I Took One For the Team

So when Ethan was in the NICU another NICU mom would refer us to Team Ethan and hers Team Eli. It was cute. Well I definitely took one for the Team Ethan yesterday. So we went to the Dr for Ethan's 6 month checkup which of course included some shots. (Poor kid has 3 more to go since I am spreading them out... evil mom!) So they did his measurements and he was 10 lbs 13oz. Crazy to think he still doesn't weigh as much as I did when I was born. Yeah, I was a BIG baby. So then the Dr. had someone with him that he was training. He was telling her how kids born at Ethan's gestation age has a 50% chance of making it. If they do make it they have a 50% chance of not having anything wrong with them. So all in all you have a 25% chance that the baby will be fine. He said that Ethan is completely normal and that we are very lucky. Yes, yes we are! He also went on to say that we are doing a good job as parents as he can see that Ethan is quite social and that I spend time with him, talk to him and smile at him. Of course I know we are doing a good job but it's always good to hear! Ha ha! In reality though, I worry that I could always be doing more for him.

So then the nurse finally figured out what shots Ethan has already gotten and when so she came in with the ones he needed today. (Found out that the hep b that they normally give babies right after they are born was not given to him until he was 2 months so he is a little off the normal schedule. Which is totally fine with me. Kind of happy to hear that actually. I don't think little E's body needed to take on anything extra when he was born.) Along with Ethan's vaccination she came in with 2 for me as well. (I was planning on only getting the tetanus shot since there has been an outbreak of the whooping cough (and the whooping cough vaccine is in with the tetanus). I was past due for the shot and of course I want to protect Ethan. So then the Dr said wow that is a good idea. Go ahead and give her the flu vaccine too. I was like wait, what? I never get the flu vaccine and I have never gotten it. So of course he responded with "you need to protect him." So I look at our precious little boy and think buck up mom, take one for the team!) So, on with the story. She came in and gave Ethan his shots first and he cried. And when he cries these days there are tears. It is so sad. And when he is really upset he pouts with his lower lip out. It melts my heart. I almost started to cry. Then it was my turn. So I was holding Ethan and she gave me one shot and then it hit me what was going on. I realized with my fainting history I better put him in his car seat. Well, no fainting. I think the LOOOONG stay in the NICU watching them poke and prod Ethan has made me stronger. Well, I hope so. I really don't want to be fainting when Ethan falls and scrapes his knee in a few years! After the shots were all done Ethan fell asleep pretty quickly. The plan was to run to the grocery store real quick before going home. Yeah, I could barely carry the car seat to the car. So we headed home. And then I cried. I don't know why. I don't know if it was because both of my arms (yes, armS, one shot in each!) hurt like a *&#^*#(*&!^*&&^#*$&#!$#@% or if I was thinking about how lucky we really are to have him or if they inserted some pregnancy hormones with those shots. I couldn't figure it out. I haven't cried for awhile now. Which is good. I cried daily when he was in the NICU. I think there were a few cries after he was home from lack of sleep. But now. Now I have been happy. Really happy go lucky happy. When I got home last night Mark asked "so I want to know... who cried more from their shots, you or Ethan?" Ha ha, really funny honey! Then this morning I woke up to feed Ethan and my arm hurt even worse. So I told Mark that maybe he should call in because I am not feeling well and my arms hurt. He said "ok, I can do that." I said "well that would mean that you would be taking care of him all day to help me out." His response, "well I better get in the shower to go to work." Hmmm. For some reason after watching a little Regis and Kelly and hear them whine about their arms hurting from the shot I feel better. I don't feel like such a wimp. But now I think, I have to let them give our baby a flu shot? OMG... how is he going to manage the pain? Well, he is doing better than I am today so I have a feeling he will take the flu shot like a champ. Funny thing is, Mark needs to go get a flu shot too. Is it wrong that I hope his arm hurts worse than my !@$$#%@&!*&@$!# arm?