The Weenis Adventure

For a few years now I have occasionally hearing someone exclaim how they hurt their "weenis". I remember the first time hearing it I froze and asked "WHAT did you SAY!?" I felt awkward as the naivety that I felt had plagued me from birth began to manifest itself in its usual way-a bright red flush of the face. I had never heard of such a thing, and I was sure I probably didn't really want to know what a weenis was.
For those of you who are like me and may have never heard of the term "weenis", allow me to let you in on a funny little secret. Weenis is one of those words you'll only find in an "Urban Dictionary"; and all a weenis actually turns out to be is the area of skin located over your elbow. Go ahead and pull on it. Its not a very sensitive area. I once had a friend describe to me that it felt and looked exactly like a dried apricot. (Now every time I eat a dried apricot I can't help but laugh out loud.)
Forgive me as I take my time in giving the details of the story...this could be awhile. :D
Most people haven't heard yet, but Peter just started his new job last week as an Express Lube Technician for a Toyota dealership. We figured this would be a good move as he is in the T-TEN program right now (Toyota Technical Education Network) to work on becoming a mechanic in 2 years, then work toward his Bachelors degree and get on to doing bigger and better things for Toyota. (We found out Weber has a 90% hire rate out of graduates from their program. That is good news!)
But back to the story. So Peter started his new job and it seems to be a great move. He likes what he is doing, the people he works with, and is learning lots of new things about vehicles (one of his favorite things). All this until ten minutes to five, Saturday night, when he is scheduled to get off work.
At the time, I was at Wal-Mart (ugh!) doing some grocery shopping, as I have neglected doing so these past 2 weeks. I texted peter and asked him what he wanted me to bring home for him to take to work to snack on. He first replied that he wanted me to surprise him, I texted back that I couldn't think of what he would want-so he needed to tell me or I wouldn't be able to bring anything home. Then the following text-ation ensued.
K: I don't know what you would like. This is a problem.
P: Some first aid prewrap and bandages. I'm serious about that. I just got hurt.
K: What happened? Call me? What did you get cut by?
P: The pit.
I'm totally confused at this point. Could he really fall into one of those big grease pits you see in express lubes? Did he stub his toe on it? Did he break something? Did he get a scratch or deep cut? A large burn from hot oil? Goose egg on the head? My imagination is running wild as to all the accidents that could happen in an Express Lube. I left the bread aisle to walk briskly over to the other side of the store for the band-aid section of wal-mart; I realize right then that I have no idea what kind of bandages to even get-he hasn't told me what the problem was or where the hurt was located! He finally calls me as I'm staring down the aisle of gauze, band-aids, athletic tape and Neosporin trying to decide what might be most beneficial. I ask him to explain what exactly happened so I can know what to bring.
K: You hurt yourself at work. What did you do?
P: I'll explain later when I get home. They're taking me to a clinic. (such a guy answer. I need more info than that!)
K: Clinic? Where? What happened?
P: I fell in the grease pit and cut myself.
K: Where is your cut?
P: My elbow. I gotta go in the clinic now. I'll be home later. I'll call you when I get out.

P and I in his "room"
Meanwhile I decide to buy nothing until I see the wound for myself to assess what would help best. I check out and jump in the car for a five minute drive home. Halfway there I get a new disturbing text:
P: I have to go to the er now.
K: That's what the clinic said?
P: Ya
K: Which er I am coming over.
P: The lds hospital on 8th ave
K: I'll be there soon
P: Ok you don't have to come
That was the moment I rolled my eyes. My husband is in the ER and I "don't have to come"? You have got to be kidding me. I threw all the groceries just inside the door, tossed the refrigerated stuff in the fridge and freezer and pulled on a pair of pants and a t-shirt. So much for taking a nice relaxing shower before Peter gets home. I was really stinky and sweaty from a mile jog I had run for one of my classes earlier in the day. By this time it was 5:50 and I ran out the door, hopped in the car and figured out how to find all the nearby hospitals on the GPS, selected the LDS Hospital ER on D St in SLC and sped off.
Twenty minutes later I found a parking spot across the street from the ER and ran into the building. I told the desk attendant I was looking for my husband Peter who came in just a bit ago, and he took me back to him. This is the sight I saw:

What a joke. He wanted to "look sick".

I sat down in the chair next to his bed and the first thing I asked was "How ya doin'" to which he looked around the room and replied with a smile, "I've been better" and then of course I asked to see it. It wasn't too bad of a cut, just really in an awkward spot. I've included a pic of the laceration before and after irrigation at the end of the post. I thought it was pretty cool looking if I do say so myself.
Peter then told me his story of what happened. He was putting a tire away, and stepped on the grate that is designed to keep people from falling down into the grease pit. As he put his weight on it, the grate slid out from under him and he fell, catching himself half-in/half-out of the pit. Stunned, he crawled out of the pit and lay on the floor to catch his breath after having the wind knocked out of him. Assessing himself, he discovered he couldn't feel his arm, which worried him that it might be broken...Thankfully it wasn't. Getting up, he sat in a chair for five minutes before deciding he was okay enough to get up and get a drink of water. As he walked over to get a drink, his coworkers asked if he was okay. In the process of trying to explain what happened, he got about half an incoherent sentence out before passing out. Two of his coworkers jumped to catch him and managed to slow the descent a bit, but he still knocked the back of his head pretty hard on the ground.
As we sat there, P's coworker proceeded to tell me what happened after that. They drove to a clinic in Sugarhouse, where they stayed for about ten minutes. As they went into the clinic, the nurse asked what happened. He explained the story and they didn't seem to concerned about it until he announced "and then he passed out and HIT HIS HEAD!" Their eyes all widened, and immediately they opened the door to the back and said "Peter, come right this way." They checked his vitals, then kicked them out with instructions to head straight to the ER.
An EKG, three blood tests, nine stitches, and five hours later, at 10pm we walked slowly out of the ER and into the rain. Not the way we really wanted to spend our Saturday night. We would have much rathered spend it shooting hoops with friends, or just enjoying a walk around the neighborhood, watching a movie at home...you get the idea. In a white-walled emergency room with Peter lying in the bed with blood all over the blanket they gave him, and me sitting on an uncomfortable chair. All the while he was saying that this never happened to him before, and he had never had stitches. He was hoping he could make it through his life without ever taking a trip to the ER....yadis.
All in all we are just thankful that it wasn't worse. The soreness and stiffness has been the worst part I think. He's been such a trooper though, even going to all of church this morning. He's slept all afternoon today so I hope he gets better much sooner! :)

Now for the fun part.

For those of you who feel faint at the sight of a gash, wound, scrape, blood, or a hospital:

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

The next few pictures could be considered a bit "graphic" in nature.
For those who have wierd minds kinda like mine (I occasionally enjoy looking at things that need medical care), enjoy the blood, guts, and glory. (I don't think it was all that bloody, honestly) :)


Before the "irrigation"

After the irrigation

The nine stitches in all their glory. It kinda looks like a backwards "u", don't you think?