Finger Prick

Last year at the boy's annual check up things were going great until the nurse informed them that she was going to prick their fingers to take some blood. For some reason that set them both off. I could just see their little brains rolling through the questions.... 'You are going to do what? To my what?'

What a difference a year makes. For some reason today Daniel was pumped up about the finger prick. This from the kid that cowered under a desk at the sight of his brother's blood. He was fascinated by the whole process.

'What are you going to do? Is that what you are going to use? Can I watch? Oh, that didn't hurt at all. Are you going to take more?'

Just question after question for the astounded nurse, who clearly didn't know what to do. She, no doubt, was more used to screaming and fighting, not inquisitive and polite. Since Daniel was going this route, it rubbed off on his brother, who also took the finger prick very well.

Unfortunately for Sammy, it didn't stop at the finger prick. That was just the beginning. Four shots was his quota for the day. The nurse was great, she pounded through those four shots like Usain Bolt running the 100 meter dash. But, four shots was more than Sammy could handle with curiosity and politeness. He was pretty unhappy, but toughed it out pretty well. And thankfully that is the last big set for him. Other than the flu shot, both boys are done with immunizations until they are 11. Happily, though, they get to experience the wonder of the finger prick every year.