Shots Anyone?

My sister called me today to tell me about a flu shot clinic being offered in our area. They were giving flu shots as well as the nasal FluMist spray. Since our kids were out of school today I thought it might be a good time to go.

Is it terrible of me that I smiled happily and giggled as I told them, "He guys! Guess what we get to go do?! We're going to get flu shots!!!" I really wish I had recorded that exchange. I quickly told them they could choose between the shot or the nasal spray. Ross said, "shot" Elizabeth said, "nasal spray," and Drew said, "Oh, the nose spray, DEFINITELY!" Not too many kids would choose to get a shot, but Ross remembers it really doesn't hurt to get a flu shot. I also chose the shot. I don't care for things being squirted up my nose. Everybody did well. Edward even joined us. He absolutely chose the mist because he HATES shots. I was especially proud of Drew. He gets a little nervous when it comes to things like this, but he took it like a man and sniffed the FluMist like a pro.

Poor little Mal was a little hurt by the visit, though. Babies under 2 have to get the shot, so she didn't get a say in the matter. She was quite offended when I pulled her pants down to reveal her fatty little thigh, and she immediately tried to pull them up. When the shot went in she cried and cried and looked at me like, "What have you done to me?!" She cried and jabbered for the first 10 minutes of the car ride home. She would cry, "Leg! Ow!", pointing to her leg. Unfortunately for her she has to go back for another one in the next month or two because this was her first dose.

I was telling the kids afterward that this trip went a lot better than the last time we went. We didn't make it last year, but two years ago was so funny! I was pregnant with Mallory and took 2 1/2 year old Drew, 5 year old Elizabeth, and 7 year old Ross to get the shots by myself. The kids knew what was in store for them, and the people sent us to the "family room." I walked in first and was holding Drew facing forward, and I was followed by Elizabeth then Ross. We walked into the room (which was a nursery at a church), and the first thing you see is a table MOUNDED with syringes. Drew immediately began running in mid-air, trying to make an escape. Elizabeth took one look at the Mount Everest of needles and made a bee line under a crib. She kept running from crib to crib, looking for a place to hide. At this point I was laughing so hard I couldn't even talk to the ladies there to give the shots. Ross was very brave, but we walked through the waiting area back to our van, and I know Drew & Elizabeth scared every kid there. Good times. Good times.

Anyway, I do have some advice if you get to chose between a flu shot and the nasal spray: CHOOSE THE NASAL SPRAY!!! Edward has talked all night about how amazing it was to get the vaccine that way. He said you can barely even feel the mist in your nose. While the shot itself didn't hurt, Ross' and my arms are SO SORE tonight!!! We both keep moaning and whining to each other about the tenderness.