Growing, Shots, and Spectators

Today was a joint pediatrician appointment for two of the three children. I should have made up a reason for Larien to be at the doctor. She kept saying, "I'm sick, Mommy. I need a doctor." The fact that neither Inwe or Finwe were coming to the pedi's office for an illnes made no nevermind to her. She was reduced to being a spectator, a cheerleader on the sideline, a waterboy.

Finwe was there to see if he is growing and developmentally appropriate for his age. He is. (Did any of us really worry about this?) He weighs 25 pounds on the dot--still of the top of the growth chart (whether you use the CDC or the WHO chart). His height is 28.5 inches--He's taller than 75% of the nine month old baby boys out there. The resident doctor asked me if I had any concerns regarding Finwe. "No. I'm just following the rules." That made him laugh.

Inwe was at the doctor for the state required physical before entering kindergarten. This meant a complete physical. This included scoliosis screening, hearing screening, vision testing, a urinalysis, and a blood lead level. You should have seen me groan when Dr. Mark told me that I would have to put Inwe through bloodletting for a lead test. I had routinely refused to have this done as we live in a modern house and Inwe (or any of my children) are around houses or industrial sites that might contain lead. I see this as an unnecessary state-mandated test. Dr. Mark agreed with me, but Inwe cannot attend school without it, so a finger prick ensued. Inwe has a clean bill of health by the way and is perfectly proportional in her height and weight. She's taller than 75% of the other 4.5 year old girls out there. This fits with my own observations.

Now, let's move on to the shots, shall we? I am not a good person to be with my children for shots. Since I was a very little child, shots have not bothered me. I watched when I was five years old for whatever vaccinations I received at the health office. Shots don't hurt. Oh, sure some of them sting while the solution is going in, but on the whole, shot's don't hurt.

According to Inwe, shots hurt. She received four pokes:

1. the blood letting on her middle finger for the lead test. She was most displeased with watching the blood leave her finger.
2. Polio
3. Diptheria/Tetanus/Pertussis combination
4. Measles/Mumps/Rubella combination

I held her for all of these. She did pretty well until the MMR. The needle hurt and she felt the sting of the solution. Projectile tear kind of pain. Poor thing. Let's make it worse, shall we? Snot was pouring out of her nose. She asked for a tissue. I got it and wiped her nose. More searing pain from the infected hair at the edge of her right nostril. Oh, now Mommy feels horrible. Many promises of Pepsi follow. Pepsi was the key. She stopped crying.

Now, the Spectator. Larien did her best to get as much attention on her as possible. She wasn't super wild or badly behaved--she rarely is over the top with inappropriate behavior--but she was loud and very active. I did my best to have her inlcuded in the conversation when the doctor was asking Inwe about the types of food she eats. (It really is rather varied and quite healthy.) Larien and I talked about what the doctor was doing while he examined Inwe. (Finwe was--ack!--crawling around on the floor during this time. He did not want to be held. I dosed his hands and legs heavily with the alcohol solution.) While we were waiting for the nurse to prepare the shots, I offered Larien a bribe--Pepsi for quiet, still behavior. It worked. Wonderful bribes.

With Finwe now disinfected and firmly in the stroller, I held Inwe for her shots. Larien's reaction to the finger prick and the blood flow?

"Don't hurt my sister again."

Larien did okay with the vaccinations. She did let one zinger at the nurse as she left,

"Don't do that to me. I'm not sick."