Anna has been feeling really good since Sunday morning when her fever broke. But she had this rash around her mouth that in the past has been a sign of strep throat. So, while Chad was home with her on Monday I made an appointment for him to take her to the Dr and get her swabbed. I was relaying the time of the appointment to Chad and added that as long as he is there he might as well get her flu shot too.
He knew what that meant. He was there six months ago when we took her in for her 5 year appt and she had to get shots. Not pretty. Hysterical. Out of control. Not our child.
Yesterday was no exception. She hates shots. I mean, really who doesn't. I hate them. I don't blame her for dreading them. But going into complete melt down, out of control hysterics? She didn't get that from me. At least I don't think she ever witnessed it first hand? Or has she?
So apparently the nurse came in and Chad laid her down on the table. Chad tried to control her top half while the nurse said she would take her legs. I guess her grip wasn't that great because a leg got loose and it wasn't pretty. Nurse was not happy. The shot was finally administered and the nurse left the room without a word.
Imagine Chad and Anna in the small room alone. Anna crying and yelling hysterically. Chad trying to calm her down and recommending that she go out there and apologize for kicking the nurse. Anna not having it. Chad threatening that there will be no sticker if she doesn't apologize. (You know those stickers that are used as bribes ALL THE TIME. The one that would instantly put a happy face on even a five year old that has been around long enough to know they really aren't that great of a reward for what you have to go through at the Dr office.)
Well, there would be no apology and therefore would be no sticker. I can only imagine the scene she created as they exited the clinic. I get a phone call at work. They are in the truck. Really have no idea what Chad was saying to me as all I hear is Anna S-C-R-E-A-M-I-N-G from the backseat.
"YOU DON'T LOVE ME"
"YOU WOULDN'T EVEN LET ME GET A STICKER"
"IT HURT AND I DIDN'T WANT TO GET A SHOT"
"I WAS SHY"
"I WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL"
I few minutes later I get off the phone and almost died from laughing. Seriously, I did feel terrible that Chad was experiencing that, although I think it evens the score just a bit. Not that I am keeping score. But there is something so funny about a child in hysterics and out of their mind saying what ever that comes to them. There is no reasoning or even calming down. You just have to let them spew it out and be done. It can be quite entertaining. (Just don't let them see you laughing. That just takes the hysterics up a notch.)
Then I get a text from Chad. "Anna says that we can never go anywhere with her EVER again." Somehow I got pulled into that too. That is totally not fair.
Well, a few hours later, by the time I got home from work, Chad and Anna were playing board games and as happy as can be. I guess they made up. Glad that those moments of not even recognizing our own child are few and far between. It really isn't pretty. I got some confirmation on Facebook though that we are not alone. Our kid is not the only one that turns into a monster when shots are administered.
As soon as the H1N1 vaccine is available we have another decision to make. Do we or don't we. Besides that decision I am not sure though we will EVER get her back in those clinic doors. I think Chad still owes me one or two. Again, hypothetically, since I don't keep score on those things, right?
2 comments:
I think it must be the age. My son flipped out at his 5 year old shots too! He just got a flu mist a month or so ago. The mist (nasal inhale) was better to handle. I hope H1N1 vaccine comes in a nasal mist. If not, We may not be able to make him do it. They literally had to hold himk down too. Yuk!
We've had episodes like this with my oldest. Last year, when she was 8, she wedged herself in the corner between the wall and the exam table. I had to extract her and lock her into a bear hug for her to get her shot. At one point, I was worried that I wouldn't be strong enough to get her out. The child is freakishly strong.
This year, she got the nasal mist.
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