The Solution

We are to keep the little pint-sized mummy wrapped up in his gauze bandages. As if putting the ointment on the wounds (like cream cheese on a bagel, Dr. said) with a wooden stick was not hard enough, we must then wrap said wounds with a stretchy gauze stuff, tape the gauze on (no tape on the skin, it irritates him), and keep it on for twelve hours. No simple task at all when we're working with a cranky 17 month old in pain and wanting to go. Just go.

The trip to the burn center proved to be the relief we all needed. With the acknowledgement that the burn would heal well, and had already begun to do so, we took on the task of simplifying the bandaging process. Here is the result.

The gauze comes already soaked in the ointment; we just slap it on. The dry gauze wraps around next, and finally a mesh tube is put over his arm. To keep this all on and to keep the burned part of his back covered they put a larger tube over his head and cut slits for his little arms. A few strings to tie the sleeve to the shirt and voila, we're in business. WITH NO TAPE! Probably the best thing is that we only have to change it once a day, not twice! And he still hasn't figured out how to get it off. He's working on it, though.

I call it his "pretty lace blouse." The Bigs and D give me dirty looks. He really doesn't seem to mind it that much.

In fact, he wants to throw on a little makeup and head out for a night on the town.