there will be singing and dancing

January 5, 2006

in bad days

So, yesterday i had parker at the doctor to check that he was indeed getting better. He is. Our appointment was after school so i had all four kids with me. Oh don't look at me like that; everybody looks at me like that. It's not crazy, it's just life.
Anyway, while i had them all with me i asked our dr. if i was too late for the flu shot – no!
Our family doctor splits his practice with his wife and they have four kids. I love them because they "get" my life.
"Are you sure you want to do it now?" he asked me.
"Of course i do!"
You see at the mere mention of flu shot toby shot under the exam table and began wailing at the top of his lungs which, in turn, set off tristan and eliza who rolled up in the curtain and cried in terror. I smiled and laughed and parker played oblivious.
"It's going to be like this whenever we get it."
"Okay then!"
Tristan went first and squinched and flinched and when it was done said "hey! that didn't hurt!"
Each child went in turn and confirmed the "hey! it didn't hurt!" sentiments. Then i went and i was expecting it not to hurt because last year it didn't hurt at all. That was how i could be so callous with my kids. But hey! It DID hurt.
Then last night every muscle in my body started to ache and i went to bed at 9:30 and i still hurt today. Even my wrists and ankles hurt. I don't know what THAT's all about. But, apparently i am the one in 100,000 that got the flu from the flu shot.

{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

Chair January 5, 2006 at 11:38 am

THAT is exactly why I don’t get the flu shot!!

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Irene January 5, 2006 at 12:25 pm

OHHHH hope you DO NOT HAVE the flu. people here do not get flu shots only they really want to (children don’t get them at all), my husband and I once both got the flu at the same time and it was as hard as the first few weeks after we brought Sean and Will home from the hospital. so we get flu shots every year. I bought the shots and put them in my refrigerator. in September. they’re still in there…
ps: your kids are so brave. really.

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debbie January 5, 2006 at 3:58 pm

yeah, that whole getting-the-flu-from-the-flushot-thing always seemed fucked up to me, but i still get it every year, ’cause i’m paranoid. heh. and this go-around my arm hurt for days after i got the shot. it sucked.
hope you feel better!

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mama_tulip January 5, 2006 at 4:49 pm

This was the first year that my daughter got her flu shot and actually knew what was going on ahead of time…she didn’t flinch but I had to bite my lip not to yelp. My arm hurt for days afterward, too, and she kept coming up to me and smacking my arm, saying “How’s your flu shot, Mummy?”

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Sabrina January 6, 2006 at 10:13 am

That’s why I’ve only had a flu shot once and NEVER again. They suck and I was so sore I could barely lift my arm! Hope you feel better soon!

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Rachel January 6, 2006 at 10:26 am

I get those looks when I have to take all four kids to the doctor because one of them is sick or needs a check-up. Last time I went my twins (3 1/2) needed their flu shot. My daughter (1 1/2) had already had it, and my nephew (2 1/2) wasn’t getting it from our doctor. My one son was fine, but the other one is more sensitive overall started crying, which started the baby crying and the other two boys looking at them both in a baffled kind of way. Being able to get stickers for everyone when we left the exam room calmed everyone down, but it’s tough to do the doctor’s with all four! :)

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Jen January 6, 2006 at 10:42 am

I go to the doctor with four all the time. It’s amazing how many people ask, “are ALL those children yours?” Duh. I wouldn’t have them there if they weren’t!
Hope you feel better soon.
I think I’m finally over the edge. I just said I’d watch a friend’s three month old baby while she goes to school. For free. I am shocked by myself.

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Cityslicker mom January 6, 2006 at 10:18 pm

aww, that sucks! Maybe you should buy a lottery ticket?? :)

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