September 22: The Doctor's Office

It's that time of year again! Leaves changing color, kids back in school and germs EVERYWHERE!!! Yep, it's the true season of sharing, as it relates to kids and germs. My daughter is feeling it firsthand, and, because of her asthma, I had to get her in to see our doc today; just to make sure things were all good. It was a doctor's visit unlike any I've ever experienced, and I'd like to share the enchanting tale with all of you here and now. All the way to the doctor's office, my daughter was frighteningly concerned with getting a shot. I'm not sure why, as she's had few shots there aside from vaccines. But, she was scared nonetheless. We get into an exam room, the nurse takes her temperature (fever, unfortunately), does the Pulse Ox, and all of the basics. Of course, my daughter asks if she will need a shot to which the nurse responds she "doesn't think so", but won't make any guarantees. Doc comes in, checks out my daughter and informs us that they need to give her a dose of steroids to assist with her breathing; which is not an unusual thing given my daughter's asthma. I warn the doctor against a liquid dosage, as my daughter doesn't like the taste and should her gag reflex kick in, it will not be a good thing. The doctor checks their supply of steroids for pill form and returns with 1/2 pill dosage and 1/2 liquid, as they didn't have a full dosage in pill form. We convince my daughter this is a good thing, as she only has to swallow half of the liquid dose she would normally be required to take. She takes the liquid first, and we use the pills to kill the taste; as, allegedly, the pills taste better. Yeah, right. Don't think that's very true, as no more than a few minutes after the doc leaves us, my daughter sends the liquid dosage back out into the room...and, all over the floor! I warned them, didn't I? I get the nurse, and she moves us to a new room. The doc returns and breaks the bad news that we still have to get a dose of steroids into my daughter. And, I don't think the liquid form is an option anymore. Thus, that leaves us with only one option...yep, you guessed it, the shot. I have to say, after all of that, I am so proud of my daughter! She took the shot like a pro, no tears. And, they even let her pick a little something from their toy box, which, of course, helped a ton. On the way back home, I treated her to a Slurpee and promised the next time we were at Target I'd buy her a Barbie, since the toy box was lacking one of those. After all that, it wouldn't surprise me if the next time we visit the doctor she asks for a shot. She's a very quick learner that way.