...and the boy crush

Have I told you how much I love my boy? My boy makes me swoon. His dancing on command? Adorable. His dimples? Impossibly cute. I am routinely lost in a gaze, taking in everything about him. My boy, he is perfection.

Today was his 18-month old well-child visit. I was dreading the shots, of course. With each subsequent visit, I've been dreading the shots, knowing he is older and less gullible. Hey! I know what  you're going to do with that pointy harpoon! I declare a mutiny!

I was pleasantly surprised to hear that only one shot was needed (hep A #2). One shot I could deal with. (Two sets of 2 into each meaty thigh, less so.)

We had a new pediatrician in the group who I liked from the moment I saw her. Older. Confident. Funny. We related well. She thought she recognized me from somewhere but I didn't let on to my profession (sometimes it's better that way). The Boy charmed her like an old pro Ladies' Man. Charm-er. He was fabulously cooperative and in non-whine-fest mode. The pediatrician asked if we could please schedule his next appointment with her again since she wanted to keep seeing him. I'm telling you, this boy is going to be a heartbreaker.

At Immunizations, The Boy sat in my lap as the nurse came all surprise-attack on his left thigh. I watched as the needle sank deep into his leg and watched the muscle tense up. I braced myself for the cry....okay, maybe the delay cry...and DUDE. THERE WAS NO CRY. Nothing. Poof. Gone. Over. He was eating an apple and rocking his head from side to side like party on. Granted, his thigh is no scrawny chicken leg, but still, my boy rocks.

I kissed his head all over, in a fit of mother's pride.

This boy. I love my boy.

Comments

[Hetha]

Those immunization appointments have always been harder for me than for the boy, but not so much anymore. I wish they could turn them into transdermal creams and just take the needles out of the equation!

[flutter]

he is delicious

[kristen]

i love that you go to the doc and don't let on that you're a doc...my kind of subversion, heehee.

i'm also curious about the Hep vacs...i'm a total LOSER and haven't done them on myself (even though i know i should) and i haven't done them yet on my girl either...should i? i'm asking your opinion of course. (= xo

[alejna]

This post makes me feel all warm and squishy. In a good way.

[Janet]

My boy has a special place in my heart. Not that my girls aren't loveable, he's just different.

[AJU5's Mom]

Where we live they only recommend/require the Hep A if the kid is in day care, etc, so we have avoided them. So, we got a shot-free 18 month appointment, which was really nice!

[Kyla]

I'm glad the appointment went well! He seems like a charmer in every photo I've seen of him.

[KC]

kristen- the CDC now recommends Hep A vaccine for all children at 1 year of age (news to me recently! Presumably to begin national immunization for this.) For older children, they recommend it in certain cases (e.g. travel to a foreign country where this is endemic like most Asian countries, Eastern Europe, S. and Central America,etc) and in areas in the US where rates are high.

I've received the Hep A series as part of my travel vaccinations before going to China.

Most children who are exposed to the disease don't get very sick as opposed to adults. I'd ask your pediatrician about Miss A next time (no rush) but I'd guess their answer would be not unless you are going somewhere where the rates are high.

For you, I'd definitely recommend the Hep B series given your work and the fact that infection could become chronic and even cirrhosis.

Both vaccines (Hep A is a 2 shot series; Hep B is in 3) are very safe and very effective at providing immunity.

Link to CDC Hep A vaccine info sheet:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-hep-a.pdf