Well, our day ended up being rather eventful in a way that one would have difficulty planning.
We drove into the city to go to a Christmas market to get us into the spirit. The drive was nice. We drove past Big Ben
and Buckingham Palace
so now both the kids have seen them and we don’t actually have to take them there. I thought it was rather nice.
The Christmas market turned out to be better than our outing last year so that was a plus.
It smelled amazing…lots of crepes, roasted nuts, sausages, and a very proud pig man yelling at everyone who walked by that they needed to try his pork.
“Don’t panic, it’s organic.” and “Have a taste, don’t let it waste.” are a few that come to mind.
Aaron got me a cup of coffee, got himself a crepe, and I got the kids their lunch, and we were on our way again. We were through the market so we were just walking along the Thames – on the LEFT, I might add – when all of the sudden there was a guy on a bike trying to go between the stroller and the fence (like the one above) on the Thames and there wasn’t enough room for him to get by. He tried to slow down, but got a handlebar stuck in the fence. He went flying off the front of the bike and the back of the bike flew around and struck Elena in the forehead.
She cried immediately and was a bloody mess by the time I even thought to do anything. Fortunately I had a diaper handy and used that to stop the blood and put pressure on the wound. The cyclist was ok and as he stood quietly freaking out on the inside, Elena was screaming, Liam was eating his piece of pizza, and Aaron was trying to decide if we should call 999 for an ambulance. I took that moment to look under the diaper, which was a stupid thing to do since I could see Elena’s skull.
The cut wasn’t big, but it was deep. I think the middle of the end of the pedal or the center of the tire where the bike frame connects to it must have hit her. I knew it was going to be fine, but the skull thing got to me and I had to sit down.
When I was able to get back up, the conversation was over, Liam was still eating, and it sounded like the hospital was about a 15-minute walk away, so we called and eventually we had a security guy come over and he helped us with minor first aid
while we waited for the ambulance, which took far longer than 15 minutes to get to where we were under the Millennium Bridge.
Elena was calm by the time we got in the ambulance and Liam was scared to death that they were going to turn on the sirens so he wouldn’t stop asking while we were trying to answer the EMT’s questions along with the police officer’s. Poor kid. The EMT finally promised him no siren and he just looked around with a piece of pizza in one hand and a clementine in the other. He was so enamored with the inner workings of the ambulance that he completely forgot to eat.
Both kids enjoyed the ride and I was glad we’d called for an ambulance so that they had some excitement because when we got to the A&E centre (Accident & Emergency, also known as Casualty) I had never seen an emergency waiting room that big or that full.
I was shaken and exhausted and I just wanted to get the hell out of there and get home, but I had absolutely no expectation about the amount of time it would take since everything is slow here anyway.
It was a good thing I was mentally prepared because it was basically a little over four hours between the the time we called for an ambulance and when we left the hospital.
Elena got hit around 11.20. The motorcycle EMT arrived around 11.40. The ambulance arrived around 11.50. We arrived at the hospital around 12.15. She was seen for assessment around 12.40 and at 1 they came into the waiting area to give her some pain medication. She fell asleep around 1.45 and they called us back around 2.45. There was an emergency, so the pediatric nurse had to leave. She sent in someone from regular emergency and he finally came in around 3.30. He cleaned Elena up and glued her head around 3.40. We walked out around 3.45.
That’s a long-ass time for a two and four year old to sit still and be patient. They were both so good. I was so proud of them!
As much as it sucked, it was an interesting experience and I can’t complain too much about the facility because there weren’t any charges (though it’s certainly wasn’t free since we pay taxes in the UK).
As far as the facilities go, let’s just say it wasn’t the most technologically advanced location, and we were only in the eye exam room. I’d hate to see the operating room.
Also, I saw that the drug cabinet had a note that if it was left unlocked one more time it would be cleaned out and they would have to go and get the drugs from Team C, whatever that means. It was open and cleaned out, so I guess they had another incidence. And it looked like it had been pried open on several occasions.
But, like I said, I’m not complaining (too much).
So, we’re home, we’re tired, and we will not be attending any more Christmas markets in London. I’m done.
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And for those of you who, like my sister, aren’t freaked out by things of this nature, you can see what it looked like before they glued it here. It really didn’t look too bad once they cleaned it up. I’ll put some Mederma on it once it’s healed and she’ll be right as rain in no time.
