This is the story of Mia's 2 month doctors appointment. To begin the adventure she decided she didn't want to sleep through the night after doing so for a whole week. She cried off and on during the night...I even tried feeding her and she still cried when she was done eating. She probably heard David and I talking about her having to get shots and she was feeling anxiety about it...I don't think that was it because I was worried enough for the both of us. So, after a rough night, I drug myself through the morning until my spirits were lifted when I saw how cute Mia looked in this outfit (picture on the left). Even if the appointment was going to be horrible, she could at least look cute.
I didn't anticipate that Mia would spit up a large quanitity of her noon feeding (which was usually at 1 or 1:30, but because of her rough night she was all confused and ate too early, so my plans to take a well fed, happy baby to the doctor at 1:40 were foiled). So, I had to change her cute little outfit. The picture on the right was what she looked like when we left the apartment...she looked a little scared.
I arrived at the doctor's office with a sleeping baby in tow but when the nurse weighed and measured her she was forced out of her peaceful slumber. When the nurse left the room I was happy to see Mia play and coo with the baby in the mirror above the examining table but deep inside I knew it wouldn't last long. By the time the doctor arrived, Mia had already had enough and all the poking and prodding only made it worse. The screaming began and I could not get her under control until minutes before the nurse came in to give her 4 shots but by then it was too late. Tears welled in my eyes as she writhed and screamed on the table as the needles went into her legs.
Finally the tramatic experience was over and we were able to go home but for Mia, the screaming had only just begun. She cried all the way home and could not be consoled until she was in the safe and loving arms of her daddy who came bounding out the door to greet us the moment we pulled into the parking lot. I was afraid that this was only the beginning of what our long evening would look like, but Mia proved me wrong when, after I finished feeding her, she cooed and played. She was happier than I had seen her in a few days and was full of energy.
By God's grace, Mia and I made it through the ordeal. I experienced a difficult aspect of being a mother--seeing your child in pain, knowing there isn't much you can do about it. And although I would hope that I would never have to experience that again, I know there will be many times that I will have to be there for Mia when she gets a boo-boo, or gets her heart broken or when she gives birth to her own little one someday. This was a big step in the direction of trusting God with my precious daughter...He can protect her like I will never be able to.
