A Slice

It had been a good run.  I finished stretching and walked upstairs to shower. That's when I remembered that we still had a watermelon.  I turned around kitchen-bound, because when you are hot and sweaty, there is nothing quiet as refreshing as that red, juicy, cold fruit. They are, after all, mostly water (92%).

I placed  the heavy fruit on the cutting board and pulled a large butcher knife from the drawer.  After cutting it in two, I grabbed one of the halves and proceeded to make smaller slices.  That watermelon rind, it's thick you know, and slicing requires force.  I pushed down on the knife at the same time that the watermelon rolled.  My left hand, which was steadying the fruit, rolled with it, downward, and directly below the path of the knife.  It happened fast. And with the slice of watermelon there also came the pad of my little finger.

Thankfully, Mike was home and we got to work on repairing the damage.  

I'm glad it was just the tip, because if my finger had been a centimeter over it would have been an amputee or something close to it.

I've sutured plenty and have helped repair similar injuries on others, but I've come to appreciate a few things this week.  #1) Those finger tips can bleed.  Oh can they bleed.

#2) When they say that your finger pads have a gazillion nerve endings, it's no joke.  This thing has hurt and throbbed more than any other injury I've ever had.  Ever.  Which brings me to #3) When I see patients with similar injuries in the future, the words, Some Ibuprofen should be enough, will no longer be uttered and I will give them the good stuff.

Not quiet numb enough; giving myself more anesthetic.

Mike and I sat in bed later that night and commented on the vulnerability of life.  In an instant things can change.  It's easy to take it for granted,  and while I'm not suggesting that you live your life in fear of what could happen, it's after experiences like this, that I'm reminded to more fully live and enjoy it.

But more importantly, at the end of the day, when I-or those I love-finish it unscathed, I need to more perfectly and completely thank Heaven.

Active Parenting

Instead of a ball pit, I (without Mike) took the girls to Pump It Up this past week.  Mike is usually the one that gets right in and plays with the girls as I document from the side, but due to his absence it became my duty to slide down the slides with Gracie, joust with Raquel, and race-jump with Elena.  And you know what? I had a blast!  I need to do more of that.

3 Notes to Self

One.   When acting as the tooth fairy--start out small. 

Even if it is the front tooth, and it is well taken care of, and you're trying to instill good dental hygiene by saying that the tooth fairy pays in proportion to the quality of the tooth.  Don't go big. 

Last week, while acting as an accomplice to the tooth fairy, I pulled out a dollar from my purse.  Mike upon seeing my meager reward said, "A dollar? Really? It's her front tooth.  Give her at least a $5."  So I did just that, I put the dollar back and grabbed a five.  The next morning Raquel could hardly believe it.  

We didn't really understand the motivation that a 6 year old has in obtaining more wealth until yesterday.

That's right folks, despite not being loose or ready to come out---she managed to get her other front tooth out!

Two.   When the baby is done eating, and has been yelling for you to take her out of the highchair, if ignored long enough, she will find alternate uses for her dishes and whatever food-remains may be left in said dishes.

Three.   When trying to keep a 6,3, and 1 year old busy, so you can finish dinner, a laundry basket will do the trick.  It will provide hours of entertainment for all.