The princess and the pea

My darling daughter Emily is a real character - there is just something about her that is special, and extraordinary. Everyone loves Emily.

Last night she shoved a pea up her nose and screamed blue murder. I had no idea what to do - initially I could see the pea and thought I would be able to squeeze it out, but then she stuck her finger up her nose and snorted it all the way up, I could see it no longer, but knew it was there based on the screams (and the fact that it had nowhere to go). There was nothing to do but take her to Emergencies at the nearest hospital.

Half way there she stopped crying informed me - with her usual endearing little smile - that it was "all better now" and that she didn't need to go to the "opital". I was not fooled.

In the ER she was an absolute delight, charming all the nurses and the doctor. She allowed the doctor to examine her with no fuss at all, and then informed him that she was "all better". The doctor said that it was better to remove the pea as it could cause infections and complications, but little miss Emily Alice, very knowingly and with lots of reassuring nods of her head, told the doctor that it was better to leave it in. She liked it in. But the doctor was not fooled either.

He stuck a hook gadget up her nose and removed the pea. Emily was as good as gold and then looked at the pea with hungry eyes - well, her supper HAD been interrupted. The entire procedure took about 30 seconds. The doctor and the nurses, especially, were amazed, saying that it can take up to 30 minutes with kids her age as they scream and perform!

So Emily was awarded a certificate of bravery for being star patient. I needed more than a certificate of bravery when it came to paying the bill!!!! This morning Emily tells me "we put peas in our mouths, not our noses" - lets hope she remembers this rather expensive lesson.