this is what I did last week...

It was three entire days of my life that I spent in waiting rooms!

I read so many out-of-date magazines!

I had to placate a hungry 9 year old!

I had to just SIT, WAIT, SIT, SMILE NICELY AND THEN SIT AND WAIT... for something to happen...

It started with this... A splinter that went nasty...

And here is what was attached to the finger...

After at least two hours we saw the GP, had an ultrasound, lunch and then back to the GP again.  This was lunch...

So after we'd seen the GP for the second time that day he told us Tyler had to be treated in hospital.

Lovely. 

Too late in the day to go so we called it a day.

So we rocked up to the Children's Hospital first thing the next day.

This is what I had to look at for oooooohhhhh only a few HOURS!

And the patient was fasting because surgery to cleanse the wound was necessary.

So he was hungry.

Really hungry.

And I was hungry. 

And I just couldn't eat anything in front of him.

Well after noon something happened.  The obs.

Then about an hour later this happened.

and this.

And because he'd had nothing to eat and drink they moved him into a day ward and put one of these in his arm to prevent dehydration. 

Then we waited for two "Doctor's Hours".  That means four hours to us normal people.  Four long, hungry, sighing hours.

Here we are.

And eventually, EVENTUALLY they come and take my hungry little munchkin into theatre at 8.30pm.  He was so tired.

And here he is waving goodbye.  He was actually looking forward to sucking on the happy gas!

Weird that they didn't put a gown on him...

Anyway, what's a very tired, bored, hungry mother with a point and shoot camera at her mercy to do whilst her 4th child is in surgery?  (Besides raid the vending machine.)

Uh huh!

This is what I saw twenty minutes later.

Drugged to they eyeballs and out for the night. 

I was offered a bed for the night but the dude was out to it and a hot shower and my own bed was beckoning me.

So I went home. And came back first thing the next morning.

And so it began again the next day.  Dude was in high spirits and watching TV.  We had to WAIT for the doctor to come and check out the wound and then we could go home.

And we watched TV.  And watched TV.  And I checked my blog from my phone.  That's so cool. And sighed and watched TV. And WAITED.

Then this happened.  Out came the drip.

And a little while later this happened.

They re-dressed the wound.

Dressed.

And around about 1pm the doctor NEVER TURNED UP but rang instead and told us we could go!!!

And that was 3 days of my life last week.  And I don't want to think about doing that again for a while.

I did this a little while ago too.  Remember the Cicada???

And lastly, a sneak for my contribution for November's Product Pick at Scrapbooks etc.

Notice a little Norwegian influence in that natty little scroll there?  That was a lift! Ha!  And now I have no idea where I saw it!  So if it's yours please comment so we know who the genius was for this little gem.

Comments

[Melinda]

Poor kid- it looks painful and sitiing for hours in a hospital is never fun- I feel your pain there! Hope he is well now. When Karissa was 2 she had an absess that required surgery and several days in Children's Hospital here- not fun!

[me]

What a sweet picture of him sleeping. Well, I bet you will never forget those 3 days... all that for a splinter? nice.

[Moira Coates]

Wow! What a week! Thanks for dropping by and reminding me not to lurk ;-) I started writing a lovely comment to you late last night after I'd taken my sleeping pills, and gave up because I just couldn't make sense of myself. Glad I did, coz re-reading what I'd left on the screen was like looking at a drunk person's typing - spelling and grammar mistakes everywhere! I have muchos sympathy for you and the waiting, waiting, waiting - my mum had to do that with me when I was a kid with all my diabetes dramas (about a fortnightly occurrence when I was at my 13/14 year old worst!) And now poor Matthew has experienced many a hospital waiting room. I'd always take a book with me, but he doesn't seem to have worked that out yet, so it's trashy magazines for as long as he can stand them, then thumb twiddling for hours!

[candice]

Wow!!! ALL that just from a splinter??? What a pain! He seemed to be quite a trooper...so brave!

I like your self portraits...too funny.

Awesome layouts!

[scrappysue]

all that for a splinter gone bad? poor guy! hope he's recovering well

[annette]

you poor things! I hate going to the hospital! your pictures are classic.

[donnapiranha]

Wild!!!

Your hair looks LOVELY in the self-portraits! Haaaaaaa

Fun to read.

[Leanne Stamatellos]

you and your poor son !!!!
there's nothing else I can say - poor kid, poor mum!

[jorunn]

Another wonderful and amazing LO!
Love the pictures, the details and the colorcombo!
Although I`m Norwegian, I`m sorry to say I can`t take credit for this amazing page! :D

Hope you and your children will stay out of waiting rooms for a while!

Hugs,
Jorunn

[Janette]

Awe the poor little fellow. Infections are not a good thing. Glad he was well taken care of. I know how you feel about waiting around in a hospital. Done enough of that myself the last few months. Glad you had your camera along to keep you entertained. =)

Those layouts are pure eye candy. Loving all the details and the yummy warm colours. Great job Kiwi!!!!!

[Kristi Smith]

That was a nasty little infection!!! I despise sitting in the waiting room, I always wonder what I am going to catch and sometimes I eavesdrop on the other patients conversations (I am nosey like that), and sometimes I write down recipes out of the magazines, but what i really hate is when I am really into a really good read that I found in the waiting room and they call my name and for a second . . . I think about stealing the mag . . . but then I put it down, left wondering how the article ended. Sorry, did you feel like you were in a waiting room, reading all of that?

Very noice photos. I am shocked they left on his clothes too. Tyler didn't ever seem too concerned about the whole thing (or did you leave out some photos?).

Great layout.

[janene van barrelo]

Oh my, i did not realise the splinter situation was that bad. Poor Tyler and poor you for having to wait and wait and wait!! Waiting is horrible. What a little adventure for Tyler to tell his mates. Bye the way love your work!!

[tory]

ok I have to comment..... Sorry to see tyler's gross finger but all is good now I hope?
As in the clothes.... the theatre garb that is usally supplied for adults is not sterile but only machine washed just like your clothes at home. It's all the washing with anteseptic they do to the effected digit that ensures cleanliness. They also drap with sterile cloths around the area being operated on. Kids at my hospital may be dressed in hospital pj's in their size but for minor proceedures sometimes its less traumatic for the child if they stay in their own nice clean clothes. Hope that clears that up for everyone. :o)

[Ann Lederhose]

Oh man! that's gotta hurt! Glad that's all over with for you and him!