Enough Is Too Much!

So I’m all excited today because I’m packing up our stuff and we’re gonna move back home this afternoon. I’ve just finished packing the bathroom and all of the boys’ stuff into the car, and I’m getting ready to take the first load over to the house when my cell phone rings. It’s the Ex, who has the kids this weekend.

“Number One Son just fell off a zip line,” he says. “We think he broke his shoulder or something. The ambulance is coming.”

“Fine,” I say. “Let me know what hospital they take him to, and I will meet you there.” He did. LeBonheur. Good kids’ hospital.

Called my brother and asked him to drive me to the hospital, thinking the Ex can bring me home. Didn’t want my car, full of our stuff, sitting in a parking lot at the hospital, which is in a not-so-fabulous part of town. Was glad of the choice once we got there — there are some seriously skanky, scary-looking people wandering around in the lobby.

Took them a while to point me to the Kidlet’s room, but I finally found him. An exam room door opened and I saw his little camouflaged legs on the white bedsheet. So I just head right in — I’m the MOM, darnit! The Ex looks like hell. He has this stupid old Russian army overcoat with a bunch of medal things that he wears. He looks idiotic. He also hasn’t shaved for, apparently, a month or two. There’s a mangy-looking rat’s pelt hanging off of his chin. I’m embarrassed to be in the same room with him. He rode in the ambulance with the kidlet, so has no transport.

The doctor comes in, says they need an Xray. A parent can go with the kidlet. I ask Kidlet which parent he wants, and he chooses me. I don’t think Ex was too happy about that, but the kid’s old enough to make his choices.

Ex goes off to call his friend for a ride when we get back. Admitting clerk comes in and hands me a debit card. It didn’t go through. Can we pay another way? Sigh. I write a check for the $100 copay.

Xray shows a broken collarbone. Which cannot be set. So Kidlet is doomed to some pain and suffering, and no bike riding (or zip lines) for several weeks. They gave him a prescription for codeine.

Ex’s friend comes to get him, and he goes with friend to get Number Two Son and his car. My folks come and get me, and I take Kidlet to get his ‘scrip filled and get something to eat, coz it was 3:00 when this happened, and they didn’t discharge him from the ER until 6:30. Not bad, really. I remember once spending nine hours in the ER.

Ex meets me at my folks’ house with Kidlet 2 and all their weekend gear. I was impressed — he gave me a check to pay me back for the copay.

So, fed the Kidlets and tucked them in bed. Moving will have to wait for another day. I’m beat.

Tags: boys, challenges, children, Family Life, parenting, True Stories