, I am so thankful for several things. One, thank goodness it is where it is: Another inch down and we'd be in a much more serious situation! Also, it's right along her eyebrow, and the doctor said the scar will be very obscure. Two: it is a very clean, straight cut: it will heal much better and leave a much fainter scar.
As I ponder even deeper, I can't help but be in awe of God and how He had to watch His Son go through so much worse, knowing that He had to endure it in order to save the world. That is unimaginable to me. I know our situation is on a microscopic level in comparison, but because of this experience, I definitely have a truer and more vivid appreciation for God's love for me.