3 Shots, 3 Princesses

Allison had another check-up on Friday for her ears. Yes, the same ear infection she has had for 5 or 6 weeks. I knew it wasn't going to go well because every time we went back to the doctor, she was prescribed a different antibiotic and after one dose, she refused to take anymore (yes, even with the flavoring). Well, she did finish one of them but apparently it didn't do jack for ears. Plus, she is allergic to amoxicillin/penicillin so that one was out. So we had to resort to the next option - injections (Rocefin) . It wasn't pretty, not at all. In fact it was downright awful. The worst part was that she had to get 3 shots over three days. She was such a trooper though. You'd think after the first day she would have refused to go anywhere near the doctors office. The nurses were even amazed at how happy she was each time she came in. These are not your typical shots, apparently it's a bigger needle and they give them to her in her thigh.

The first day, I was with her and Daniel was with us. I wasn't expecting her to get shots so I didn't think Jeff needed to be there to help. We explained to her that she was going to get a shot and she was fine with it. She has had shots in the past and she remembers them and she didn't cry. Well, the nurse came in, Allison laid down on the table and she gave her the shot in the leg. I told her it was okay to cry and boy did she ever. It was bad enough to have to watch, I can't imagine how it felt for a 3 year old. The worst part is that we had to stay in the room another 15 min after the shot to make sure she didn't have an allergic reaction. Once she finally stopped screaming, all she wanted to do was go home and lie in bed. All I could think about was how am I ever going to survive two more days of this???

Luckily the next two shots would be Saturday and Sunday and Jeff would be available to help. On Friday, after we got home, I remembered I had bought some Barbie princess dolls to use as gifts for Allison for either her birthday or a holiday. So I told her I had a present for her since she was so brave and I gave her a Cinderella Barbie princess. It definitely helped to cheer her up. Allison understood she had to get 3 shots in 3 days and I told her that after every shot she would get another princess. She had no problem going back to the doctors office on Saturday and Sunday and she was even in a great mood both days talking it up with the doctors and nurses telling them how she had to get three shots and how she was going to get a princess after each one. Each time she had to be seen first by the nurse, then by the doctor and then the nurse would come back again to give the shot. It wasn't until the nurse came into the room with the tray of shots that she started to get upset.

The second and third day they divided the shot into two so they could use a smaller needle but Jeff and I couldn't decide if that was any better since she was getting a shot in each leg at the same time. Her poor legs, she had a hard time walking so she spent a lot of time in the stroller and being carried this weekend. Hopefully the leg pain will be gone by tomorrow. There is still the chance that the injections may not clear up the ear and sinus infection but they said it looked like it was working it. I have to take her back in 7-10 days. In the meantime, she now has Cinderella, Princess Aurora and Snow White Barbie dolls. Thank goodness I had those on hand!!! Mental note - always keep a surpise gift on hand because you never know when you might need it. I never thougth I'd say this but I'm so glad the weekend is over.