The Stump Saga Continues

Ugh. The stump. It did stop bleeding, to its credit. But it went from that... to goopy. The gobilty goop was getting all over little one's clothes. I had just had it! So I put a band-aid on it. (gasp!) The next day, I took off the band-aid and then ran for the phone. It was worse. So much worse. I left a semi-frantic message for the doctor and pretty much glued the phone to my person so I wouldn't miss the call.

Finally got an appointment. The nurse on the phone seemed to be surprised the stump was still there. (not comforting) So my freakout kind of hopped on the express train and ordered a salad. My baby's stump was infected. I was sure of it. (All those hours of watching House, Grey's Anatomy, ER, Mystery Diagnosis... pretty much gives me an MD in my delusional mind)

Before stuffing the cute bundle of sweetness into the car, I decided to change his diaper. The doctors always check the diaper... at like every visit. There's nothing worse than the appearance that you never change your child because they dropped an epic one in the waiting room.

And guess what?! The stump fell off! Half an hour until the appointment... and I was seriously debating! Do I just call and say never mind, we're cool! Or schlep into the office 'just to be sure'... even though there could be a pretty significant wait cooped up in those tiny exam rooms.

I went with option two. I even kind of apologized, convinced I was one of "those moms" who checks their kids into the ICU for a cough. But I told her why I called. (icky goop!) and she actually listened. Then I told her the stump fell off already. So sorry for coming in anyway. But she took a look at it and said something like "mmm, yep. It's schmulpulty-doctor-terminology-that-always-sounds-like-death/cancer."

I was shocked. There was actually something wrong. Waaaa? She put some silver stuff on it to "re-cauterize" (ooooh... that sounds like a good time!) and said if it didn't get better he'd need surgery. (insert heart dropping to the floor here) We're already looking at a little procedure for tiny man down the road for something else entirely. So this makes me a wee bit worried.

I knew that stump was a trouble-maker!