Q-Tip

We heard the scream of pain, followed by her cries, and tears. We also hear "Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!" from his mouth and we hear his cries and then see his tears. After a few minutes she calms down to tell us where the pain is. Her ear. I look in it and see the blood. I don't like blood. I really don't like blood coming out of my child. I really really don't like blood coming out of my child's ear.

Only a few minutes before the scream Brenna asks if she can get a q-tip to clean her ears. She knows the rules, and I say yes.

We get them both calm enough for the story to unfold. Ethan and Brenna were in her room playing. Doctor. Ethan the doctor, Brenna the patient. The q-tip goes too far and too hard.

I comment to Alex that I wish we had one of those ear things. I have no idea what the proper name of the thing is, but it's the thing that can look in your ear deep.

Ethan leaves the room. He returns and hands me, with all seriousness, his Big Bird "ear thing" from his doctor kit. "Here mommy, you can use this."

Precious, caring, and sincere. In the midst of my worry, I melt at this gesture.

A real doctor checked her ear and she does have a punctured ear drum. We have to watch for signs of infection and go from there.

Tonight I am thankful for mommy intuition, caring/sorry little brothers, confirming husband, dinner provided by grandma for half of my family and McDonalds providing it for the other half, doctors, and friends that pray and a God who loves us more than we can ever know!

I am not thankful for Q-tips.