Had to call an ambulance for Elizabeth

Elizabeth was playing with the kids downstairs. They got the "brilliant" idea to pile the couch cushions at the bottom of the stairs and then jump off the stairs and land on the cushions. Apparently Elizabeth decided to leap from the second to the top stair and, being the tiny little girl she is, she of course didn't make it. She landed on her back on one of the stairs. She cried really hard and I knew it was the "I'm really hurt cry". The neighbor girl who was playing here carried her upstairs and laid her on the couch because she wouldn't get up. (I later told them all to wait if someone can't get up). Elizabeth laid there on the couch crying in these weird sporadic bursts, almost like she couldn't catch her breath. I couldn't tell if it was from just crying hard or that she really couldn't catch her breath. She tried to get up, but it hurt too bad. At that point I just didn't know what to think.  So I called Blake who was on his way out of town. He said, "well duh, why are you calling me? Call an ambulance." I didn't really want to but I kept remembering Lydia's broken arm. A LOT of people at the hospital told us we should have called an ambulance for her. (Who would have even THOUGHT to call an ambulance for a possible broken arm?!?!) Lydia's broken bone damaged some nerves... probably while I was moving her into and out of the car. So anyway, I didn't want to mess with a back after all that I watched Lydia go through. I called an ambulance. They sent a police officer, a huge fire truck and an ambulance. (By the way, Caleb was in HEAVEN with the firetruck at his house! ) They parked a stretcher on my front porch and about 7 different people came in to ask me lots of questions and then check out Elizabeth. They said she's probably fine and I should take her to the pediatrician tomorrow if she's not better. The guy checking her out said he doesn't have x-ray vision so there **could** be something broken, but he doubts it. She laid on the couch for a good long while, but finally got up. She's walking/moving a bit slow and really babying her back. It seems pretty tender. I think (hope) it's just bruised.

ALL my neighbors came rushing to my door to see what was going on. They were so sweet, honestly, but it was pretty embarrassing!! They offered to take some or all of my kids and asked what they could do to help, etc. before they knew what was going on. I was busy with the paramedics so I couldn't tell them what was going on. Anna informed them "Elizabeth hurt her back and can't move". They all FREAKED OUT. I almost wanted to leave Elizabeth just to calm one of them down - I thought she was going to have a heart attack. They knew Blake was out of town and just wanted to help. I felt soooo incredibly loved. I have AWESOME neighbors!! But after all that outpouring of love, I was really, REALLY embarrassed to tell them that there's really nothing wrong. False alarm pretty much.

So that was my night. After they all left, I was shaking and couldn't think straight. I was calm through the whole thing, but then had a minor breakdown. I always do that - I can stay calm until it's all over and then I just want to cry. I had such an adrenaline rush going on worrying about Elizabeth and worrying about whether to call an ambulance or not and whether they would think I'm nuts. I'm exhausted now that the adrenaline is gone. And I'm still pretty embarrassed about the drama it caused with the neighbors. I'm still glad I called though (mostly). I'm not going to mess with a kid with a hurt back who can't move!!

As I mentioned, Blake was on his way out of town when I called and he immediately turned around to come home... even before he knew what was going on.  I feel bad I made him come home, but at the same time I'm really glad he is here.