Seriously FOUR??? She's not joining the ARMY!!!

Oh no, I knew this day was coming, and it upsets my stomach as if it were ME going through it... I know, anyone who knows me, is probably like, "now what???" So here is the scoop...

I pick the girls up from preschool, and the FIRST thing Jyllian tells me is, "I got FOUR shots at the doctors office and now I can go to kindergarten."

Grace IMMEDIATELY, says "Mommy will I have to get shots to go to kindergarten???? [PANIC etched in her face].

I said, "I'm not sure sweetheart I'll have to call the doctors office and see."

Jyllian (who must have been feeling rather brave) then goes on to say "I got FOUR in one leg, and FOUR in another - I really cried!"

So after we drop Jyllian off, and Grace is still panicked over it I called the doctors office (praying that Grace has already had some of these shots, I mean, seriously??? FOUR?? Come on she's not joining the army!) only to learn that YES she has to get four shots - oh my! I, not wanting to lie to Grace told her the truth -- I don't want her to be afraid when we go to the doctors office on other visits thinking, last time Mommy said I wasn't getting a shot and I had to... so I said, "yes you'll have to get four shots just like Jyllian did to go to kindergarten". I thought at this point Grace might cry, but instead she asked, "will it hurt?" I said, "yes, but it won't hurt long (hoping that was the truth!)" She then wanted to know if it would be "the front of her leg? or the back" I told her I didn't know - she could probably pick:-)

I think Matt will have to go with us on that doctor trip... I might need to be sedated.

Eva's 18 month doctor visit...

Today Eva had her 18 month appointment, and I had to take her alone... I hate going for shot visits w/out Matt. Oh and it was AWFUL - I think I was more traumatized than Eva was... let's start from the point we got there - she had to know where we were b/c first thing after checking in, she took a huge drink of rice milk and then opened her mouth covering me in it! Seriously, I think she knew and blamed me! After being called back they weighed her, measured her [weight = 24 lbs. 5.5 oz., height = 32 inches, head = 48 cm] all in all she's 50% in range on her height (so she's improving - maybe she is mine after all!), and 50% for weight, but she takes after Grace on her head size, 90% - whew! I knew she had chubby cheeks but 90%, I would have never guessed it:-)

Dr. Paula gave her a new book, Eva loved it. The book and pictures of people in it, and she loves seeing other people's faces. Dr. Paula was impressed b/c Eva sat in a chair by herself (nearly naked) reading her book while Dr. Paula and I talked. I had to bring up the issue of Eva's reoccurring biting (wish I didn't have a reason, but...), Dr. Paula said unfortunately its normal for a second child to bite. Until Eva develops better verbal skills and can communicate what she wants, she may resort to biting. Dr. Paula suggested (1st off -- do not bite her, yeah! I hate it when people tell me that.) she suggested taking her own hand and placing it in her mouth, and apply "some" pressure. Not enough to hurt her, but enough that she is uncomfortable and realizes what is happening, following up with "No biting. Biting hurts. No biting." Eventually, she will either obtain verbal skills to express herself and drop this nasty habit, or stop biting b/c she knows when she does her hand will hurt:-)

After this portion of the visit was over we moved on to the part I HATE - shots. Makes me sick thinking about getting one for myself, and its even worse thinking about my girls getting one. Ewww.... at Grace's last visit they suggested the flu shot, but not wanting to subject her to more pain I asked for the flu mist, which she got. Eva's not old enough (you have to be 2 years of age, and by the time she turns 2 she'd miss the flu window) so Dr. P convinced me that we should do it, tons of babies/kids die from the flu every year. I so almost didn't do it - nearly turned back and said we didn't want it at the last minute but the part of me that was scared of what might happened did it anyway.

So she gets two vaccinations in one leg and the flu shot in the other - three shots in total. I had to hold her hands, it is so not right that they make the parents be part of this violation. I gritted my teeth so hard during the ordeal that my jaw ached later that evening. Eva screamed and cried, I cried along w/ her. Then for the rest of the evening she would touch her legs and say, "ouch... boo-boo, boo-boo". I seriously think she remembered the event much longer than Grace ever did.