Dr. D

Henry has FINALLY come around to seeing his Dr. He really likes the man, but going into the office building used to be enough for me to pull my hair out. Last year when we had to go get Henry's flu shot Rob came with us and Henry climbed the back of him like a monkey trying to get away, screaming all the while. The lady checking us in said "Oh, don't worry. They all do that. One little boy cries from the moment he walks in to the moment he walks out!" I stepped aside and said "Does he look like this?" and she said "Oh! Hey Henry!" It's THAT bad. He was a story that the nurses talked to other parents about. For this reason, and much to my mother's chagrin, we avoid the doctor like the plague. Henry has to be extremely sick if I'm taking him in. No little coughs, or a throw up here and there, will ever be enough to get us in the door.
So you can see why I was DREADING yesterday. 4 years, 4 year old check up. Yikes! Much to my surprise, Henry was incredible! He hasn't seen Dr. D since his sleep issues in August, and before that only for his 3 year old check up. He walked in, went over to the (disgusting, and covered with other kids sick, I'm sure) toy area, and started playing. When we were called back, he stepped onto the scale (didn't happen without screaming since birth), then stepped up to the wall to be measured, and let them take his temperature (usually we just all agree he's fine, and they write in a number)! No crying! I was so excited!! When Dr. D came in he answered his questions, and drew on the paper for him. Then LET him check his ears out and laughed when he was checking his tummy!! These are all amazing feats that just show me how big he's getting! They did his hearing and sight. He did great! And then... Dr. D dropped the bomb. Henry was getting 4 shots at this visit. We were so close to a perfect visit. The nurse came in and Henry started slowly shaking his head no. I hugged him tight to keep his arms down, and she did two very quick pokes and then traded sides with me as Henry started to let her have it! She was very fast, but it didn't matter. He was red faced and puffy eyed the whole way to Rob's work.
One day, sometime in the future, we will get a perfect Dr. visit. One day, that office will forget Henry's name and he will no longer be fodder for nurses to tell other parents that bring in crying kids. One day.

At 4 years old Henry is 41 lbs and 42 inches! He's doing great!