Celeste is a whopping 2 months. She's now tipping the scales at 11.5 pounds (she's gained over 2 in one month and has deep fat rolls that hide grime) and she's grown 2 inches. This afternoon we helped her kick off the start of her third month with a fun-filled visit to the pediatrician which included a half-dozen immunization injections.While we waited for our appointment an elderly couple came up and fawned over Celeste. The wife, who had a tall, white beehive of hair like an aged Marge Simpson, kept saying, "Hiya bright eyes!" Celeste would gurgle and smile at her. I told the couple that she was about to get her first round of shots. The husband told me that as a corps man (I have no idea what that is but nodded appreciatively), he could never give shots to the little ones. "I had to get my buddy to do the babies. It's just to hard, they don't see it comin'." He had warm brown eyes and told me she'd be O.K.
Celeste was unsuspecting on the exam table until a friendly cooing nurse jabbed her chunky thighs with a series of hypodermic needles. She yelped and screamed in a pitch that we'd never heard before. I was a mess. The nurses kept reassuring me that I was being a good mom and that it was worse for me than it was for Celeste. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I started crying.
On our way out, Peter scheduled Celeste's next appointment. I watched the older man with warm brown eyes talking to a doctor The doctor was telling him in a too-slow and too-calm voice (the kind reserved for children) that his wife needed to go to the hospital right away. He was nodding.
On the drive home we talked about how the most difficult part of parenthood so far is seeing Celeste experience pain or fear. That old couple helped me realize how if you're lucky, you live long enough to experience a whole range of feelings. I wondered why Marge Simpson's grandmother had to go to the hospital and I hope that she will be OK.
Aw...poor Berry. Well, at least that is out of way and Celeste can remain a strong and thriving babee. I liked the story of the older couple. I hope Marge Simpson's grandma will be okay too.
ReplyDeleteshe looks no worse for wear. i bet by now she's forgotten all about it.
ReplyDeletethe shots didn't bother me too much the first time, but the second time (4 months) were rough. stace had the reverse reaction, and cried at the 2 month shots like you. i think it's a pretty common and understandable reaction. you'll probably be better when she gets her next round. it just took my retarded emotions a few months to catch up.
i feel like i/m the one with retarded emotions. she seems fine now though. at least we're not wack-o nut jobs who refuse to vaccinate our children because we distrust doctors, right?
ReplyDeleteugh, i've had a suprisingly large number of people ask me in all seriousness if we planned to vaccinate. really? are we that crunchy looking? hell, i tuck in my shirt on occasion. puh-lease, people.
ReplyDeletesidenote: in that one picture with papa bear, she's a dead ringer for peter, a?