What's worse than taking a tiny baby in for his shots?

Taking that tiny baby and his 4 year old brother in for their shots at the same time.

I always hear people saying how terrible it is to see their babies get shots - how the babies cry and the moms cry. While I don't like it one bit, for me it's way easier to subject the baby to the shots than a bigger kid. The baby doesn't know what's coming and won't remember it later.

This morning over Cap'n Crunch, I broke the news to Brendan that he would have to see the doctor and have shots today. His first response was a typical one of late: "NO!" So then I pulled out my secret weapon - bribery! I told him he could have whatever treat he wanted if he was a brave boy about the shots (not that he couldn't cry, because it would hurt). I provided him with a few suggestions and he chose to go out for ice cream.

So the time came and he was very brave about it. They had to poke his finger for a hemoglobin check. That was okay. Then a big needle came out to do a TB test on his arm. Still not much distress. But the worst part is forcing him to lie down on the table while the nurse jabbed him three times. I know part of what makes it so bad is being held down like that and not being able to see what they're doing to you. He did cry a little and begged her to stop (that was the worst part for me). And then after she was done and had put on some band-aids, he sat and sobbed and was scared to put his clothes back on because it might hurt more.

Jeff helped him into his clothes while I got to hold Lucas down for his five(!) shots. I was looking right into his eyes every time a needle went in and watched them open soooo wide before he started screaming.

And then it was over. Brendan was already over it. Lucas fussed a little bit while Jeff got him dressed.

I kept offering Brendan Motrin for the pain I was sure his leg was in. But he kept saying he was fine and he does seem to be. He got his ice cream after dinner.

Lucas, on the other hand, isn't taking it so well. I gave him Tylenol in the doctor's office, even though I didn't really think he would need it. Well, apparently he did because when it wore off he was screaming in pain. Every time his little leg was bumped or touched or he tried to move it, he screamed louder even though that didn't seem possible. Finally the next dose of Tylenol kicked in, but I have a feeling it's going to be a long night.

I guess I had all my worries focused on the wrong boy after all.

My brave boys with all their band-aids. Brendan wore those shades to the doctor's too. And he loves that helmet!

Remind me again why I was looking forward to summer vacation...

Let's see - the last day of school was June 15, so it's been summer vacation for all of less than two weeks.

I suppose I should be grateful for getting through 4 years without much sibling rivalry to speak of. And the kids can peacefully co-exist at times. But at other times, arrrggghhh! Now I know how my mother must have felt (there Mom, you got your wish!). Alyssa is constantly on Brendan's case about something. And she does it in her high-pitched, annoying voice. And every other word out of her mouth is "BRENDAN!". Of course, he's not little Mr. Innocent. He does annoying things - like probably every other 4 year old little brother in the history of the world. And he also pinches. And hits. So I guess they're both to blame. And also both justified. Is it September yet?

Oh yeah, it's a new law in Michigan that school can't start until after Labor Day. So I guess I should ask - is it September 5th yet?

As another consequence of summer, we have attracted the little boy who lives two houses down from us. He is The Most Annoying Kid On The Face Of The Earth. But that's too long of a name, so I'll just call him Nemo (that's not his name, but both kids have mistakenly called him that at one time or another). He invites himself over any time he pleases. I don't care if he plays here, but the rule is, everyone has to stay in the backyard. Brendan is too young to be traipsing all over the neighborhood and I can't (nor do I want to) be outside to watch them all the time. But Nemo is hell bent on getting into our house for some reason. I think it's to get his hands on the toys. Or maybe he's just nosey. He asked Jeff the other day if he could come in the house. Jeff knows I don't want them running wild in the house, especially when it's a perfectly good summer day, but he asked him why. "Oh, just to check something", he said. Hmmm.... I don't think so Nemo.

Now come September (5th or later), I'm going to have to come back and read this post when I have to go back to getting everyone up and out the door by 8 a.m. But at least I'll have 7 hours per day of not hearing "BRENDAN!". Unless, of course, I'm the one saying it.

Recital's Over!

Oh how I hate dance recital time! Costume, make-up, hair in a bun, studio rehearsals, pictures, dress rehearsal and three nights of VERY long shows. The month of June is a killer, but it's finally done!

All in all though, things went pretty smoothly, even with the added complication of a two-month old. And we all survived, but with the amount of bitching Jeff does, it's hard to tell sometimes.

It'll be awhile before we get the professional pictures back, so here's Alyssa backstage before the first show:

Kool-aid

We didn't have Kool-aid much when I was a kid. But that was okay, because I really didn't like it. And I swore my kids would never drink that nasty stuff.

Then Brendan talked me into buying those single serving size packets that you just mix into a glass of water. Whoa, it's good! In fact, I couldn't get enough of it and pretty much drank it all myself. Then I went out and bought the little packets where you actually have to measure out the sugar. Jeff has been making it non-stop and I've been drinking it just as fast - in a tall glass with a lot of ice. I've really been missing out all these years!

Britney

Britney Spears, if you're reading this, a few things about that interview with Matt Lauer:

• I think your top was too small or something. Also, your bra was hanging out on one side. But if you were going for the white-trash slut look -- good job!
• Something weird was going on with your eyelashes. I couldn't stop staring at the right one.
• Chomping on gum like that while talking to anyone, let alone on national TV, is gross.
• Air quotes -- please stop with the air quotes!
• Guess what? I'm "country", as you say, too. My dad let me steer the car while I sat on his lap (probably going considerably slower than outrunning-the-paparazzi speed) and there is no way in hell I would ever do that with my kids.

Oh that crazy George W. Bush

There I was, happily rocking a sleeping Lucas and drinking a cup of coffee. And watching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on TV. The contestant had just answered the $100,000 question correctly and was getting ready for the $250,000 question. He even had 2 lifelines left. How exciting! Yes, this just about as good as it gets for me.

Then - a CBS News Special Report. It seems GWB is about to have a news conference at the White House! When he was just in Baghdad yesterday! (Fascinating, since he has at least one aircraft available whenever he wants it.) He just got back at 3 a.m. and here he is ready to speak to us at 9:45! (Big deal, I do that every day.)

I sat and listened to him for a few minutes before Brendan called me in to see a very important game he was playing on the computer. That was good, because a few minutes is about all I can stomach of the man. Anyway, he was patting himself on the back for pulling off that sneaky surprise trip to Iraq. I get that a lot around here too, when I have to pretend to be impressed with some "trick" that the kids pull on me. It's a little more palatable in children. The whole stunt smacks of a ploy to get his approval rating up. Not all of us are that stupid, George.

A half hour later, he's still talking. And I'll never know if that guy made it past $100,000.

Birth Certificates Are Proof of Age, Not Identity

Oh really? I didn't know that. But there it is in black and white on the sheet of paper I got today at the Social Security Office from the nice uniformed man. So it must be true if the government has proclaimed it.

I was there to get a social security card and number for Lucas. He's 7 weeks old. Hasn't had a lot of time to acquire forms of identification. He's pretty much who I say he is. But obviously, he does have a birth certificate. In fact, we had just been down the street collecting that piece of paper. While he screamed his head off. But that's beside the point.

So I find myself at the Social Security office. It seems we are required to have a SSN for him before he can be covered by Jeff's health insurance. I knew we were going to have to do this at some point, but I kept putting it off (see above about screaming). However we got a letter in the mail the other day from the insurance company telling us we had 60 days to accomplish it, so I had to get moving and today was the day.

Back to that piece of paper and the uniformed man. I was a little frazzled (again with the screaming), so I wasn't expecting my conversation with him about what would be considered "valid ID" for a newborn. Here's the list:

• Doctor record or receipt showing TWO pieces of identifying information (ie. name, date of birth and parent's name). Cannot be handwritten.
• Hospital record with baby's FULL NAME. Must be dated after the date of birth with TWO pieces of identifying information (ie. name, date of birth and parent's name)
• Health insurance card with child's name AND child's date of birth
• Religious record (Baptismal record)
• Certified Immunization Record (Must have Doctor's STAMP, Hosptial STAMP or Health Department STAMP - Cannot be all handwritten)
• Current Daycare or School record on School Letterhead with TWO pieces of identifying information (ie. name, date of birth and parent's name)

So I was frantically pulling things out of the diaper bag to see if they were good enough. Hospital record that they sent me in the mail? Nope, all handwritten. What's this? I just happen to have his immunization card stuck in a pocket of the diaper bag? And it has a total of one entry for the one shot he's had so far, done at the hospital the day after he was born AND they actually used a stamp on it? Must be my lucky day!

That means I was able to apply for his SSN which will make the insurance people satisified (and make my husband happy to get it done). But man, I'd be screwed if I was a non-religious stay-at-home-mom who had a homebirth and didn't believe in vaccinations.

I wonder if anyone has told the border patrol people that birth certificates are not a form of ID? Because they seemed to work just fine when we took the kids to Canada last summer. Maybe we'll just have to start sneaking across the border in the middle of the night like everyone else. Or we could get them passports. I wonder how many pieces of ID you need for one of those now? I bet one is a birth certificate.