The checkup!

On Friday July 15th we had to take Anthony to his 4 year checkup. I am writing out the date because from the day I made the appointment, about 6 weeks earlier, I dreaded it. Why? It required shots. Not one, not two but three! As any Mommy knows, shots are awful. From the first time your newborn gets pricked on his little heel. You crinch when they go from a happy baby to screaming out in pain. As hard as it is to deal with that, I have now learned that it's even harder to deal with the shots when your kiddo knows what is coming.
A 4 year old knows what shots are. Sorta.... we started to prepare Anthony a few weeks ago. At that time I heard him and Aliester having a conversation that started off with Anthony telling him that his brother had to go to the doctor and he got shots. This led to him talking about his impending appointment.

Anthony: " My brother had to get shots today at the doctors"
Aliester: " I don't like shots."
Anthony: " Well, we have to get them since we are 4."
Aliester: " I am not getting any"
Anthony: " You have to, so we don't get sick" ( This was said very matter of factly as if he is the guru of shots and should just be trusted on the matter.)
Aliester: " Are you getting some?"
Anthony: With head down shaking and a sad voice, : " Yeaaaahh, I have to also, we all have to."

It was a cute conversation between two 4 year olds discussing the troubles in their lives. Anthony, as usual, was trying to be the all knowing person who was advising his friend while he also was truly scared as well.

As the day came, we talked about it and we even saw a show about it. He was so ready for it that on the day he actually couldn't wait for it. He went to play at the gym early in the day then he got ice cream before we got to the doctors office. I tried to make it a good day for him. He actually wanted us to get there already so he could get his shot.

Finally, there we were, sitting in the office. All four of us, with Anthony excited, and Randel and I silently knowing what was really coming and Abram just happy it wasn't him again. The appointment with the Doctor was great. He is a healthy boy who still remains in the 90th percentile for his size. His Doctor was impressed with all the questions he asked and even told us that most 4 year olds don't handle it so well or ask such good questions. Eyes and ears were checked and then it was time for the shot. He happily laid down waiting. The nurse asked Randel to hold his legs down and BAM, three shots to the legs! In a matter of a second he went from one happy little boy to a crying kid that just brought tears to my eyes just like the day he first had his heel pricked at 3 days old.
He cried for a bit, then got to pick out stickers from the treasure box, which calmed him down. For the rest of the night he had to be carried since he felt he couldn't walk because his legs hurt so much. We had to give him "medicine" to take the pain away. If he did walk, it was with a limp. The next day he woke up and told me that it didn't hurt so much anymore and that is how the whole experience ended.

Overall, not too bad. Of course, now I fear the next round of shots. Afterall, now he REALLY knows what it feels like to get them. As he said, "Shots are NOT soft, they HURT!"

Welcome Abram James!

Even though you are about to be 3 months on Monday I still wanted to make an official announcement on your arrival. After almost 4 years with just your brother we finally decided that Anthony was right and it was time for him to have a sibling. You arrived on Monday, April 18th at 7:36 am, exactly one week early and weighed 7lbs 10ozs and were 21.5 inches long. Since your arrival we have adjusted pretty well to going from a family of 3 to a family of 4. We have been lucky that you have been a pretty mellow baby who is pretty content most of the day. Since it's already been three months you are already smiling and "talking" to us. You have also started to sit up better and have been scooting around a lot while on your tummy. It's amazing how quickly 3 months can fly by. You would think I would be used to it by now since your brother seems to have gone from a baby to a 4 year old in a blink of an eye. I guess parents never get used to their babies growing up so fast.

You are one lucky little boy who has tons of people who love you and want to spend plenty of time with you. The best thing is that you have an older brother who absolutely loves you! He already can't wait to get to teach you how to play baseball, football, basketball, you name it he will show you. Of course, you better believe that Daddy will be right there with him helping you learn it all as well.

We can't wait for all the new things you will learn and experience and are so happy to finally have you here!