Pokes. Shots. Screams.

On Wednesday after school I rushed home to change and get Flynne ready for her one year checkup. Talk about mixed feelings! I'm always excited to see how much she has grown & where she is on the growth chart, but I'm also as nervous as a cow in a beef factory, because I know she has to get lots of shots. (Okay, I might not be THAT bad, but it's pretty bad).

When we walked into the office the first thing Flynne did was give a big old scowl to the sweet receptionists. Lately, she's developed an attitude toward strangers, which isn't awful, but not always fun for everyone else! She finally lightened up & was able to give a little wave. We were called back & the first thing the nurse did was weigh Flynne...all 23lbs of her! This puts her in the 85th percentile for weight. She's a little over 29 inches long, the 50th percentile. Poor girl is short & chubby! The doctor assured me that she was healthy & I had nothing to worry about.

Flynne eventually warmed up to the doctor and showed off her babbling, waving & acrobatic skills. Then...the worse part came. TWO nurses came in to tag team her. One poked her finger for lead & iron testing (which she didn't mind much) & then the other prepped her cute chunky thighs for 3 sharp painful pokes! And then the real fun began, it wasn't one second after the first jab that poor Miss Flynne was red-faced, screaming & had tears streaming down her rosy cheeks. I felt awful (as all normal people would). Here I am pinning her arms & body down, and all I want to do is take away her pain. She has this look in her eyes like, "Mom, what are you doing to me? Please stop!" Finally, the whole process that maybe takes 30 seconds, but feels like forever, is over. She's now crying uncontrollably & taking those deep short breaths that really make it sad. BUT, as soon as the nurses left the room & closed the door, she stopped, just like that! Thank goodness! Done with that, at least until her 15 month checkup. Boo!

When we got home I removed her bandaids immediately & then proceeded to read the different shot information handouts. Ugh! Why would I be so stupid to do that? My advice to you: DO NOT READ THOSE! I then officially freaked myself out & sent a friend a text immediately. She calmed me down & told me to "stop googling scary stories, she is fine". (Sounds like something my mom would say!) Well, I actually didn't google anything, just read the nice handout the doctors gave me. I took a deep breath & said a prayer, what's worrying going to do anyway, right?!?

So far, Flynne has done great & those stupid shots haven't phased her :)