Removal

Six days after having her staples put in, it was time to have them checked and (probably) removed!  It was a family affair.

Emily had asked Daddy to come with us and she held his hand...

while staring at the sanitary supplies we were asked not to touch.

The staples and wound now looked like this...

and Emily was keeping her mind busy with other things during the wait.

But, as soon as the doctor came in, Everett made it clear that he wasn't the person she needed to check on.  That person, Emily, was right across the room. 

We love Dr. Lee and she apologized many times for what was probably the most painful part - grabbing hair with the staple remover - as she plucked each one out of Emily's head.

The staple holes did bleed a little, which is normal, but after a little clean up, Emily was good to go.

And fittingly, she chose a BRAVE sticker on our way out.

(I took about 6 pictures and she was not cooperating.  So, this distorted one will have to do.)

*Emily had a significant hematoma (which meant a huge HARD lump) and seemed to be more tender after the staples were removed.  Perhaps, I just wasn't brushing as carefully.  :(  The knot is finally starting to subside (11 days later) and we only talk about staples every single time Emily bleeds.  The sight of blood makes her tense up and ask, "am I going to have to get STAPLES?!"  Unfortunately, she has had a ridiculous amount of little cuts since the BIG one.