Being a parent sucks sometimes

I take my child to football practice three days a week and watch every moment of warm-ups, drills and play practice.  I count along with warm up and critique my baby's efforts.  Today he left his Gatorade in the truck so I walked out to the parking lot and when I came back, my child is kneeling on the ground with a coach looking at his back and he's trying not to cry.  No one saw what happened.  The one time I turn my back for one minute, I miss something important.  Chris had not shown up for practice yet and everyone had someone else they were looking at that exact moment.  Then my child stood up put his helmet back on and did a few more drills.  Finally on the third one he walked off to the side and told the coach his back was still hurting.  His spine from between his shoulder blades to down about 8 inches.  The coaches think he went helmet to helmet or helmet to shoulder pads with the other kid.  There's no visible bruising or other symptoms.  I gave him some ibuprofen and Chris bought a heating pad for him.  He seems to be okay, but I am not happy.  I didn't even want to let him go to bed because now I'm convinced there could be a concussion.  I don't know if I should let him go to school tomorrow without having him checked out.  His backpack is heavy.  They change classes in fifth grade at his new school.  I don't want him lugging all that weight around all day.  I keep looking at his nostrils because Kristina said that spinal cord fluid would come out of his nose if it was really bad.  And the football mom part of me keeps thinking that now he'll keep his head up and hit low.  I can't believe that part of my brain won't shut up!  I think I'll be in and out of his room checking his breathing all night.  Know my child's biggest concern?  If he can still start on Saturday.  Right now it's a waiting game until morning.  I may have decided what I'll be doing by then. 

I am so sorry for every sprain, strain, fracture and freak accident that ever landed me in the E.R.  No wonder my mom is so nuts.  Well, she was nuts before she had kids, but I know I didn't help.  Say a little prayer for my baby.  I'm gonna go find a mirror to shove under his nostrils.<