Wordless Wednesday: An Oldie but Goodie

The Flu Shot Chronicles

Today the kiddos had to get their flu shots; after our awful winter (which included a round of H1N1 thankyouverymuch) Geo and I decided that this year all four of us are getting them. We don't lie to the kids about getting shots; we don't necessarily tell them if they don't ask, but if they ask if they are getting a shot, we'll tell them if they are or not.

So Gabe and Bits saw "flu shots" on the calender; correction (!) Gabe saw it written on the calender and told Bits about it so they were in a tizzy over it today. We left one appointment to go to the ped's office for the flu shots and Gabe says "so hey, Mom, where are we going?" I looked at Geo and said "Uh, Gina's" (Gina is the first name of our pediatrician) He says "oh, okay" and continues to chat with Bits. As we got closer to the doctors' office he said "oh no. Gina is Dr. S*'s name! Oh no! FLU SHOTS BITSY!" and cue the screams and sobs.

(side note: how rough do OUR children have it, their parents have insurance and access to appropriate medical care and vaccinations. poor poor kids, their parents care about their health...ungrateful kids, I tell ya! ha ha)

So we got to the office and Gabe immediately asks how sharp the needle is going to be because he wants a soft needle and blah blah blah. I have a sick sense of humor and I said "well you're in luck, today they'll be giving shots with a rusty fish hook! no worries about the needle!" (side note number two: how mean am I? seriously? I'm mean)

We got back to the room after the children tried to bribe the nurse with pretty much anything they could think of so they did *not* have to get the shot and Bits hopped up on the table thinking Gabe was going to be first. Not so little miss, not so. I pulled her sweatshirt arm off and Geo stood in front of her. The nurse came toward her with the tiny needle (seriously a flu shot is TINY) and wiped her arm with an alcohol pad...and all hell broke loose. She started to scream (it was cold and startled her) and Gabe started to turn purple and scream "Get MEEEE OUT OF HEEEEEEREE" in the meantime, I'm trying to steady Bits so she can get the shot AND she kicked Geo right in the family jewels. He starts to double over, SarahAnne is sobbing, Gabe is screaming at the top of his lungs, the nurse is trying not to cry and I'm doing what? I'm laughing. Laughing like an idiot.

Geo stands up, says in a voice at LEAST two octaves higher than normal "okay Gabe, your turn" and Gabe proceeds to .... I honestly don't know what he was trying to do, climb out the window maybe? I grabbed him in a hug and said "alright, let's do this" The nurse came at him with the damn cold alcohol pad and he screamed (again, it scared him-why don't they warm them up?!) then gave him the shot and Gabe said "alright, fine just give me the darn shot" as he was getting a bandaid put on the shot spot. The nurse informed him that he was done and he stopped sniffling and said "wait, what? you're done? I thought you had a huge needle or something. Wow. That was no big deal"

The nurse let them choose four million stickers and then led us out into the waiting room where four parents and their terrified children sat waiting for THEIR flu shots. I'm so glad I could help their children be prepared for the flu shot this year...ha ha

*note-Gabriel did *not* attempt to climb out the window at any point during this five minute ordeal. Five minutes, seriously, five minutes was all this took from start to finish. Most melodramatic five minutes of my life, except for maybe last Friday when I did a melodramatic Adam Levine post, but we won't count that.

Friday Five: Five Funny Kids Sayings

Kids say the funniest things (and they're often incredibly cute) In no particular order, five things that have made me laugh out loud this week as said by Gabe and Bits:

Gabe kissed me last night and said "Oh I love you, my big beautiful tulip"

Bits was sorting through coins and picked out a nickel and a quarter; she looked at them, looked at me and said "alright, which one of these is the quarter? I need a quarter for gum and YOU need to tell me which is which"

At dinner last night, we were talking about our old cat Jax. Gabe smiled and said "Oh Jax, like jackass...three the movie. Or jackass the movie. Ha ha. I said Jackass but it's a movie and not a bad word"

At the allergist yesterday morning, Bits had to have five little needles in her skin for the second round of testing. After the shot, she had little blood spots on her arm. She touched them and said "Oh, these are blood polka dots" and laughed her little head off.

and finally, number five...(which I am going to admit, isn't my kiddo, but from my godson Liver Lips when he was little...)
When Liver Lips (aka Cameron) was itty bitty he couldn't say Chrissi and George, instead he called us Tiss and Jew and would sing a little song about it. He also used to call a hammer a hamburger and none of us is quite sure why, however to this day it's hilarious (and boy, I hope he doesn't read the blog or he's gonna be quite irate with Aunt Tiss :P)

:)

I've slacked a little bit on posting this week; it's been a little busy here. Whoops.

I just went and checked in on my two sleeping babies (who really are NOT babies anymore) and I felt overwhelmed with how much I love them. I know that probably sounds corny, but seeing them sleep, seeing them so sweet and innocent just floors me. During the day they are rambunctious, loud, bouncy, messy children; but when they are sleep I can't help but want to just snuggle with them. It's a peaceful feeling but also a sad feeling because I know in a few short years they'll both be gangly teenagers who are too old for momma to snuggle with anymore.

As I was sneaking out of Gabe's room, I saw him lift his head out of the corner of my eye. I turned around, he gave me a sleepy smile and proceeded to fill me in on the sports scores last night (The Hawks AND Bulls won, so he was a happy happy boy) Maybe he won't be too big in a couple of years for an early morning snoogle--or at least a chat :)

Happy Friday everyone

Fall Back? Don't Mind If I Do!

I know a lot of people do NOT like day light savings times, but I am NOT one of those. For one, I'm a morning person, so the sun coming up early doesn't bother me, for another, when it's 4:45 and the sun is gone for the day, I'm happy-why? Because it takes less convincing for the kids to go to bed!

Tonight they had a bath and were in bed by 7. I haven't heard a peep out of them since tucking them in and giving them a smooch (or six). They were both snuggled up in warm blankets and had a book in hand.

Gabe has always been a good sleeper; he slept through the night after about three months and regularly sleeps 12 to 14 hours at night. It's glorious, not to mention when he gets up, he quietly goes about his business; he'll have a drink or some yogurt and more often than not is laying on the couch with a cat and a book. He's so easy going; it's fabulous.

Now onto my Bitsy girl. Is it any surprise that she didn't start sleeping through the night until she was almost a year old? Is it a surprise that she sleeps about two hours  and then gets up and wanders into someone else's bed? (sometimes Gabe's, sometimes ours, sometimes she ends up on the couch) She's a very restless at night and despite trying a dozen and a half things, she just doesn't seem to wind down very easily. She's up early and stays up all day; she rarely naps and when she DOES nap, she fights it tooth and nail. I think it is because she's afraid she's going to miss something.

*sigh* If only someone would MAKE me take a nap! If only someone would make me go to bed at 7! Think of how productive I could be...*yawn*

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

After a long train trip following an amazing weekend, I pulled into the metra station tired and sore. The tiredness only lasted a moment or two because suddenly a tow headed, gangly armed and legged six year old was running full force up to me yelling "MOM MOM MOM I MISSED YOU!" and tightly grabbed me around the waist (since when is he THAT tall??) He was followed by a smaller, female version of himself who yelled "MOMMA'S HOME" as she threw her arms around my knees. My hunky hubby stood back, surveying the scene, and as I walked, with two bags over my shoulders and two children attached at the waist and knees, respectively, finally gave me a welcome home smooch over the heads of my children, who very clearly missed me.

It was nice to get away, but even nicer to come home :)