Again....
Today my only plan was to get my hair done.... I've been looking forward to it and need it! And life happens and that plan was changed.
I am thankful for the kind woman named Sharon at the Illinois poison control hotline. Are you aware that when you call the hotline number you are automatically routed to the state based on your phone number. I still have an Illinois number... So I called and got the kindest most calm woman.
I had been playing cars and excused myself from Espen to go to the restroom. It was 10:45 in the morning... and just that fast he went from the living room to the kitchen, climbed the counter, got in the cabinet and ate at least one of the dogs phenobarbital. When I got to him I asked him how many he ate. He said 2... and then "just kidding"... So I called poison control. I had given him cold medication about 40 minutes prior.
So after speaking with Sharon I was not sure how many he had eaten I was advised to monitor him for extreme drowsiness, slurred speech & balance issues. She told me he would behave like he was intoxicated. And pretty quickly he did. I had to call her back in an hour. NOON... my appointment time for the hair... after I spoke with Sharon, I spoke to Doug who believed there were 5 tablets left and I was looking at 3... At noon I advised Sharon that it could have been 2 tablets. She then advised me to take Espen to the ER.... So much for my hair appointment....
Back to emergency we went. He was asleep during the drive. He was calm & woozy during check in. He was curious when they strapped the monitors to him. He had heart, blood & oxygen monitors attached to him for 2 hours. The second hour he was wide awake and tearing the things off and hard to make sit still. Finally we were able to go home. The ER doctor said he could have eaten several more before it would have been dangerous. But that we had again done the right thing.... We got home at 4:10pm...
So I have again secured the cabinet & the medication. We were careless after we painted the cabinets and didn't put the lock back on. It is secure now. I have felt all day that I am careless. I have to go to the bathroom. I can't dehydrate. But today it feels like I must....
My son is fast. He is smart. He is clever. He is determined. He is not easily entertained with TV. He is curious. And as much as he listens, he is still grossly independent. If he is not challenged and watched he finds his own things to do...and they are not good if I am careless...
I accept that many of you will judge me... go ahead.... I also accept that you will think... that will never happen to me or thank god that never happened. You will also think that I am not paying attention, that I am busy, that my mind is elsewhere... I am absolutely IN THE MOMENT with my son. I am a good mom. I have judged others. I have thought these things will not happen to me. AND they do. And they are the worst things that can happen to a mom.... makes one question everything about her parenting... and I'll go to bed tonight thankful my son is OK... thankful for the kind lady at poison control.... thankful for a great medical center.... and I will kiss my little guy and we will wake up tomorrow and try AGAIN...
I am thankful for the kind woman named Sharon at the Illinois poison control hotline. Are you aware that when you call the hotline number you are automatically routed to the state based on your phone number. I still have an Illinois number... So I called and got the kindest most calm woman.
I had been playing cars and excused myself from Espen to go to the restroom. It was 10:45 in the morning... and just that fast he went from the living room to the kitchen, climbed the counter, got in the cabinet and ate at least one of the dogs phenobarbital. When I got to him I asked him how many he ate. He said 2... and then "just kidding"... So I called poison control. I had given him cold medication about 40 minutes prior.
So after speaking with Sharon I was not sure how many he had eaten I was advised to monitor him for extreme drowsiness, slurred speech & balance issues. She told me he would behave like he was intoxicated. And pretty quickly he did. I had to call her back in an hour. NOON... my appointment time for the hair... after I spoke with Sharon, I spoke to Doug who believed there were 5 tablets left and I was looking at 3... At noon I advised Sharon that it could have been 2 tablets. She then advised me to take Espen to the ER.... So much for my hair appointment....
So I have again secured the cabinet & the medication. We were careless after we painted the cabinets and didn't put the lock back on. It is secure now. I have felt all day that I am careless. I have to go to the bathroom. I can't dehydrate. But today it feels like I must....
My son is fast. He is smart. He is clever. He is determined. He is not easily entertained with TV. He is curious. And as much as he listens, he is still grossly independent. If he is not challenged and watched he finds his own things to do...and they are not good if I am careless...
I accept that many of you will judge me... go ahead.... I also accept that you will think... that will never happen to me or thank god that never happened. You will also think that I am not paying attention, that I am busy, that my mind is elsewhere... I am absolutely IN THE MOMENT with my son. I am a good mom. I have judged others. I have thought these things will not happen to me. AND they do. And they are the worst things that can happen to a mom.... makes one question everything about her parenting... and I'll go to bed tonight thankful my son is OK... thankful for the kind lady at poison control.... thankful for a great medical center.... and I will kiss my little guy and we will wake up tomorrow and try AGAIN...
You are a good mother...you are not careless nor can you be perfect in everything. In Every experience there is a lesson understand it do not dwell to long on it and move forward!
ReplyDeleteYou are also a human being... as is your son. And thus, imperfect! Things happen. The best parents in the world have to turn their backs for a second, use the bathroom and leave us to our own devices. Parenting is such a strange thing... In looking at my own life, where are the places where I learned the most, and grew into a successful (hopefully) grown up? It was in making stupid mistakes.. that caused me pain, that caused me to say "whoops.. don't do that!!!". I learned from my slip ups, disappointment and failures, to become the person I am now. And yet, as parents.. what is the one thing we keep trying to do for our kids? Shield them from life's slip ups, disappointments and failures, the one thing that we ourselves grew the most from. Now I realize these are safety concerns, and we can't just let our kids hurt themselves. But.. stuff will happen that is out of our control, kids will be kids, and they'll learn eventually. Just don't beat yourself up or you'll get paranoid and that is the opposite extreme, and still just as bad for the child. Your a great mom! Just hug him extra tight and enjoy every minute! As someone that suddenly has a daughter about to graduate from high school... as they all say... IT. GOES. BY. SO. FAAASSSTTT!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone who has children would judge you. Like you said, they are fast little buggers and stuff happens. Thank goodness he is ok and you did the right thing by erring on the side of caution by calling poison control and going to the ER. I would hate to go to the other extreme and have him be so scared of life and exploration that he is frozen. P.S. I accidentally left a bottle of carpet cleaner out when Grace was about two. I was cleaning up a pet mess and forgot to put the bottle away before I went back to scrub the spot. She managed to spray it into her mouth and all over herself. After a call to poison control and a bath, she was fine but I haven't left the cleaner out again since then! Courtney
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