No more chicken pox but the door's still open for monkey pox
It hasn't been long since Elliott's first birthday which means it was time today for what seems like his 38th round of shots. I think each time it has been a little harder. Not for Elliott but for Shelbi and me. At his current state, he is incredibly observant and curious and so a doctor's office is pretty close to being the coolest place on Earth for him. There are cords galore to grab, instruments that light up, stools to push around, tongue depressors to chew on, plastic sheets to tear and you get to be naked for a majority of your stay. If there was a giant pit of plastic balls it'd be better than Chuck E. Cheese.
And that's what makes the inevitable so heartbreaking. Because here Elliott is having the time of his life, oblivious to the nurse who just came in with her tray of destruction. This time, he was stuck with the first shot, jolted and then just stared at us with wide eyes for a couple of seconds as if to say:
"Hey! Jerks! You know all of the pointy things I like to try and play with that you keep taking away from me because I'll hurt myself? She just put one in my leg! You'd better punish her soon or I'm going to lose it."
And sure enough he did. It's devastating because Elliott really doesn't cry or scream much. Fortunately he is still calmed down easily and was smiling again even before we got outside.
It also struck me today as Elliott was getting vaccinated for chicken pox that, when he is 15 years old, he will probably find it hilarious and antiquated that everyone in Shelbi's and my generation actually GOT chicken pox. Yep, we broke out in a fever and itchy red spots and missed a week of school. All the cool kids were doing it. But, to Elliott, I'm sure getting the chicken pox is going to sound as ridiculous as getting the plague. "You had the chicken pox? Did you get them while fighting in WWII?"
I brought this up with my mom today and she remembered kids she grew up with getting the measles and the mumps and, at times, even polio. And I just laughed. "Geez mom, did they get them from the Pilgrims on the Mayflower?"
My dog is sick (((
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