Medicine from the Doctor ~ January 9, 2014

Nora was very brave today and received her flu shot from Dr. Chris.

We had talked many times in the past about how doctors give out medicine and information to keep us well but she still was nervous and fearful every time we came in to contact with a medical professional. For good reason, her past doctor was not a good fit. The doctor was kind but extremely traditional right down to the horrible support staff, the non-kid friendly surroundings, and unnecessarily long wait times and sheer timing of everything. (Hey, can you stop to fill out paperwork now that we've given your child injections and she's screaming? - Hmmm, maybe should have asked me before and - oh, hey $%^& you too! Ok, that interaction wasn't what occurred verbatim...other than my response.)

I decided to try a new tactic this time. I bought a Little People female doctor figure around the holidays and put it in her stocking (thank you eBay) since the medical kit and Sesame Street episodes about doctors had done nothing to reassure her since her bad experiences with an ill chosen pediatrician for her first two years of life.

Her current doctor is Dr. Amanda Bailey who is wonderful and has the most brilliant setup to practice from ever. It's an artist's studio in physical setup so you book your appointment online and meet with only her in a one room setting that looks more like a daycare center than a doctor's office. No waiting room filled with germs, no bus terminal-esque support staff, and no stuffy exam rooms further covered in germs and inhospitable to small hands wanting to investigate. We walk straight in, sit on a couch, have a conversation while Nora explores and plays. Yet the few visits we've had normally start and end in tears. She was still fearful. With Dr. Amanda out on maternity leave we were to see Dr. Chris instead so I knew I needed to do some prep work since in my mind alone new doctor + shot = nightmarish Linda Blair meltdown seemed inevitable. I at least wanted to soften the blow for everyone involved as much as possible.

Every time Nora brought out her Little People figures to play with I would manage to point out the doctor and remind her how nice Dr. Amanda was and how fun it was going to be to meet Dr. Chris. How doctors give out medicine and advice to keep us from getting sick. This seemed to go over ok. And I reminded her how mom had gotten a shot recently and that it hurt a little but the owie was nothing compared to the sickness I could have had. This went over her head a bit but I continued to bring it up occasionally. The appointment was booked and I was crossing my fingers that somehow it would sink in over the next couple weeks.

Today was the morning and her best friend had fallen sick overnight with flu-like symptoms. Nora was sad that she didn't get to see her friend, Evie. I told her that we were going to the doctor still but wouldn't be seeing her friend that we needed to meet Dr. Chris and get her a flu shot so that she could stay well and see her friends once they were better. That the doctor was going to give her a shot of medicine that would hurt but not for long. She repeated on the car ride there "we're going to the doctor" and I would agree, "get medicine from the doctor" - mmmhmmm, "good ouch shot" that's right...

She was excited as we got out at the office and was even hustling down the hallway holding my hand in obvious anticipation. I don't think I've ever seen her that taken with a stranger. She marched in to the office, greeted Dr. Chris, stripped her hat and coat off as if she owned the place, and commenced with playing with the first electronic toy off the shelf she could find. We explained that we were going to do the medicine shot. I could tell the doctor was a bit surprised that I was being that blunt but I continued. She then told Nora it was going to "pinch". I held Nora on my lap and reminded her that it would hurt but not for long as she sniffed the lollipop given to her and decided it was better for a facial treatment than eating, she ran it across her cheek and wanted me to smell it, and I braced myself for knowing that someone was going to intentionally hurt our child.

Nora calmly watched the doctor depress the shot into her thigh and plunge the syringe despite the doctor wanting me to distract her. I knew better, best to be honest with my kid. She responded with, "Ouch" and waited for the sparkly band-aid to be applied. No tears, no screaming, only annoyance at the band-aid but she begrudgingly allowed it to remain. Dr. Chris announced we were all done and praised Nora in open amazement at her calm reaction. Nora said, "I got medicine," and then, "Thank you." I asked Nora if she wanted a high-five, fives all around, and then we left with a parting, "Have a good day." Nora happily marched out with her lollipop, stroking it against her cheek, and I promised we were heading home for food and a nap. She was all smiles and pride on the ride home. I couldn't have been more pleased and proud of her for being so brave.

We called and said hi to papa on the phone and told him all about it, we had a quick lunch, and then we changed her into a nightgown for our nap. I forgot about the band-aid. It had gotten stuck on the inside of her pants. It came ripping off as we changed her clothes. The pained expression, the delayed reaction and inhale, the big tears and protests of, "OUCHIE!"...Way to go, mom.