Jabbing the child

Xav had his 4 y/o needles on Wednesday and after my last attempt at doing this by myself, I organised it for when Duane would be home.  I'd explained to Xav what was going to be happening, and pulled out the parenting big guns - BRIBE!  I'm not fond of using bribes for everyday things, but this is a one off and I was hoping that it would make the whole experience a little less stress full for everyone involved.  I asked him what he would like and he suggested a Mintie as he'd caught be the week before with a mouthful of one.  I'd bought a family pack (although I didn't share with the family!) to munch on as I was churning out a very boring research assignment and he decided that one of those would be a perfect swap for a jab.  I also said he could play on my i-phone (another very special thing that he rarely gets to do)  and have the headphones in.  Now this proposition, of chewing on a mintie AND using the i-phone was enough to actually get him excited and begging every day in the lead up, to actually go to the Dr earlier.

So, with all this excitement and constant nagging to go get his needles, I was feeling very confidant when Duane said he'd have to work late and wouldn't be able to come along.  No problems!  This will be a breeze - I have a willing participant!

Well, he was all big and brave until he realised once we were at the Dr's what was actually going to happen.  He must of glossed over the whole "getting and needle" thing and just focused on minty goodness and technology.  Once he realised though, there was no way he was going anywhere near the nurses station.  I had to carry him screaming his head off and writhing in my arms.  Once in there, I managed to shove a mintie in his mouth calm him down, so I could sign all the forms.  After the mix up last year, I also insisted that I would be checking each vial for the correct medication. Xav, was ok by now.

Until I had to take his top off to get started.  Then he cranked up the screaming again, but this time he was yelling "Check my heart, just check my heart then let me go home"  I'm guessing he thought if we used the stethoscope, we'd forget about the 2 needles that were drawn up and ready to be inserted  There was nothing I could do but bear hug him, whilst he was jabbed simultaneously in each arm.  Over and done with nice and quick, and then the screaming stopped.  Could have had something to do with the stickers and freddo frog the nurse had just handed over.  He smiled, filled up his mouth and skipped his way out.  Over and done with.

Thank goodness that doesn't need to happen again for a while!