Busted up good

We had an eventful day on Tuesday.  The girls and I were in Toke (about 25 minutes from home) to do Moms’ and Kids’ club and we had a wonderful time.  At the end, Noa and Mikuni were eating their lunches and playing together while the moms talked and visited a bit.  Noa was running and her foot caught on a carpet and she flew… several feet… and hit her face on a low table.  Amidst all the blood and tears, it was hard to figure out what had happened, but I soon realized that she had bitten through the skin beneath her bottom lip.  She had a good 1.5 cm gash and a ton of blood coming out.

God really had his hand over us, though.  Noa hardley cried after the initial shock, and I really think having her little friend Mikuni there, who immediately started talking to Noa and then drawing pictures for her, was a good distraction for Noa.  Also, Mikako was able to call our family doctor and get the number of the hospital that we should go to, and then call that hospital to let them know we were coming.  Eric was at school and wasn’t able to go home with Martha (it was nap time and she was a mess from already missing her morning nap) but my friend Rebecca was there picking up her kindergartener so she just took Martha back to her house for her nap.  Also, Chizuka – dear, wonderful, such-an-amazing-friend Chizuka – had the day off and was ready and willing to jump in the car and come with me to the hospital to help with translating.  All of these little things together helped in a big way to comfort me and bring peace amidst a scary situation.

In hour between when she hit and when we finally got to the doctor, Noa did great.  She was chatting up a storm, so excited to see a doctor for her boo-boo, and really excited that “Chi-chan” could come with us. We were able to see the doctor almost immediately and she was super sweet with a two-year-old of her own.  Thankfully, Noa didn’t need stitches and the doctor thinks it will heal with minimal scarring.  I didn’t realize it, but with bite wounds, they rarely stitch because of the risk bacteria.  Thinking about it now, it makes a lot of sense, and I am so thankful we didn’t have to go through the stitching.  She gave us a prescription for some ointment to keep on it to help with the scarring, and told us to come back in a week so that she can check on the healing.  It was one of the better, easier doctor’s visits we’ve had and I am so thankful.

Noa is definitely her normal self.  Her lip is still a bit swollen and and actual wound is still a little raw looking, but all in all, I think it is healing well.  It doesn’t seem to bother her at all, and she only talks about it if someone asks her. Here she is showing off a 1-day-old boo-boo for “Mimi and Gampa”:

Noa showing off her wound

I am so thankful for God’s protection and care through the whole experience.  I know he had his hand in every little part and we praise him for his care.

On to other fun things… Here are some recent photos:

Noa sporting a ponytail (doesn't it make her look so grown-up??) and having dinner with Aunt Hannah, one of her favorite people EVER.

Martha is learning to sit in chair which makes her big sister happy, as that means Noa can now make her do "church" with her

the girls with Uncle Isaac during family devotions one night last week. They sure do love him!

the girls with Chizuka: amazing friend, prayer partner, sweet Auntie, and wonder medical translator

Bath Time! This was particularly special because Martha actually got to stay in the bath for a while. Because she is so wiggly, we usually just put her in, holding her the whole time as we washed and rinsed her and then took her out. We felt bad that she wasn't having fun play time in the bath, and we always tried to not be the one who had to have the tiring job of holding her wiggly little self. So, Eric and I put our heads together and came up with using this old plastic high chair top that was given to us. WOW! This has revolutionized bath time in our house and everyone is excited. Can't you tell?

Tags: Friends, Martha, Noa, sister-sweetness