Yesterday, Gabriel decided to go for a swim. It was cool and breezy. We’d stopped off at a park before heading home. Noah wanted to walk a little ways, to the creek so he could toss some rocks in the water. I stood with Gabriel, helping him “skip” stones.
I think it happened because I was split between trying to keep Noah out of the cold water and finding a good skipping stone to impress Gabriel with. Whatever the reason, I let Gabey go, picked up a stone, turned my attention back to him, and found him wading toward a dropoff.
Now, for you or me, that dropoff would have have been small potatoes. But that’s all Gabriel is–a small potato. I was right behind him, reaching out to grab him going, “No! No! No!” But I was too late. He walked right in and over that edge, went horizontal and dipped totally under the water before I pulled him out. I was soaked nearly up to my knees. His curls were plastered to his head and he was gasping from the cold.
A few things to thank God for:
1) I realized my error within the critical seconds.
2) I did not lose my balance when I ran in after G.
3) He did not aspirate any water.
4) He only swallowed enough to give a rather juicy burp at the doctor’s office and didn’t vomit.
5) The huge knot on his forehead was not, as I originally thought, from a rock under the water. I later remembered he’d fallen a short distance off a playground step prior to our walk.
6) No concussion.
7) Clean bill of health. Even his head cold got the okay.
8 ) Noah trotting along behind me as I gathered Gabriel and made for the car and doctor’s office.
9) The huge beach towel I brought with me to the creek in case Noah splashed too much.
10) The woman watching some other kids who looked poised to resuscitate Gabriel or chase Noah down if need be.
11) The heater in my car, which I cranked up. I didn’t have extra clothes, so I had to transport Gabriel cold and wet.
12) The extra shirt given to G at the doctor’s office, even if it does say, “What happens at Grandma’s stays at Grandma’s.”
I have to admit, I’ve spent most of Noah’s life imagining all the horrible ways Noah could get hurt and trying to prevent them from happening. But Gabriel–he’s just so . . . calm. So collected. And he listens when I say no. Really. He doesn’t wander off unless there’s some lapse in communication between Nathan and I, as on Sunday at the orchard when he made off through the pumpkin patch on getaway legs so fast you’d have thought they were race car wheels with the gas full on. In fact, he’s so good all I can think is that we’ll never get another one like him mA, so why have another one at all? And God knows best.
Friends, let’s hope and pray for no more scary incidents.
September 29th, 2009 | Category: fears, incident report, parenting | Comments (5)
