Flu Shots

This week has been crazy. I hate midterms, and finals. The stress of it all just sucks! I care more than most the students about their grades. It's sad really. I don't know if it's a generation thing, or if it's just the group I have. I love teaching. I show examples of what I want, what I don't want, talk about what I want, and what I don't want, and have a handout. For some reason the group of students I have is having a hard time with deadlines. I think in high school many art instructors gave their students as long as they wanted on projects. Ya...I don't do that. If you want a job in design, you have to get things done fast. Tomorrow most of them will get a swift kick in the butt to get things done!

I've been stressing, and tired this week.

There were somethings to do this week:

• Test drive a Rav4 to replace our 12 year old Pilot
• Go to the boy's school for Mica's curriculum night (Isaak had his last week) - that's tonight 
• Wash all the bedding to add blankets on the beds - It's done 
• Wash the drapes, iron and put them back up - It's done

I thought Travis was going to kill me in the cleaning process. He doesn't get spring and fall cleaning. For a long time Travis worked the weekends. When he worked is when I did those things.

• Get flu shots - That's done

We all got flu shots.
 
Travis was first. His work all went together to Walgreens to get them, then they paid for them to all have lunch.

I always insist on going to the doctor to get the rest of our shots. That way it goes through insurance without hesitation. It's lucky for us, the boy's doctor has Saturday appointments. I had to take off a 1/2 hour to get it done on Monday.

Why get the flu shot at all?

Heck last year's didn't work...we all got the real flu minus Dad. Travis got the real flu when I was pregnant with one of the boys. I can't remember which one now. I think Mica (2004). They had a shortage that year. He missed 2 weeks of work.
 
When we were sick last year. Mica got it the least. He was the last, and I got him on Tamiflu when his symptoms started.

Last year the strain was off. It's really a guessing game each year to figure out the next years flu shot serum. I've never gotten the real flu before, so in my mind the flu shot works. 

My mom has always said that since I have year round allergies, and asthma I need to get this shot. My immune system isn't as strong as it should be. I'm around college students that don't take care of themselves as well as they should. 

Mica takes the shot like a champ. In fact he tries to talk Isaak into thinking that the shot isn't a big deal.

They didn't have the mist yet, and I don't know how I feel about it because it's a live virus. 

I'm a punk of a mom because I have zero sympathy when it comes to shots. I got allergy shots when I was a kid. That's not to say that I enjoyed them. I hid from my mom when she was about to give me one. It's just that after dealing with Influenza last year, dealing with Meningitis when Isaak was a baby, dealing with a staph infection in Mica's neck when he was a baby, and having a Mom that had Polio I don't want to deal with anything yucky if I don't have to. Nope!

Travis waited in the lobby.

I couldn't help, but to crack up laughing when Isaak got his flu shot. Here's how it went down:

Nurse: Who's going first?

Me: Mica can you go?

Mica: Really? Do I have to? I go first with everything!

Isaak: I'm not going to get the shot at all!

Nurse: Let's get the one who's not going to get the shot at all first.

Me: Ok

I grabbed him, and put him up on the table. Down his pants went. I held his arms, so Isaak wouldn't move on the nurse.

Isaak: Hold up! I haven't had a chance to think of anything nice, or good at all! {Insert shot here} Give me time!

Tears, and a slight scream came out of Isaak's mouth.

Mica: Really Isaak! Get over it already. It hurts way less then a bee sting.

I couldn't help, but to laugh.

Mica got his. 

Mica: See Isaak...I'm not screaming, or crying. 

Isaak: I can't help it. It hurt, and she didn't wait for me to think of anything good like you guys talked about in the car. 

Isaak limped to the lobby to pick out a sticker. 

Isaak: Mica do you want a sticker?

Mica: No! Those things are for babies. 

Me: Mica stickers are not for babies. Babies would eat them. 

Mica: Ok then they are for little kids. 

Me: Isaak is a little kid. 

Mica: Ok let's go. 

Travis: Isaak stop limping. You're fine. 

Isaak: But my leg feels like it's going to fall off. It hurts.

He milked the limp for a few hours.

Random Tid Bits

1. My first year students are really bad with deadlines this year. I take off for them being late, but it does nothing to motivate them. 


2. I'm trying out essential oils to help with my allergies. Daddy rolls his eyes at me and says, "Really! You're into witchcraft now." I'm willing to try alternative things if they help.


3. The boys spent the night with their cousins last weekend. I know why my mom hated when we had overnights as children. Little sleep = grumpy children the next day. At least they had fun.


4. I feel like I have a pretty good relationship with both of my sisters. Do we see eye to eye all the time? No. I wouldn't see eye to eye with anyone all the time. I just wish that the two of them would talk. I'm really tired of being in the middle of a no talking war. My husband's family has people in it that don't get along as well. It makes family events stressful. I just want everyone to play nice so to speak. I get that getting along doesn't always happen. There is major things that can go down in a family that can split people up. This no talking war could easily be solved by each of them realizing that they just have different opinions, and let it go.    


5. I got my flu shot last week. My doctor's office is seriously 5 minutes away from my work, which makes it so handy. I like getting flu shots at the doctor's office because insurance covers it. $15 isn't too much, but x that by a family of 4, and it adds up. At the doctor's office I don't have to fill out paper work because they have mine on file.

The boys get their shots this upcoming weekend. It's great they make Saturday appointments. :) I've always had them get the shot over the mist. I just have more faith knowing that they get the shot. Anything with a mist doesn't always mist. My boys are generally pretty good about it. I give them a pep talk about why we get shots, and how they are helpful. Grandma had Polio a few years before the vaccine came out, and Isaak had Meningitis before he was old enough to get fully vaccinated for it. I used to get allergy shots, so there is plenty to talk about. In the end I hear, "That hurt, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was." Sometimes Isaak limps, because he's over dramatic.

Why get the shot? I know so many people say, "I never get sick." That's my husband. Guess what? He one year got sick with influenza. He missed 2 weeks of work, and felt like he was going to die. I hear others say, "I always get sick even when I get the flu shot." The flu shot is meant to cover influenza. It's not meant to cover the common cold, sinus infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, or the stomach flu. Influenza will knock you on your butt. Even though those that have weakened immune systems are more likely to get influenza, anyone can get it. I have bad allergies, so I'm more at risk, and those that are around my nephew Emerson that really has a weakened immune system should get the shot. Medical staff members have to get a flu shot to keep their job. I hear others say, "I get sick from the shot." I'm hear to tell you I've been getting the flu shot ever since they started making them, and I've never gotten sick from it. I just get a sore arm. If you've gotten sick in the past it's more than likely a coincident. Have I had my doubts over flu shots and vaccines? As much as I'd like to say, "No." I can't. I have had doubts. Isaak got meningitis right after he got his first immunization for meningitis. Of course I've had doubts. Think about all the crap that is gone because of immunizations: Polio, many forms of Meningitis, Small Pox, Chicken Pox which can lead to Shingles, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and more. All of it could come back because not all countries have immunizations. Do immunizations cause Autism? One doctor claimed it did, but he only tested his theory on a handful of patients. All of which had Autism. It's been disproved that immunizations actually cause Autism. - You can read more about Autism and vaccines here.   

Flu Shots

• I took the boy's to get their flu shots this morning. 
• Mica went first. He knew something was up. He looked nervous, and got mad that we were holding him down. He just shouted and pouted afterward.
• Isaak's turn. He had no clue what was about to happen, and cried after.
• Mica skipped out of the doctors office, while Isaak limped. 
• Isaak's much more of a needy kid when it comes to a little pain. He pointed out his Band-aid whenever he went potty the rest of the day.
• I had a talk with Mica as to why we get shots. I do have to say that I've always had mixed feelings about shots. I'm not going to share any doubts with him. I said that shots are needed to try and keep us healthy.