First, we had to wake up. (Don't even question the immensity of this.)
Second, we had to be back to another doctor's office by 8:00 again. And it was -6 degrees.
Third, today's appointment involved several blood tests for Little One. They needed slightly more than 4 cc's. Out of an itsy-bitsy, teeny-tiny, baby vein (sorry, Sweetie - my genetics, not your dad's!)
Also, we had to wait for 55 minutes in cruel anticipation of her blood draw. Combine terrified adrenaline with no breakfast, a squirming toddler who cannot leave your lap, (filthy floors, ew!) fast-forward two hours, and you have me, right about when they finally called her name.
She was beyond a trooper. After two tourniquets, twenty minutes of debating and poking and hesitating, they summoned this elderly, Asian gentleman - the best phlebotomist on earth.
We're now officially way past naptime, but she's just looking at everyone inquisitively wondering why we're all so tense.
He finally found a vein. A microscopic one. I had to hold her on my lap, clamped between my legs. I tried to distract her and make her look away by dramatically waving scissors and rubber bands. He got into her vein finally. There was digging involved; her eyes shot open and tears began pouring out. Her whole body started quivering, and she let out these out jerky, little, punctured cries, and I tried to soothe her while also trying to restrain her.
The tears kept rolling and rolling, but she was so brave. She whimpered - most adults would have done far more - but turned her head against my chest and bit her little lip, and held totally still.
The whole lab applauded when she was finished.
"What a trooper!"
"My gosh, I've never seen a kid take it so well!"
"How did you train her to DO that?"
Wish I could take credit, but she was born like this. When we'd bulb syringe out her nose, as a newborn, and practically waterboard her with nasal saline to stave of Reflux attacks, she would cry and cry - but, always tried to smile at us while simultaneously sobbing. It was kinda amazing.
Maybe she sensed our approval, and maybe that has fed her desire to be brave, but I don't want her to ever feel like she has to be too brave. She's just a wee little girl.
Still, she seriously has been like this since Day #1. I swear. Husband will confirm it.
But, they wouldn't believe me.
Also, we had to wait for 55 minutes in cruel anticipation of her blood draw. Combine terrified adrenaline with no breakfast, a squirming toddler who cannot leave your lap, (filthy floors, ew!) fast-forward two hours, and you have me, right about when they finally called her name.
She was beyond a trooper. After two tourniquets, twenty minutes of debating and poking and hesitating, they summoned this elderly, Asian gentleman - the best phlebotomist on earth.
We're now officially way past naptime, but she's just looking at everyone inquisitively wondering why we're all so tense.
He finally found a vein. A microscopic one. I had to hold her on my lap, clamped between my legs. I tried to distract her and make her look away by dramatically waving scissors and rubber bands. He got into her vein finally. There was digging involved; her eyes shot open and tears began pouring out. Her whole body started quivering, and she let out these out jerky, little, punctured cries, and I tried to soothe her while also trying to restrain her.
The tears kept rolling and rolling, but she was so brave. She whimpered - most adults would have done far more - but turned her head against my chest and bit her little lip, and held totally still.
The whole lab applauded when she was finished.
"What a trooper!"
"My gosh, I've never seen a kid take it so well!"
"How did you train her to DO that?"
Wish I could take credit, but she was born like this. When we'd bulb syringe out her nose, as a newborn, and practically waterboard her with nasal saline to stave of Reflux attacks, she would cry and cry - but, always tried to smile at us while simultaneously sobbing. It was kinda amazing.
Maybe she sensed our approval, and maybe that has fed her desire to be brave, but I don't want her to ever feel like she has to be too brave. She's just a wee little girl.
Still, she seriously has been like this since Day #1. I swear. Husband will confirm it.
But, they wouldn't believe me.
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