Thursday, March 12, 2009

I'm a Big Kid Now

Yesterday Carter got his kindergarten immunizations. He's all ready for school to start now and thinks August is WAY too long to wait.

He was very brave for his shots. I told him 2 days prior that they were going to happen. (My girls I can't tell until 10 minutes prior.) He asked a few questions and was very matter-of-fact, no drama. He walked right into the office, hopped on the table and smiled.....until that first poke came. And then his eyes about popped out of his head and the tears started falling. Poor little guy.

I hate immunizations. I feel like such a mean mother, holding my babies down while sheer shock and pain register on their little innocent faces. I'm a firm believer in the good the shots do, so it is no question to me whether or not to have my children get them, but still I feel mean and sad every time we have to do it.




A trip to Dairy Queen took the tears and sting out of the process. (As did some Tylenol.)

This is my 3rd child to receive their kindergarten shots and each time I am reminded of Alyssa's experience. The one where I won Mother of the Year.

Alyssa is not our toughest kid. In fact, there's quite a bit of drama any time ANYTHING happens to her. (Don't worry, she has strengths in other areas.) So when it was time for shots I dragged her in kicking and screaming. Seriously, she was like a wild cat trying to claw her way to the top of my head. And they all but had to call a third person to help us hold her down.

Fast forward a few days and she is still boobing and bawling and carrying on about the pain from the shots. I had had enough and a little forcefully picked her up and sat her down in the van to put her seat belt on her. While doing so I told her, "Alyssa that is ENOUGH. The shots are done and over with. Your leg is just a little sore now, STOP crying about it!" As I sat her down, the little sun dress she was wearing floated up her thigh a bit. And then I saw it...Her poor tiny thigh was about as big as my own and was flaming red. Oh I felt so awful. Worst mother ever! She had had a reaction to her DPT. They put her on antibiotics and circled the red area with a permanent marker. We had to go in daily for several days to be sure it wasn't continuing to spread.

Needless to say, I've been a little more patient with the drama and a lot more observant with shots. Yeah....Mother of the Year I tell ya.

13 comments:

Jewelle said...

Looks like CArter got over his shots nicely with his ice cream cone. Man that thing Alyssa is awful! You always hope you aren't part of the statistical reaction group!

Gina said...

No shots here.
We have survived so far on the piggybacked immunity of the rest of the nation.

Anonymous said...

That second picture looks like two little peas in a pod.

Wendy said...

Hmmm. My sweet girl is a little like Alyssa. A little bit. But I've run into the "oh, you're just being a big baby" and then found out later, well -- she had reason for all the fuss. Is there room for me up on your Mother of the Year pedestal?

In our defense, a story comes to mind: The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

Looks like a fun bravery date. Ice cream *always* makes things all better.

becky ward said...

i haven't heard that story about alyssa. poor thing! glad everything went well with carter.

were you able to get the morning session? so sad we couldn't meet up for icecream.

Jennie said...

Don't feel too bad, my experience was something like that only my shots paralyzed my leg muscle for a whole week - and I had a LOVING grandpa who made fun of me that whole week! I can't believe Carter is going to be in Kindergarten! Just one more to go!

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

I think I have written this same post. Just about an alleged broken wrist. Madalyn would be my child to have a reaction to shots. I will have to be more observant next time :-)

Brenda said...

Don't worry, we ALL have mother of the year stories! Glad the shots are done and over with. Oh, and thanks for making me want to hop in the car and go get myself a cherry dipped cone:)

Lee Ann said...

Working in health care....with infants.....I could Not, not give my kids immunizations. I could go on and on about that.

And yes, I hate it every time. It's just terrible!

And you and Alyssa! Poor things! I think we all would have done the same thing.

Unknown said...

Oh poor BABY!!!!!

And ice cream is a MUST following shots...

Tamie said...

i feel the same way about shots----they look at you with "that" look of "how can you let them do this to me---and willingly!"
so sad....
and i've got say: that ice cream looks FABULOUS!!!!

Deidra Smith said...

I had forgotten the Alyssa story until you told about circling the inflamed area to see if the inflamation went down. Oh, poor kid. I think we've all had at least one of those motherhood of the year awards. At least you learned from it:)

Miki said...

Megan just got her shots TODAY. Oooooh....poor poor brave Megan. She cried when the shots came, and cried the most on the last one, but at the end, she giggled that it was over, and hugged the nurse. She's just such a brave girl.

You go Megan.