In the dark about a shot

I'm not sure who does the scheduling, but apparently our doctor's office thinks it's perfectly ok to do toddler well appointments at 3:15 in the afternoon. About half of our van was asleep on the way to the office. That being said, when you wake toddlers up from their nap before it's time they're going to be cranky. It was an interesting trip.

By now you are aware of how the boys are freaked out about shots. I have decided a while back that I will not inform them of anything of the sort, because all it does is prolong the agony.

So, you can imagine Lou's shock and surprise when he learned that he was getting shots on a day that wasn't even his appointment! Poor kid.

But let me back it up. Benny and Charlie have the same birthday and this has been helpful in a number of ways, but today it was that whatever Benny did, Charlie was completely ok with also doing, because they are great examples of Monkey See, Monkey Do. Get on the scale? Great! Get measured against the wall? Fine! It helps when you give Charlie a number afterward, then a high five. He doesn't care or know what it all means, but it makes him feel good, like he just won something. (We now have an electronic thermometer that goes across the forehead and whenever it needs to be used all three need to have theirs checked and we have to see who "wins." Not sure if it's the high or low number...I have a feeling I've told this story before.)

Then they were checked out by the doctor, asked questions, then on to the tough stuff. I had all three sitting on the table and tried to keep them occupied with goofy games and then with pictures I was taking. Here are a few:

I tried to get them to do "Hear No Evil" but it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.
Charlie: "What are we doing again?"

Ben and Lou wanted to make sure Charlie knew what he was doing.

They gave up and just started acting like monkeys.

Meredith, watching throughout the whole thing, just teaches herself to suck her thumb.

When the nurse came in they each got the flu mist up both nostrils. I've never had it done, but it looked like it wasn't much fun. Then the nurse asked if I had a game plan. Uh...no. Charlie first? He only had one shot. Char did great. Quick little cry and then was thrilled when the nice nurse said to pick out TWO stickers. Ok, that's over.

Then what do we do--Ben then Lou, or Lou then Ben? Not sure if it would have been better the other way around, but this way was not good. Louie looked on in horror as Benny got a shot in each arm. Then when we turned to him he started, in a high pitch scream, howling that he's not going to get a shot. Tears streaming down his face, I had to restrain him as the nurse poked him with the needles. After it was done he barely shed another tear and went to pick out a couple of cool jungle animal stickers.

I don't want you to think I'm not sensitive to my kids' fears and anxieties. It's one of those times where the tough love comes in to play. I want them to bravely get a shot, knowing that it will hurt for just a second and then you get cool stuff, like stickers. And besides, if Louie didn't get the shot he wouldn't be going to kindergarten. For all the bad things that happen, something good comes of it. Like an 99-cent ice cream from McDonald's on the way home. See, it was all worth it.

Oh, and their stats, if you're interested:

• Benny: 40 inches tall, 40 pounds. (A square.)
• Charlie: 29 inches tall, 31 pounds. (Not sure. Can't remember much from sophomore year geometry.)
  

Things that go bump in the night (and during the day)

Poor Charlie.

When we were at my parents today to swim Charlie fell off the couch (may or may not have been caused by Benny) and bumped the back of his head on the coffee table and received from it a nice golf ball-sized bump. He cried for a few minutes, but then was ready to swim.

Tonight, Louie and Charlie were playing a good old fashioned game of what we like to call "chase." It went back and forth, and when Louie was chasing Charlie, Little Man tripped and hit his forehead square on the leg of a dinning room chair. Major goose egg.

It's great when head injuries happen right before bed. All the signs (dilated eyes, not acting like himself, inverted lump, etc.) weren't present, so we didn't take him to the hospital. He seems to be ok and after some TLC he stopped crying, although he does have a stomach-cringer of a lump on his head. Is this just part of being the third boy?

The Angel at the Wedding

My good friend Tom got married to Martha, who has also become a good friend, and I couldn't be any happier for them!

They were married in Toledo and so on Friday morning we headed up to Grandma and Grandpa's to drop the boys off for five days of fun and then headed up 75 for the glorious occasion.

Many people have told me how much they dislike taking babies to weddings, but we have been fortunate that ours have all enjoyed them. Enjoyed them in that they sleep through 95% of the event, which makes Mommy and Daddy enjoy it even more! We were also lucky in that the other grandparents as well and Aunt Joanie and Josh were invited, so if it happened that Meredith wanted to fuss, we had plenty of hands to help out.

Tom and Martha were gorgeous and it was obvious how happy they were, but our angel of the night was this little girl:

Two Month Appointment

Little Mere is growing so quickly and has lost all of her itty bitty newborn baby looks. She had a great appointment and was a champ taking two shots (four condensed into two) and something she had to take orally. (Can you tell I'm the experienced, informed mom??) The boys were more upset than she was. They sat there, scared out of their minds, and I convinced them they had to be brave for their sister.

She is 12 lbs. now and 22 1/2 inches.

After her shots were administered, Benny called out, "I didn't even cry!"

Face Time

Being that these two chicas are normally snuggled up in someone's arms or fast asleep in their car seat or crib, they don't get to hang out too often. Here's a picture of them, that I wish I took video of because it's too cute. They stared and batted their hands at each other!

The Godfather

Would you trust this guy with your kid?

Well, apparently Joe and Erin do because they've named him Grace's godfather! He is so happy to have this special role in Gracie life :)

Please pardon this interuption

Today Meredith gave me her longest smile ever, while awake. I have to document this because I believe it is a genuine expression of happiness, not just gas.

Unfortunately, I couldn't capture the moment in a picture for you to see (I promise, she has a beautiful smile!), but I couldn't tear myself from the moment. I'm sure you understand.

Good news is, I hope that this will become somewhat of the norm for her, and maybe I'll be able to post a picture of my little girl and her smiley face soon!