Only a tiny pinch...

I took the boys to see the doctor yesterday for their well checks. A routine visit turned into a traumatizing event for poor Ethan. He had 3 vaccinations due. Kaden had one, and he was a real trooper. He asked me if it was going to hurt. I told him it would be "a pinch like this", and I pinched his arm. When the nurse came in to administer his shot, he quickly told me, "Mommy, don't forget to pinch my other arm so the shot won't hurt!" The nurse and I were laughing, and all Kaden let out was an "Owe."  He got 2 Toy Story 3 stickers, and we were on to Ethan. Ethan was already on edge because he doesn't like strangers touching him. When the nurse pulled out the alcohol pad to swipe his arm, he was already in tears! He saw the syringe and immediately began wriggling around, trying so desperately to get out of my grasp. He looked up at me with his beautiful brown teary eyes, and let out a heartbreaking, ear piercing shriek, that I am positive was heard across the valley. Two needle sticks later, he was finally free from the nurse but still trying to catch his breath. He just wanted mommy to carry him out of that place but there was one more thing... Flu shots. I was undecided about whether or not to give my children flu shots. I had hesitated years past, and never have any of us gotten them. This year with Kaden in Kindergarten, I had decided the seasonal flu shot would probably be a good idea, but I did not want them to have the H1N1. I was sad to hear that this year they combined the two. Our new pediatrician made my mind up for me when she told me the story of her time doing hospital rotations, where she witnessed 6 pregnant women die from the flu, and several infants and young children all from the flu. She told me about her 4 month old son, and how she wished he was old enough to get the shot too. As a mother, it is scary putting your kids health in the hands of others. You want to protect them, keep them healthy. You hear horror stories about new medications, and the long lasting side effects they could cause. All these people talking about the H1N1 causing your children to become sterile, or about it being a secret government plot for an ingenious genocide. If thats the case, why wouldn't they be putting that harmful substance into everyday common medications such as Tylenol, or one of the other dozen vaccinations we already administer to our children? Basically anything could be harmful. I do the best I can, thats all I can do. The boys are doing well tonight. Kaden has no reactions so far. Ethan has been running a low temp fever most of the day. 100 degrees or lower. I don't think he'll be excited for his next visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, he has a dentist appointment on Monday. Poor kid.