Splat!

First let me say that Claire is okay. :) But she sure gave me a scare yesterday. We were sitting out front on the porch swing and after I'd helped everyone else off, in a split second she decided to get off by herself (the triplets are all getting very independent!). She landed on her face. On the concrete. On her face. Hard. Of course blood was immediately everywhere, and once I got some cleaned off I noticed that her left front tooth seemed pushed up and crooked. After we got a cold rag on her bleeding lip she settled down so I called the pediatrician and they said to bring her right in. Thank goodness they're only a mile away! So off we went... Claire was so brave - she just sat there holding that cold rag on her mouth while I rushed around getting shoes on everyone and loaded the girls in the car. No knowing how bad it was or what treatment would be required (not to mention the panic I was in!) I called Nana and GrandBob who met us at the doctor's office to watch the other three girls. The pediatrician came in and asked a few questions, gave Claire a quick look, and when she wouldn't open her mouth the pediatrician looked at everyone else's teeth. That got Claire to want her turn too, so she very dutifully opened her mouth and patiently waited while the doctor looked and tried to wiggle that tooth. It was still firmly in place, thankfully - just a little higher in the gum than the other one, a little set back, and very crooked. The gums and lips had mostly stopped bleeding by this point, and Claire was really very calm. After a quick call to the pediatric dentist across the street, the doctor said they felt like they would not have to remove the tooth, it may reposition itself - it may not, and there should be no damage to the permanent tooth (which sits above and behind each baby tooth). It most likely will not turn gray because it is not loose. There was also no damage to the gums or mouth around the injury (except for the split lip). She suggested we follow up with a pedi dentist in a couple weeks, unless it got painful for Claire or she was having problems with it. So off we went back home, to get some Children's Motrin and some lunch. Claire ate lunch fine - I did serve softer foods and cut them up in small bites - and was running around playing after the Motrin kicked in. By that afternoon you'd never have known something had happened that morning. Unless she smiled at you. Then you knew.

And I have to mention how well behaved Meredith, Amanda, and Melissa were through all this. They got their shoes, never complained about rushing off and leaving the porch swing or toys behind. Held hands in the parking lot after I asked only one time... they were patient and quiet while the doctor was attending to Claire. I was so proud of them.