How Exciting....

So I just got done catching up on everyone's blogs. I had so much fun seeing everyone's pictures and reading about all of the fun things everyone's doing lately, I thought I would share the exciting evening we had yesterday. We decided it was time for the flu shots. My kids hate shots, I hate holding them down to get them, and I usually put it off, but not this year. So I made an appointment for all five of them. Purposely got a time that Nate would be there and could help out. The preparation for the shots is crucial. There are only a few kids that can be told about the shots beforehand. I told the boys earlier in the day and was just going to leave it at that, but some how it got out to the girls just before we were leaving, and.... well.... you don't want the girls to know about shots. They started their whining and complaining and almost crying. I had to beg them, bribe them and threaten them not to remind the boys about it. On the way there we talked about it a little. Bradley announced that he was going to try to not cry this time. Charity and Kelly were both getting really freaked out. Luke and Noah were clueless (luckily). I had asked beforehand who was going to be brave and go first, and no one volunteered, so when we got in there and the nurse said, "who's first?", poor little Noah was it. But the cute little guy sure surprised me! Not a peep! He made a face like, "hey? what is that painful thing going on with my leg?" but really nothing else. Pulled up his pants and moved on to the next kid. At this point I think we just mentally decided that we would go youngest to oldest.... not sure why, but whatever. So I grabbed Luke, put him on the table, and as soon as the nurse started pulling down his pants, Nate had to hold him down. He was kicking and screaming. It was quick though, he cried for a little while after. Just enough to freak the rest of the kids out. Bradley was completely hysterical at this point. It took Nate and the Nurse to hold him down.... pretty violently..... but somehow they managed to stick the needle in his leg and not tear a huge hole in him. He cried SO LOUD, and SO LONG. It was bad. By now Kelly was definitely bawling. She sure has a way of making you feel like the biggest jerk ever for putting her on the table. Luckily she had a skirt on, so it was easier to get to her leg. She wanted Mommy's hand (everyone else was okay with Daddy, and I think it was rather nice to not have to be in his position with all of them), so I held her hand, she cried, a lot. It was sad. Then Charity. Charity has been a difficult one ever since she was about 4 months old when it comes to shots. I recall a time in Alaska where we had about 3 nurses, me, and the doctor all trying to hold her down for her Kindergarten shots. It was insane, and I was SO happy to know that those were the last ones for a while (possibly the main reason we haven't had regular flu shots every year). So even though I didn't think it would make much of a difference, I couldn't help but remind her how well Noah did and tried to explain that it's not as bad as the rest of the kids made it look. Surprisingly, she toughened up! She turned off the tears, got up on the table, held on to Daddy, and did FANTASTIC! No crying or anything! It was very nice to end on that note. It was an interesting view of each of our kids in that kind of situation. I think some of them would have benefitted from NOT seeing each other, but on the other hand, I think it really helped some of them. (sorry, but I can't help but analize this whole experience.... that's what happens when you get five kids I guess) As we were leaving Noah took one look at the Nurse and mumbled out a cute little, "ouch." It was his way of saying, "I know it was you!!!" But still, no tears. It was interesting. But isn't that the most exciting thing ever :) It was a lot of work! Emotionally and physically. (especially because I'm so emotional :)) Then we had to reward the kids, we took them to Carl's Jr. (funny little Charity humored me when we decided to sit in the spot where we used to sit with Nana... "so we can remember Nana" I thought that was cute of her), as promised because they were all so brave :). I love that my kids are so different from each other and that we are able to experience each one of them individually. It never ceases to amaze me however, how often they will do the unexpected. This night was definitely one of those times! And that was our exciting evening :)
Oddly enough, the 2 who didn't cry, kick, scream, and fight were the ones who ended up with fevers in the night, and Charity missed a day of school :) Funny how that works. I'll take the 2 out of five though. Plus we all know that the fever just means it's working. I'd rather have Charity out with a fever for one day then get the flu!! And Noah was fine most of the day. Kelly has had many other issues, which may have been worsened by the flu shot, but overall, she has a lot of complaints anyway, so I'm thinking she's fine.
Can I complain about how everyday the girls come home from school with a new note about keeping your kids home and how if your kid is even remotely ill they will quarantine them until you can get there to pick them up, bla bla bla.... and yet, EVERYDAY I hear about SOMEONE ELSE who threw up at school, is losing their voice, has a cold, coughs a lot, or their mom or sister has the swine flu, bla bla bla..... it bugs. If you're going to SAY you're going to do something about it, then DO!! if not, STOP SAYING IT!! I'm just saying.