Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Do as I say, not as I do

Today Nathan had a check-up with Dr. Dobbs. He had to have an x-ray of his legs and feet before his exam. It was very simple. He needed to stand on a box while the 'camera' took the photo from a few feet away. However, Nathan was screaming his head off the whole time (though he did keep his legs still while grasping my shirt). I was given a lead vest to wear, and the x-ray tech took Carson with him into the room where they push the button to keep him away from the x-rays. Carson was back in the room screaming, "Nathan, it's okay. It's only a picture. Say cheese!"

After the x-ray, the orthopedist needed to make molds of Nathan's feet and legs to make him a new brace for his quickly growing feet. Nathan immediately started screaming when we sat him on the table. Normally he's calm for all this, but I guess today's appointment at naptime was not a good moment for him. As he was on the table and Dr. Dave was wrapping the plaster cast, Carson was asking him every question he could think of about the process. Here's a little of their conversation: (btw- this has nothing to do with the post topic, it's just cute to me when preschoolers are inquisitive.)

"What is that?"
"It's plaster."
"What's that pink bucket for?"
"I'm going to fill it with water so I can get the plaster wet."
"Why would you want to get it wet?"
"So I can put it on your brother's leg and make a mold."
"What's a mold?"
"I'll show you when I'm done."
"Okay, Now what are you doing?"
"I'm putting the plaster on his foot."
"What's plaster?"
"It's kind of like mud."
"What's mud?"
"Wet dirt."
"Why are you putting mud on my baby's leg?"
"To make a mold so I can make him new shoes."
"What's a mold."
"I'll show you when I'm done."

This conversation (and much which I omitted) was taking place while Nathan was screaming his head off.

After the partially dried plaster mold was removed, he immediately, and I mean immediately shuts off all the tears and screams. Dr. Dave washed off his legs and as I was putting his pants back on, Carson said, in a very motherly voice, "That was not bad at all. It was just mud, you like mud. It didn't hurt so we don't need to cry like that next time, okay Nathan?" He even had my hand gestures mimicked as he said it. The irony of it is that Carson is the kid at the ped's office that is literally dragging his feet and he's the kid at the JCPenney Portrait Studio crying and running out of the room.

On the way home, we stopped for haircuts. Nathan went first and he started screaming the moment he sat in the chair. The time before, he sat there on his own and giggled when the clippers tickled his neck. He screamed and screamed this time and didn't even want the sucker they gave him. During all this, Carson was at his feet telling him, "It's just a haircut. It doesn't hurt. It's with the tickler thing, that's all."

When Nathan's cut was complete, it was Carson's turn. I told him to climb in the chair and he starts off running and crying that he doesn't want to do it.

Insert video of me rolling my eyes here.

1 comment:

MOMSWEB said...

Bless your heart; this post was hilarious although I'm sure it wasn't funny at the moment (lol). I enjoyed visiting with you. Have a joyful day in Motherhood!