All three kids had doctor appointments this morning, one after another. I figured that as long as school is soon starting and Joel needs a note from a doctor in order to have Benadryl and inhalers at school, and since Clayton needed his booster shots, might as well check Rebecca out too.
Joel made sure to tell me well in advance that he would not be getting any shots today, and I told him not to worry because he has allergies so I signed off on that last year. That put him at ease and he took great pleasure in telling Clayton that he'd need shots but they didn't hurt very much...as if he knew.
As we parked in front of the doctor's office this morning, Rebecca suddenly got a terrified look and said she sure hoped she wouldn't be getting shots today. I told her I couldn't be sure, but she probably wouldn't need them so don't worry.
Clayton was being very brave even knowing that he was due to come in contact with a needle or two. He was totally acting like there's nothing to it, and I didn't bother to tell him any different.
Then the doctor came in and looked over all their immunization records and announced that all three were due for shots. I quickly said Joel wouldn't be getting any because of his allergies, but she said they've been seeing whooping cough and measles lately. I agonized over whether or not to have Joel immunized, and finally decided to do it. The doctor read me the literature that says even though the MMR vaccine is cultured in egg, people who are anaphalactic rarely have reactions, and Joel is not anaphalactic. It sounded like it'd be safe.
I have heard all the arguments against vaccines, and all the reasons children should be immunized. It's a difficult choice, but one that we've decided is best. Since Joel did get vaccines as a baby and didn't react, he should be fine now.
Anyway, upon hearing she too would need shots, Rebecca planted herself in the chair next to me and adamantly whispered, "I'm NOT getting them." I told her to settle down, she'd be fine.
The doctor left the room and Clayton was saying he'd be first so he "wouldn't have to do it again," meaning that he'd get it over with and be done. Rebecca said she'd be second and Joel sat on the floor pouting because he didn't want to be first, second, OR third. After a little while though, all the kids were "practicing" by pinching each other's forearms with their fingernails. Nothin' to it.
When the nurse finally came in with her tray full of needles, Clayton hopped up onto the table but then quietly said, "Maybe somebody else can go first." I told him he'd be fine, and I'd hold him. The poor guy had to get five shots, which seemed excessive to me...and besides, there was only the one nurse administering all of them. Talk about agony. Clayton laid on the table with his pants around his knees, shaking. I held him and kissed his face and told him it'd be okay. As the first shot went in, his body tensed up and his face squeezed into a painful grimace. He whimpered, trying to be a big brave boy. I told him it was okay to cry. It was agony even for me...he had to get two shots in each leg, plus one in his hinder. When it was all over and Rebecca got on the table, Clayton curled into a ball on the floor and sobbed.
Rebecca was only due for two shots and did very very well. I held her too and rubbed her back, and when it was over she cheerfully said, "That didn't even hurt, Joel!"
So Joel got up there, crying even before the nurse swabbed him with the alcohol square. With each stab Joel stiffened and cried louder. He had to get four in all: two in each thigh.
Band-Aids were applied and the nurse swiftly made her exit. Rebecca's face immediately crumpled and she broke into tears, telling me, "That did TOO hurt."
So there was one mommy trying to comfort three crying children. We were all glad when that was over.
As we went out to the car I said to them, "You've had a rough morning, haven't you?" Clayton said, "Not a rough morning, a
stupid morning."
Tonight he told me, "I'm never ever getting shots
again. Not until I'm ten. Or eleven or twelve. She put it right in my muscle and now I can't rustle." I laughed all the way upstairs.
