A visit to the kid's doctor

Yesterday, I took Beli to her pediatrician for her annual checkup. According to my records she didn't need any vaccines, but what do I know? I have been out of the country for two years. In Croatia, after seeing three different pediatricians they all said NO to my request for the flu shot for Beli. It's considered unnecessary until children are older, and I will add that Beli never had to see a physician while we lived overseas...hmmmm, made me wonder which health care system is better.

So there we are, Beli and I at the doctor's office. The nurse orders Beli to step on the weight scale and Beli shouts that she doesn't want to and starts crying. Then we walk to a patients room. Beli is already upset and as her Mami, I know she is not a happy camper, so I try to soothe her and tell her it will be ok. Then the nurse informs me that she will have to do a very small blood test to check for anemia. Oh boy!

Later, much later, the physician comes in and finishes the exam and a nurse comes in with two needles. By now she is distracted drawing, then the nurse preps her arm, one injection then the second one. Someone, please get me a box of tissues~ I can hardly contain myself. I want to cry along with Beli. But I don't. For her sake. The nurse tells me she is finished, exits the room and leaves Beli and I to comfort each other. I whisper in her ear that I know it hurts and it will get better, but all she wants is Daddy. She wants to show Daddy her 'owies'.

We arrive home and she runs to Daddy as she screams "look Daddy, I have two owies."

 I tell hubby "I also need a hug,"  as I proceed to tell him about our morning at the doctor's office. I  show him the pain in my heart. How frustrating it was. What may be a daily routine for nurses (giving shots, drawing blood),  turned out to be a painful experience for my 3-year old.

And then hours later, she is dancing around the house, happy as can be!