Shots and Bloodwork

Yesterday was the boys annual trip to the doc for a physical, vaccines and *gulp* bloodwork. I didn't know why we'd have to get the bloodwork stuff done but we have WIC, and they require a hemoglobin and lead test annually, so I guess that is why. We have gotten those blood values before but in the doc's office, but since hubby got new insurance, we have to go to Quest Diagnostics to get the bloodwork done. Ugh. For that reason alone (drawing blood) I am thinking we must find a way so that we don't need WIC when re-certification rolls around again.

playing doctor at the doctors

We started the day with Jax off at speech (Char and I went to the park), then to the docs office. At the docs office, the boys were doing really well. They knew what the doc was going to do (examine them) and that they were going to get shots. They knew they would probably hurt, and it was OK to cry. They were *so* brave. Their reward was ice cream for being such brave boys. We picked up Ammah (my mom) and went to Ruby's for ice cream and french fries (best lunch ever right? And I had just told the doc that the boys had a balanced diet, which they normally do, EXCEPT for THIS meal) and then headed over to get the boys blood drawn...

But, the thing is that the blood draw... man, that was horrible.

I had to sit there, with the boys (one at a time) on my lap, restraining them from kicking or pulling away as the techs drew their blood. The boys looked directly at the whole thing, the whole time. They knew what needles were and how they hurt (they had just gotten shots). They anticipated the pain! They started crying when they were being restrained, and the tech cleaned their arm with the alcohol wipes. Then the constricting band, and everything. I wanted to CRY, but I had to be so strong for my brave little boys. Jackson went first, and Charlie could hear him crying. Charlie was with my wonderful mama in the waiting room. I could hear Charlie's cries of concern come through the walls. You could tell he was terrified of what was happening to his bigger brother.

And then I had to bring Jackson out to the waiting room and take Charlie in the back.

Charlie didn't want to go!! I don't blame the kid. He didn't want me to hold him. He didn't want the techs anywhere near him! Charlie was crying even before they rolled up his sleeve to put on the constricting band, wiped his arm with alcohol and found a place to draw blood from. Worst of all, poor Charlie had to be poked twice, and not for any reason other than the first tech that tried to draw his blood couldn't find a frickin' vein. Seriously? This kid has great veins! The more experienced tech found another vein and was able to quickly get the blood needed for the stupid tests.

And then, of course, after they get all the bloodwork they need, they put gauze and a butt-load of tape on their arms.

Tape. SO much tape. Tape that I'll have to peel off their little arms later. They'll remember how they were tortured at the lab and look at me with a "don't eff with my arm mama, I've been through enough" look. Seriously! That's the look I get!

But, on a lighter note, our little babies are growing like weeds!

Jackson (4 yrs old) is 44 pounds and 42.5 inches tall (75th percentile for both ht/wt)
Charlie (almost 3 yrs old) is 40 pounds 6 ounces and 38.5 inches tall (88th percentile for both ht/wt)

They are 15 months apart. It's like having twins, in a way.

the ice cream looks bigger than charlie's head. it was supposed to be "itty bitty"!!!

Jackson is truely enjoying his ice cream!

Anyways, that's the trama of our day yesterday. We left the lab place and drove for a little bit. They both passed out and slept for about 3 hours after that experience.