Last Monday, this sweet girl drank bleach.
It was one of those mornings where I felt on top of the world! I had woken up early, been SUPER productive, and was getting ready for the day while I listened to a call for work.
This little miss just started squawking at my feet because she wanted to be held. So? I picked her up, set her in my bathtub like I always do in this situation to play with the toys and be entertained! The only difference is… I had cleaned those toys a few days earlier with bleach because she had pooped in the tub. And…I forgot that I hadn’t yet rinsed out the toys. She found a bowl filled with bleach water, drank it, and couldn’t breathe.
I realized what happened immediately and starting PANICKING as she gasped for air for 1-2 minutes afterward
So? My older two quickly got their shoes on, and just then…my husband Blake came home!
I don’t believe in coincidences. That happened for a reason! God knows me and my family. Ellie and I rushed to the ER, and I called poison control on the way. Thankfully, she was okay. Besides the gasping for air thing right after, she was 100% normal. Poison control told me to make sure she ate and/or drank something within the hour, and if she did, actually checking into the ER would be unnecessary.
The problem was… I couldn’t drive anywhere to go get her food and drink, because I had been pulled over on my way to the ER for speeding (my baby drank BLEACH okay!), and for expired plates.
Didn’t realize that one! And instead of getting a ticket? I got a police escort to the hospital.
When we were there though, I also realized I didn’t have my license with me. Epic fails all the way around. 🤦🏻♀️ So? I wasn’t supposed to drive anywhere until someone brought me my license. We tried to go into the hospital cafe to give her food and water, but because of covid, they wouldn’t let her (as a baby) into the main entrance. 🤪 So? We had to walk in 104+ degree heat to the nearest fast food place, with my baby Ellie girl on my hip because I didn’t have the stroller (I didn’t even have my license!) We stopped at Burger King and… SHE DRANK orange Hi-C! I have never been so thankful to see a baby sip through a straw! She’s totally okay!
When we got home I asked my husband… “Well… now what? Do I just go on with my day as normal?” He asked me, “What’s the alternative?” and I said, “Wallow in self-pity and allow myself to continue asking the question, ‘What kind of mother am I?’”
Obviously… saying that out loud helped me realize real quick… self-pity is not going to help anyone. It’s time to move forward with my day. I need to choose option one.
One of my all-time favorite quotes says, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” C.S. Lewis
Wallowing won’t help me be a better mom.
Self-pity won’t help me be a better mom.
Reflection? Yes!
Learning from this experience to rinse the toys PROMPTLY after cleaning them? Yes!
Looking into healthier cleaners that aren’t so life-threatening if a child gets into them? Yes!
Those things are helpful.
Wallowing and self-pity are not helpful.
Time to forgive myself, give myself grace, move on, and enjoy the rest of our day together, growing and finding the joy in each new day, and thus creating a beautiful life!
