We Got Our Flu Shots Today

The kids got to eat popsicles for breakfast today.  Popsicles... and a sucker from the doctor.  

It was their reward for getting a flu shot.

I got mine first, to show them it wasn't a big deal.  Then it was Tyler's turn and we laid him on the table and I held his arms for a second and it was done.  He did his fair share of crying, but nothing like his big brother.  Marshall was hiding behind the table and when I grabbed him and put him on the table, he was kicking like mad and would not let us do it.  So I held him on my lap, holding his arms as tight as I could and the doctor came in to hold his legs so the nurse could just get it done quickly.  Poor Marshall screamed BLOODY MURDER until we were all done and had let go.  I have never heard him scream like that.  I don't think I've ever heard anyone scream like that.  Poor little dude.  It reminded me of a time that my dad took me and my baby brother in to get shots and I flipped out!  I remember just fighting like crazy, bouncing off the walls, and screaming and crying before they gave me my shot.  I clearly remember thinking my dad was going to spank me because he NEVER let us behave that way, but I didn't care.  I did not want that nurse to touch me with that needle.  Then when it was baby brother's turn, he just gave a little grunt and it was done.  No tears or anything.  My poor dad.

Well today, as we left, Marshall kept telling me how much he didn't like getting shots and that his leg still hurt.  So I took a moment to explain why we get our flu shots.  It's more than just to keep us from getting sick.  I explained to him that a long time ago his Aunt Lauren was in a car accident and wasn't wearing her seatbelt and she got a lot of bad owies.  One of those owies (her ruptured spleen that had to be removed) makes it so she gets very sick very easily.  If she gets just a little sick it is easy for her to get really sick and when others are sick she has to stay away from them.  So we get this shot so that we don't get sick so Aunt Lauren can always play with us.  After a few minutes of thinking about that, he called her on the phone and left her a message that went a little like this...

in the saddest, slowest voice you can imagine

"Hi Lauren.  We got our flu shots today so we can play with you all winter.  I love you. Bye."

Lauren called me after she had heard it to tell me even though it was the saddest thing she had ever heard, it made her laugh so hard she was crying.  It was pretty classic.