18 Month Check-up

Earlier this week Ben and Jack had their first appointments here in Utah for their 18 month check ups. The most common remark I get when I'm out in public with all three boys is, "You have your hands full!" and I normally laugh and smile or say, "Yeah, literally!" because I've got at least one child in my arms and another holding my hand. Outings are great when the glue holds together, but when the glue falls apart and the kids just don't want to listen to me it can get extremely frustrating and I'll go ahead and say it, embarrassing.

This was one of those outings! Honestly, it wasn't even that bad but for some reason my blood boiled fast. 

We started out great. The kids immediately took to the toys in the check-up room (so smart of the practice), the development questions were looking good, etc. But by the time the doctor came in we had been in there for 15-20 minutes and the kids were pretty nearly done with what the room had to offer. It was no fault of the doctor's, the nurse had been in to weigh/measure, the student doctor who was following him had come in to do his thing, plus there's two of them, so these things just take time, ya know?

I was sitting on the floor where I could try to monitor the kids more closely while talking with the doctor. Meanwhile Cameron had moved from the blocks to treating the chairs and check-up table like a jungle gym with Jack and Ben trying to climb up and follow suit whenever they weren't being examined. I was doing the whole, I'm going to look at you intently and nod a lot and when I feel like you have finished your current sentence I'll quickly try to discipline my children and hope that you really aren't aware of how bad they are behaving. 

Finally after Cameron started throwing smacks and kicking around after I pulled him away from the window blinds for the fifth time the doctor wrapped it up quickly, gave me a smile that had pity written all over it and headed out the door. Not our best visit!

The second most common comment we get in public is, "Look how cute they all are!" and I respond with, "They have to be!" because really, they need those cute little cherub faces to throw water on my fury. Well played kids, well played.

On a side note, Ben had a large local reaction to his vaccines this time. Yikes! I've got to say he sounds adorable when he says, "owie!" though.