The Blood

First, I walk in after going to sleep at 4, waking at 8. Yes, A.M. all that. I had driven over 100 miles getting kids to soccer games while Perry stayed home and worked with Philip. I glanced at Philip's hand and see that the top of his hand is red and raised. I look closer and feel it, it is also hot. "What happened?" I ask. He tells me he cut it when he was fixing the subfloor of the hot water heater. I explain to him that it is infected and turning into cellulitis. He, of course, blows me off. I completely ignore him, go straight to the medicine cabinet and get supplies, dragging him outside (our water has been turned off all day) to doctor it.

Two minutes after I finish, E and J were throwing the bathroom cabinet off the deck trying to break it apart to fit it in the trailer to take to the dump. It was quite a spectacular throw until J turned to me calmly telling me he cut his finger. I ran to the bathroom, collect my meager supplies run back outside, grab a bottle of water to clean it. It's an inch long, bleeding quite nicely. I doctor it, adding many bandaids hoping to keep out infection. Topping it with a Hannah Montana bandaid. He was thrilled. I told him he should've let go sooner.

I lecture them about infection, pointing to Philip's hand as a perfect example. Thanks Phil. Elijah holds up his hand, saying, "Maybe you should put a bandaid on this." This turned out to be dried blood covering the palm of his hand. Doctored that. He received Angel Food Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, Curious George and Hello Kitty bandaid.

I cleaned up my not so sterile step on the porch and, seriously, while I was putting the stuff back in the cabinet E and J came running to me saying, "Mom come quick. Dad cut his hand." I ran, saw blood pouring down his wrist, told him to walk around to the not so sterile step while I collected the same supplies again. The wound wasn't nearly as impressive as J's, but it wouldn't stop bleeding and, remember, our water had been turned off all day so clean up was a little dicey. Eventually we got the blood off him and off me and he was rewarded with a Blueberry Muffin bandaid.

I figured if I went and revamped my supply of bandaids with some Super Heroes, Star Wars and such that Murphy's Law would come into effect and there would be no more injuries. So far, so good.