The last five days have been out of control. It was imperative that I post Monday night but, otherwise it's just been too squirrely. Started Thursday evening when I locked my keys and phone in the car at the Hollywood Casino (hugs and kisses Triple A) and ended Tuesday when I crashed back into town from an unplanned trip just in time to make a Vestry meeting.
One of the real highlights, in between, was me leaving my ipad at a curbstore in Pearl River, Louisiana and not realizing it until I had gotten to Magee, Mississippi...about a four hour detour there. I could have gone to Atlanta or Dallas in the time it took me to get home on Friday.
The main disturbance though has been The Boy's left ear...he was on antibiotics but steadily runnin' a fever.
Don't get the wrong idea...he's been as rambunctious as ever. As his nurse, I've been tackled 50 or 60 times since Friday. I mean textbook form, wrapping up, hittin' on all 8, exploding through the runner, tackles. I've created a monster y'all. It's like having Patrick Willis for Kato.
"How you fellin' big man?"
"Hmmmmmm...mostly pretty gooood."
You have to read between the lines with him...he's a tough dood, as I would be reminded over the next few days. It was wearin' him out a little bit. I stayed home with him all day Sunday and Monday morning. His momma had made a doctor's appointment for 10am...so me, him and sockmonkey (whose tail he wanted Dr Storey to have a look at...the one he'd chewed off) were in the waiting room at ten til.
By 10 he'd had his temp and weight taken and we were waiting again...at 10:02 we were in the potty and then again at 10:05. The antibiotics you know. At 10:20 we were still waiting and while The Boy played I was getting antsy. It's goofy. I worry about him when he's sick at the house but, the doctor's office is where bad news is made official. Of course it's also where you find out nothing serious is wrong...and bless you if that's the way your mind works.
"Blake...what are you doing out here,"...a nurse popped her head around the corner..."you supposed to be in the exam room." The small knot in my stomach flitted.
As usual, even though he asks about her all the time, The Boy went stoned face once the doctor walked in.
"That ear looks great."
"Ohhh...there's your problem."
After a series of confusing texts between me and Martha it was finally determined that he had indeed been on antibiotics...those were Dropped and three shots of super antibiotic shots, over the course of the next three days was prescribed.
While we waited for the nurse...the doctor made it clear she wasn't hangin around for the dirty work...she looked over Sockmomkey...
and prescribed green thread and lovin'.
The nurse appeared, the doctor disappeared, and the 3" needle came out. He really didn't seem phased as he laid out and the nurse pulled his britches down..."it's gonna sting," she warned. He just stared at her unconcerned. She pinched his leg and jabbed...at that point, the Boy tensed up, I could hear wind sucking against his teeth, his back arched, and he squeezed my finger but, his face remained a stone.
I thought maybe it wasn't so bad...until the nurse left. As soon as we were alone, he pulled me down by my arm and with quivering lips...whispered to me, "Daddy that hurt."
It's impossible to explain the emotions that rushed over me...that rush over me now as I think about it. I was so proud of him. He knows he can cry on Daddy but, he wasn't being stubborn to please me. I was astonished by the ego of it...the complicated nature of those thoughts working in his little head but, mainly I just ached for him. I scooped him up kissed him and told him how tough I thought he was. There were stickers, suckers and a Happy Meal on the way home. He told me the doctor that gave him the shot was a "Bahyad Doctor" and that was it.
Until yesterday when I had to take him back for the third and final shot. Same expressionless face...even though after two shoots he knew what was comin...only this time he looked at the nurse and, with the defiant deliberation of a doomed man refusing a blindfold in front of firing squad, told her..."I'm not gonna cry."
She stuck 'im. He tensed up again, arched his back again, sucking air, squeezing my finger, shaking..."AHHHHHHHHHH...AHHHHHHHHHHH....Mommy. I want my MOMMY!!!. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH." He had stood it as long as he could...stood it until his face turned Candy Apple Red. What a man.
His ego was bruised though..even though I told again how tough he was.
"Daddy did you ever have to get a shot?"
"Oh yeah. I'm afraid so."
"Did you cry?"
My first thought was..."Of course not you wuss." :) but, instead I came clean.
That seemed to make him feel a little better.
What a man.
You've said it! You should both be very proud, both for not crying and being willing to admit that sometimes you just have to cry. Hope the little one feels better soon.
ReplyDeleteAah. Three big jabs back-to-back is a big deal for a little chap. He did well to hold it all together as much as he did. It will have made all the difference that his Daddy was there.
ReplyDeleteHope a swift recovery is now on the cards.
Of course he gets a lot of that stubbornness from his Moma.
ReplyDeleteThe reluctance to cry has been a blessing really. He bounces his head off the floor two or three times a week...he's rowdy...and either laughs or cries. If he cries we know he's hurt.
He's doing well thank you...and I've got the bruises to prove it. :)
You know form and decorum...and good manners keeps me from reporting on the Vestry meeting but Tuesday's was especially hilarious. I'm sure you've sat in on a few of those...too bad sometimes that this things not anonymous. :)
Tell me about it, EF! :-) I could write a book about parish meetings, but no-one would believe me!
DeleteThank you ISBW...truth is I hate going, hate taking him because I'm a whimp. I just want his Maomma to call and tell me everything's fine. Like ripping a bandaid off.
ReplyDeleteHey e.f! Funny how they take it better than we do. Your boy sounds like a real cracker of a lad - just the right side of brave and sensitive and funny. He'll go far. Think I'll be taking lessons from him on how to deal with Bayhad Doctors! On a separate note, I want the Vestry story!!
ReplyDeleteAwww, cute. Happy meals made everything better. Love the pic.
ReplyDeleteWell of course he's a Cracker...that's his Georgia heritage :)...and a cracker. He's comin' along pretty good. It's strange to be inbetween those moments when your focus is on the mundane care of a toddler...he is still three afterall...and interacting with him as a little person.
ReplyDeleteI can't get into it Muj but, I can say this...one episode involved new stain glass windows, the theological importance of Adam and Eve being naked before the Fall and, a head count on the number of 10 year olds in the Parish :).
Aint nothin' a Happy Meal can't fix.
I love the Walter Andersons in there. He was an artist from the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Ah hahaha - I am putting together the pieces e.f. - religion, eh! What on earth was He thinking about letting A&E run about in the scud (buff, nude, with nada between them and creation...)...
DeleteThe issue wasn't the nudity itself...in fact the rector was insistent that they remain naked. It was the disruption it might cause for mother's with smartalec youngins (we have a crowd of delightfully, and typically Southern, rowdy little girls).
DeleteEvery Doctors or Dentists in the known world must have those wire toys with the wooden beads on it... frankly, its a shit toy, but when I'm in there and all the adults feck off I can't not still dick around with them. I dunno.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear the little man is doing better, sounds like a tough dude, you can tell him Crazy Adam says so. :P
I found I missed a call from you the other day, sorry man, I was probably in middle earth, or a galaxy far far away.
catcha soon
And to think I thought you were out doing something sociable...like getting drunk.
ReplyDeleteThose stupid things are brilliant...wires and beads...irresistible. The Boy actually worked through a problem with one of them while we waited...he was trying to move two strings of beads at once.
"DADDY...it's broke."
"Seriously son? Work it out."
It took him a minute but he got it straight.
I'll pass on your well wishes...he's gonna wanna talk to you.
Well done you.
ReplyDeleteI have this virtual, "I was brave at the Doctors" badge for you, so put it on now!
I can remember only too well what it feels like to be in that situation, your boy is wondrous, give him a hug from me, but that badge? it's for you.
SP
Thank you ma'am.
ReplyDeleteI will virtually wear it proudly.
Although...I managed the trip like most things, in a baffled state.
If his tummy is still upset from the antibiotics, some yoguhrt should help. Poor kid. But what a kid.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't really thought about it but his tummy troubles haven't been nearly as bad as they could have been...the little joker eats yogurt all the time.
ReplyDeleteHe's got these Sponge Bob yogurt's...they're in a tube that you can squeeze. He'd eat a box at a time if he could get away with it.
Aww, do hope he's right as rain soon as possible, and I feel for you both - brave men the pair of you!
ReplyDeleteIt's at times like that I guess the life of a sockmonkey might be something to envy. Green thread and lovin'.. :-)
He is just about that well thanks.
ReplyDeleteStill got a nasty sounding cough but he's back at top speed.
Sounds like a good deal for sockmonkey 'til you realize he's had his ears and tail chewed off. :)
what an awesome monkey!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the party Ms. Whitney.
ReplyDeleteYou should have seen him when he had ears and a tail.