Complaints

I often hear others complain about "kids these days". I see people posting things on Facebook about how when we were young we went outside to play and rode bikes. We didn't have cell phones we actually talked on a land line and gasp....we had dial up Internet not wifi. These people complain about how spoiled kids are, how entitled kids are and how they don't know how to work.
I have this to say to those complaints....aren't we the parents of these kids? Who is buying these kids cell phones and ipads? Who is allowing these kids to play video games all day? Isn't it us? If we don't like the way this generation is being raised then shouldn't we raise our children differently?
I know we are only responsible for our children and not all of the kids of the world but couldn't the change start with just our kids?

The Journey

It's been a year since I last posted. I think when I started this blog I expected to be able to write more frequently. Having a full time job, being a mom to 4 boys, and running a house seems to get in the way of things like sitting down and blogging.
Here I am though, it's 10:30pm and while everyone else in the house is sleeping I am sitting on the couch reflecting on life.
So much has changed lately and things will continue to do so. I never knew it was possible to feel so many emotions at once. There are things that make me sad and yet hopeful at the same time. One thing is that my parents sold my childhood home. I am sad to see it go. It's a place where I feel safe and familiar and yet I am excited for my parents to be able to  not have to worry about another property and the financial freedom that the sale will allow them.
Another one of those is my sister in law, brother in law and my nephew have moved to Idaho. I'm sad because we will no longer be a 5 minute drive away and I won't get to experience things like going to my nephew's baseball games or getting together on holidays. However, I am extremely understanding of the desire to move someplace where you have room to breathe, a place that's  safer and cleaner for the kids to grow up. I am excited for them as they begin their new adventure and can't wait for the good things that are in store for them.
There is one more big event that has happened to our family and that is the passing of our Grandma. She died one week before her 91st birthday. The other day I was sweeping the floor and just began to tear up. I miss her so. I miss how she used to call and leave the same message on my voice mail every time she called. (Selena, please call me.) I miss how Evan used to whisper in her ear and ask for a cookie and she used to smile and of course say yes. I miss how she used to read the kids books and when they were little she loved when they crawled up and sat in her lap. I miss watching tv with  her and find myself wanting to watch Lifetime movies in her honor with the volume on the tv up real loud. She just always loved us. All of us. She held all of us together.
There are always things in this life that change. Some change hurts, some change feels uncomfortable and some change is for the better. Even the people in our lives change. Some people leave our lives because they have to, some choose to go, some move on but stay close to your heart. I don't know what the future holds for me but I know that I am extremely blessed and my prayer is that I make a difference the way others have made a difference for me.

Different Doesn't Mean Weird

Every year I take my class on a 3 day field trip to a working horse ranch called Rawhide Ranch. Today I came home from that trip and felt the need to say something.  A few times I was told "it must be like a vacation for you without your kids." So let me get this clear, you think that leaving my 4 kids and husband at home for 3 days to come take care of 9 other kids who are all trying new things and having all kinds of mixed emotions about it is a vacation?  Those same 9 kids are spending 2 nights away from home in a society where most kids have never spent a night away from home before and now they are getting homesick. Please don't get me wrong,  I have a good time on the trip. It is awesome to see 3rd graders learn to be responsible for themselves.  It's good to see them learn to make choices, try new things and conquer their fears. It, however,  is work. 3 straight days of work. Even the nights are work because even though 3rd graders can sleep through the night they usually don't when they're away from home and nervous.  The other thing that gets to me about that statement is that I actually like spending time with my husband and kids. That may be a rare thing in society today but it's true. I miss my husband while I'm gone. I miss my kids while I'm gone. I don't like not being a part of their daily lives. Yes, my everyday life can be hectic with work, homework,  dinner, housework, baseball practice,  etc but that is the life I chose and the life I love. 

It is also not a vacation for my husband or kids. My husband and I work together as a team to keep our household running smooth. We each have our roles and things we do and it works for us. When I'm gone I'm asking my husband to take care of everything by himself. Although he always does an awesome job and is more than capable of taking care of everything it's just easier with a partner. 

I guess the point of this little rant is that we all need to learn to think before we speak.  If what we want to say is True, Helpful,  Inspiring,  Necessary,  and Kind then go ahead.  If it doesn't fit that criteria then maybe we should hold our tongues.  

In addition,  I have come to the conclusion that my family is just different.  We value different things, enjoy different things, and run our home differently. Different doesn't mean weird. Different just means not the same as you.

Day 4

This is a picture of a pin I have on Pinterest.  Let me explain what exactly I'm grateful for. Today I am grateful for words of wisdom that have been passed down to me from my parents and grandparents.  I hear these sayings in my head all the time and usually in the voice of whoever has said it to me the most. I always hear my mom way, "if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say nothing at all."  When something is particularly frustrating my Nanny's voice rings loud and clear with, "you can fight a bear that long" Other times  I can hear my dad patiently walk me through what needs to be done.  When I feel like complaining or throwing myself a pity party my mom's voice reminds me "you've got the same clothes to get glad in." These words of wisdom may not make sense to everyone.  I can't even be sure where they started from but I've heard them all my life and I'll use them all my life. Hopefully when my boys are faced with an unpleasant situation they will hear my voice sharing those same words of wisdom and maybe a few of my own. 

Day 3

Jamba Juice....not as good as a mocha frappe from McDonalds or a frap from Starbucks but a healthier alternative and it satisfies my sweet tooth.

Day 2

Today I'm grateful for playtime with my kids at Chuck E. Cheese.

365 Days of Gratitude

I read somewhere online today about a photographer that took a picture of something she was grateful for each day for 365 days. The reason behind her idea was to spend more time being grateful and less time worrying and being stressed.  I think this is a fabulous idea so I'm going to attempt it here on my blog. So day 1....I am grateful for views like this.

The Best and the Toughest Part of My Job

The best part of my job can also be the toughest part of my job.....and that is how much I care about my students. I don't know if every teacher experiences the same feeling, if it's unique to a few of us, or even if it's unique to our small school. I see it in other teachers that I work with. In fact, today I saw it in all of us. For me, it's so easy to begin to care about their lives. I see them every day for 9 months. They tell me their stories. They share their worries. They tell me when they aren't feeling well and I find band-aids and ice packs. They share what they did over the weekend. I help them solve arguments with their friends. I help build confidence in their academic achievements, even if that means earning a 'C' instead of a 'D'. I become part of their lives. So caring about them comes naturally. Today I felt so many emotions for one of my old students. He was in my class two years ago and is now a 5th grader. I knew when he was in my class that he was a great kid with really great parents. In fact, every teacher that ever had him in their class has said the same thing. Today, I watched him do what no 5th grader should ever have to do.....he gave his father's eulogy. As soon as I heard his voice the tears began to flow freely. I cried because I knew the great relationship he had with his dad. I cried because I wished I could do something to ease his pain and yet what could stop that kind of hurt? I also cried because I was proud of him. He stood up in front of probably more than 100 people and spoke with such bravery, poise, and grace. I can't even tell his story without the tears beginning to well up in my eyes and yet he stood there in front of all of us and spoke with conviction. He mentioned a few things that he would miss about his dad but only after mentioning that he would miss everything about him. He told us the things his dad had taught him like how to shake hands and look people in the eye. His last statement was the promise that he would keep his dad's memory alive. I know he will keep that promise forever. I know this because his dad taught him at such a young age how to be a great young man. When people interact with him in the future they will see a product of a dad and a mom that spent time making memories and teaching life lessons. And so for today, the best part of my job, the caring and sharing in their lives, became the toughest part. It has been emotional for all of the teachers at our school. We all care about this student and his family. And yet, all of us love what we do. We will be there on Tuesday to welcome him back to school. We will be there in April when it's his day's birthday to help him get through the day. We'll continue to pray for him. We'll be there at his 5th grade graduation to help him celebrate his accomplishment. We'll do all of this because caring about students..... that is the best part of our job.

Goodbye 2012

I thought I would end 2012 with a post of gratitude. This is by no means a list of everything that I am thankful for but just a few. 1. I am thankful for my marriage. I am married to a hard working, funny, handsome and generous man. He is an excellent provider for our family, he is supportive, he is a great father and most importantly...he makes me laugh and smile everyday. I am very blessed to be married to someone who loves me completely and unconditionally. 2. I am thankful for my first born son, Seth. He is funny like his dad. He has a big heart and tries to maintain a tough exterior. He has a heart for homeless people and often offers up his own money (and mine) to them. It is a joy to watch him grow into a young man. He loves his daddy and wants to be just like him and he loves to cuddle with his mommy. He has taught me generosity. 3. For my little Evan. He is a sweetheart. He loves to take care of babies and little kids. He loves school and learning. He can create something amazing out of simple everyday household items. He's my only son without blue eyes but with hazel eyes like me. He is never in a hurry and can't understand why you should ever be. He has taught me to stop and smell the roses. 4. I am thankful for my Levi. That boy has a smile that can light up a room. He was born with a smile and it rarely leaves his face. He can talk to complete strangers like they've been friends his whole life....he just loves people that much. He has taught me to be more joyful. 5. For my baby boy, Kaiaphas. He is my last little baby boy. He completes us. He has a great smile like Levi. He is a ball full of energy and already keeps me on my toes. He was the toughest baby to get to sleep. We have had many middle of the night chats but he has taught me to be more appreciative of things like his smile at night that has been saved only for me. 6. I am thankful for my parents. The have been married for 40 years and have not only taught me with words and advice but also by example that marriage is forever. One of my greatest childhood memories is walking into a room and seeing my parents dancing. Sometimes music was playing and sometimes it was not but what I saw each time is that no matter what my parents were dealing with they loved each other. They loved each other enough to stay connected despite both of them working full time, raising two kids, and dealing with whatever life brought them. I am blessed. Tonight I count my blessings and resolve to continue to do so throughout 2013.

Kai's First Christmas Present

Middle of the Night Thoughts

It's 1am and I've been awake now for almost 45 minutes. In my arms lies a sleeping baby. I'm sure this seems normal to some people and although it has become the new normal in our tribe it has not always been so. Before Kaiaphas arrived my experience with babies waking in the middle of the night lasted only until those babies were 8 weeks old. Most people don't believe me when I say that but it's true. Seth, Evan and Levi all slept through the night by the time they were 8 weeks old. When Kaiaphas came along the term "normal" became to mean something else. This got me thinking....how long does it take until something new becomes the normal thing? And normal really is a relative term, isn't it? What I consider normal in my life may be completely out of the ordinary for others. Things change and what is new sometimes turns into what is normal. But there is one thing that is absolute and doesn't change and that is God's love. Thankfully some things never change.

Baseball Season

We have been super busy the since the end of April that I have hardly had time to sit down and write. We started Seth and Evan in baseball at Calas Park. Seth plays for The Warriors and Evan plays for the Lil Dodgers. Both of those teams are coached by Ron! That's right....my crazy husband took on the coaching responsibilities for 2 teams. In case you don't realize what this means I will tell you what our schedule looks like. Monday and Wednesday are practices for the Lil Dodgers. Tuesdays and Thursdays are practices for the Warriors. Occasionally the Warriors have a week day game. The Lil Dodgers generally have their games on Saturdays. Often times we have both teams playing on Saturdays. Thankfully, the times for both teams have never overlapped! The one thing that strikes me is the difference in the atmosphere at the games. When Evan's team plays it is strictly for fun. The parents want their kids to do well but if they make a mistake and let the ball pass them it's not really a big deal. Score is not even kept for the games. Now, the atmosphere for Seth's team is 100% different. It is much more intense. These kids are getting prepared for 2A baseball which is much more intense than the 1A team they are currently playing on. Score is definitely kept as are stats on all the players. Even the practices are different. Practices for Evan's team involve fun games which help them build their baseball skills. Practices for Seth's team involves repetition of skills they already have and fine tuning them. This has been a great season for us. Both of the boys are steadily improving. I am very proud of them because they are learning to love the game. Seth definitely has a lot of heart and is the most vocal player on the team. When he's on the field he encourages the team, talks to them by telling them where the play is, how many outs there are, etc. Evan loves baseball so much that now he wants to watch the Dodger games on TV. They have both made new friends and Ron and I have also. I am certainly pleased with our experience this season even if it means we're constantly on the go. The positives that we are all experiencing far outweigh any negatives we might encounter. In fact, it's been such a good experience we're already considering summer ball!

Kaiaphas to the Doctor

Yesterday Kaiaphas had his two month well baby check. His appointment was at 4:00pm so right when school ended I went and picked up Seth, Evan and Levi, rushed over to pick up Kaiaphas, headed to the house to drop Seth off with Ron and then was on my way to Kaiser. We made it to the doctor on time! Once we arrived Levi and Evan had to use the restroom (of course) and while we were in there I could hear the nurse calling for us. The funny thing is that she didn't bother trying to say Kaiaphas' name. She just called out our last name! Kaiaphas did a great job while the nurse took all of the usual measurements like height and weight. He did fabulous while the doctor examined him and he even smiled at her. And then....the nurse returned to give him immunization shots. While he has no idea what is in store for him, his brothers do! I warned Evan and Levi ahead of time that Kai would be getting shots and that he would probably cry. Sure enough, the loudest set of lungs award goes to Kaiaphas! As soon as she stuck him he screamed. It's terrible to watch and his tears were like knives into this mama's heart. I know that it needs to be done but it's heartbreaking to watch him scream and cry. I looked into the mirror at Evan and Levi. Both of them were sitting in the chairs with their hands over their ears! I don't blame them. Kaiaphas is growing great. He is in the 50th percentile for weight and 40th percentile for height. He is perfect just like my other 3 angels!

Introducing Kai

Meet Kaiaphas Hunter Perry!

Kaiaphas (or Kai for short) made his arrival on Friday, March 2nd! He was due to arrive on Monday, February 27th and I worked until Friday, February 24th. The following Monday I took the boys to school and heard everyone say, "You haven't had that baby yet?" I got used to hearing that question because every day that week when I took the boys to school or picked them up someone would ask. I saw my midwife on February 23rd and we agreed that if I hadn't had the baby by my due date that I would be induced on March 2nd. Then we scheduled another appointment for March 1st. I was praying that I wouldn't make it to the March 1st appointment but I did. At that appointment I was still only dialated 1-2 cm and so the induction would begin at 8am on March 2nd. Friday morning Ron and I took the boys to school and arranged for Auntie Jenny and Uncle KC to pick them up from school and keep them until Ron could get home. We arrived at Kaiser at 7:30am and checked in at Labor and Delivery. On the way in we stopped and checked in on Facebook because of course, nothing is official until it's on Facebook! I was shown to my room and asked to change into my very fashionable hospital gown. At 8:30am the nurse started me on an IV of pitocin to begin contractions. Ron and I sat around waiting for the contractions to begin. When I gave birth to Levi I was also induced with pitocin. About 30 minutes after the IV was put in I began getting very uncomfortable contractions. This time 30 minutes passed and I wasn't feeling a thing. They increased the amount of pitocin I was getting and I began to feel a few contractions but they were very irregular and not very strong. Before I knew it the nurse had increased the pitocin to the maximum dosage that she could give and I still wasn't feeling any regular contractions. My midwife came in at about 3:30pm and I reminded her just how stubborn this baby was. On his first ultrasound he wouldn't cooperate and throughout my pregnancy we often had a hard time finding his heartbeat with the doppler. She decided it was time to break my water. Finally at about 6:30pm I began to feel very strong contractions that were very close together. Ron was watching the monitor and would tell me when I was about to have a contraction, when the contraction would peak, and when it was close to being over. All of that information was very helpful but I was ready for an epidural. Ron called the nurse in and asked her to get the anesthesiologist. She called him in and then went on preparing for him so that we could get started right when he walked in the room. Ron had to leave the room while I got the epidural which is standard procedure for Kaiser. The epidural went quickly and even better started to work quickly! At a little after 8:00pm I told Ron that I knew it was time to push. The nurse that we had all morning had left for the day and a new nurse came in. We were very sorry to see the first nurse go home because she was fabulous! We told the new nurse that I needed to push and she looked at me and said, "Oh, just let the epidural do it's job. The other nurse just checked you and you are not ready yet." She left the room and a couple of minutes later I told Ron that he was going to have to deliver this baby because I knew it was time to push. The nurse came in, checked me and went to get the doctor. I had been right all along. The doctor came in and at 8:28pm Kaiaphas was born! He weighed in at 7lbs 13.8oz and was 20 inches long. The nurse kept telling me that he was a big baby but he was not my biggest. That honor goes to Levi at 8lbs 10oz. When Kai was born the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck so when we first saw him he had a little bruising on his face which went away by the next morning. Kai is a wonderful addition to our family! We are so very proud of our 4 boys and feel very blessed to have them! Seth is counting down the days to his birthday this month and as he does I look back on my life before The Perry Boys came along. I am amazed at how quickly the past 9 years have gone by since my first son was born and thankful to have the opportunity to be the mommy of 4 awesome boys.

The Waiting Game

I've got 29 days left until my due date. I kind of get the feeling that although my last baby came after his due date that this little guy will come early. I'm not sure if it's because of the Braxton Hicks that I've been having or wishful thinking on my part. I've been going to the midwife or doctor once a month but since I'm only 4 weeks away from delivery I'm scheduled to go in once a week. I'm hoping that I get another ultrasound before I deliver so that they can tell me how big this guy might be. Each one of my sons has gotten almost a whole pound bigger which made Levi almost 9 pounds. I'm really hoping Kai isn't almost 10 pounds. We're anxiously awaiting his arrival. Evan asks on a regular basis, "How many more days until the baby comes?" We all went shopping for the baby items that we would need. Evan and Levi even helped me put together Kai's bouncer seat. Now it's just a waiting game!

You Have Your Hands Full

"Wow, you have your hands full." That comment used to make my blood boil. Every time I heard that comment from some stranger in a store what I really heard was "You have too many kids". I began getting these kinds of comments after the birth of Levi, our 3rd son, and I could just about guarantee that I would get at least one comment from some stranger EVERY TIME I went somewhere with the boys. Usually I get more of those kinds of comments when I'm with the boys alone and Ron's not there. The problem I think with comments like "you have your hands full" and other comments like it is that I could never decipher what exactly was meant by them. In my defensiveness I would automatically assume that people meant the worst. After all, what else could people mean when they said things like that? This weekend has changed my perspective. I'm not sure why. I think I've come to the realization that my family is just not the average family. I think people are surprised by the fact that once our newest addition is born I will have 4 boys. I think that having 4 kids of the same gender is quite different than 4 kids. For some reason moms of families with both boys and girls tend to tell me that having girls is MUCH different than having boys. I'm not sure if this is just a consolation as if to say, "It's okay that you don't have any girls because ______(fill in the difficult thing about having girls)." Boys also have the stigma attached to them that they are loud, full of energy and generally hard to handle. So what did I experience this weekend that changed my perspective? In all reality, this weekend was nothing different but I found that when I heard comments regarding the number of ducklings that were following behind me I was not defensive but proud. Yes, I'm crazy. I'm totally crazy about my 3 handsome boys and I'm already crazy about the little one growing in my belly. Yes, I have my hands full. My hands are always holding on to the little hands that need my guidance and love. Yes, we can be loud and crazy but my boys are never lonely and always have a playmate. In fact even though I enjoy peace and quite every now and again, I would much prefer the loud and craziness that comes from my the sound of my boys laughter. So this weekend when a lady in Albertsons shopping with her teenage son stopped me and said, "Oh, you have 3 boys." I put my hands on my belly and said, "Yes, and I'm having my 4th boy in February." She then went on to tell me that she had 3 boys, her 4th child was a girl and then she had another boy. We had an instant connection though we had never met before and will probably never see each other again. That connection is that we are moms of boys and not just one boy but lots of boys! Later another woman said to me, "You earn an award with all those boys." I said "Oh thanks, I'm having another boy in February." She said "I only have one and I don't know how you do it." I smiled and continued shopping all the while feeling very blessed that I don't have to "do this" all on my own. My husband is a great husband and an awesome father! I think God's changed my heart about those comments. Instead of looking for the negativity I am counting my blessings. My favorite comment from this weekend came from a cashier at Target. She asked if we wanted a girl. We were truthful and said that we would have liked to have a girl and before we could finish she said, "This baby is still a blessing." Nothing could be more true!

Need a Name

Nope, not looking for names for the new baby yet. Ron has a name that he loves but I'm waiting until my next ultrasound to start going down that road. What I need is a new name for this blog. I can't keep "The Perry 5" when clearly we will have 6 Perrys. "The Perry 6" doesn't sound right to me for some reason. I suppose I have some time to think about it since the new little guy won't arrive until late February or early March.

Small Changes to the Same Routine

We are living much of the same routine as we normally do and yet there are little changes going on all the time. The boys and I went back to school after Labor Day. Seth is a big 3rd grader and he has an awesome teacher this year.....yep, it's ME! Evan is a 1st grader and Levi started his second year of preschool. Each of the boys loves school for his own reasons. Seth pretty much likes school because it is his social network. Evan loves school for the arts and crafts class after school. Levi loves his friends and his teachers. The new baby continues to grow. I'm 18 weeks pregnant now. At the last doctor appointment the doctor had a hard time finding the baby's heartbeat. Turns out everything is fine. The doctor did an ultrasound and the baby was just moving around too much for her to catch the heartbeat. I have another appointment at the end of the week and hopefully we'll be able to schedule my next ultrasound soon and be able to confirm that we're having a BOY! The big news - Levi had a birthday and turned 4! He was counting down the days til his birthday and was very excited that Daddy brought cupcakes to his school to share with his friends!

ALL Boys

I had to go to the doctor last week for first trimester screening. This means that I had to go in for an ultrasound and a blood test. I'm not a fan of blood tests because I hate needles but getting an ultrasound is a treat! I'm a big fan of getting to see the baby! I was 12 weeks and 1 day on the day of my ultrasound so I knew that it was probably too early to tell the gender of the baby but I went in hoping that we'd at least get a chance to see.
When I went in for my appointment the tech was very nice and explained that she needed to get a certain view of the baby for this screening so it may take some time. She had me lay on my back and after quite a bit of prodding with the ultrasound wand she had me lay on my side facing her. This position didn't seem to work and baby Perry was being extremely uncooperative. After more prodding and poking she asked me to turn on my other side facing away from her. After what seemed like an eternity of her searching and me staring at a wall she was finally able to catch the baby in the correct position.
While she was doing all of this poking and prodding she began to make polite conversation with me. You know the usual "Is this your first or second baby?" kind of questions. She had a surprised look on her face when I said, "Nope, my fourth." The next question is what you would expect. "How many boys and girls do you have?" I told her that I had all boys and asked if she could possibly tell the gender of this baby. She told me that at 13 weeks she could tell pretty clearly but at 12 weeks it was still too early. She must have had a change of heart or felt bad that it had taken so long for her to get the right shot that after she was done with her measurements she said she'd take a look and try to see if she could tell the gender of the baby. It didn't take long. She said, "Oh, here it is." I looked at the screen and said "4 boys" She agreed that it looks like a boy but then said it still is early.
I've seen three other boy ultrasounds and this one looked like a boy. My mom said that I shouldn't buy anything until my 20 week ultrasound when I can be sure. I think that's good advice and I will follow it. However, I'm pretty sure of what I saw and so it looks like Ron and I will be the proud parents of ALL BOYS!
And in case you're wondering (because I've already been asked this question by a couple of people) we're not disappointed. We figure that God knows what He's doing by giving us 4 boys. We're blessed to have the 3 that we already have and we're blessed to be adding another one!

To the Doctor

The boys will be starting school in a couple of weeks and I need to turn in their immunization records to the school. This means a trip to the doctor to make sure they are up to date on all of their shots. So I made an appointment for Evan and Levi (Seth gets sick from shots and so he'll go on another day) and we talked about how we will probably have to get shots but we will be brave and we can't scream and cry because that will scare the other little kids in the waiting room.
While in the waiting room we're having a good time watching Wall-E and looking at the fish. The nurse calls us in and both boys do a fabulous job while getting their hearing checked along with temperature and blood pressure. Then she takes us into "the room". My boys know this room as "the place where you get shots" so this is on the top of their list of places NOT to be EVER!
They begin to get nervous as they have to put on the gowns and begin asking if now is the time that the doctor will give them a shot. I'm getting nervous myself because they have done great so far and I know that soon the crying, the tears, and the screaming will begin.
The doctor comes in (not their regular doctor because she was busy until September) and he says, "Okay, who's first?" To which both Evan and Levi reply, "Him" and point at each other. The doctor decides that Evan is the oldest so he should go first. And then....he says the magic words! Evan doesn't need any shots today! YES! Evan is so excited! Then it's Levi's turn. And what do you know? No shots for Levi either! It's a dream come true for the boys and for me!
But alas, the dream must come to an end because the doctor says they've never had blood work and they should really get it done.
So down to the lab we go. We're waiting our turn and there is a lovely older lady sitting next to us that speaks louder than all three of my boys combined. This is a great thing because nobody gets upset at elderly women that speak loud but they do get upset at kids that are loud. She's speaking to a lady that is with her. I think at first this must be her daughter but the more I hear them speak I realize it is not. The older lady comments on how great the kids are being. Even when I have to talk to Levi about being loud she comments on how calm I was and how she would have been a lot meaner. I love this lady!
Our number is up. Evan sits down like a big boy. He puts his arm up and allows the tech to prep him and then he sees the needle. He doesn't like this one bit. And then she pokes him and the tears flow and I have to hold his other hand so he doesn't rip the needle out of his own arm. I try to get him to focus on something else and it isn't working. The tech is done with him and he's still crying.
Now it's Levi's turn. Levi has just witnessed this terrible crime against his brother who is still crying and he's having none of that! So I sit in the chair and put Levi in my lap. I convince Levi to put his arm out and the nice tech asks me to hold his arms. She sticks him and draws the blood quickly. Evan is crying at what is being done to his brother. They both cry all the way to the car while saying, "I don't want to go to the doctor anymore."
I can't really blame them. It does hurt a little to get blood drawn. It isn't fun when the only time you ever go to the doctor they poke you with needles. I'm a big chicken and everytime I get my blood drawn I refuse to look.
Thankfully, they don't have to go to the doctor again until next year!
Here are a few pictures of them at the doctor....all taken BEFORE the blood draw!