Monday, June 21, 2010

Watch Your Children

Hi all! I was at the park today on a "playdate", and I witnessed something very interesting. I'd love to know what you think about this. Pigpen was on the teeter totter (aka seesaw), and we ran into this really cute dad with his really cute little boy. The dad was super friendly and his son was a chip off the old block. The dad was surprised at how tall my friend's daughter was since his son was three, and not nearly as tall. The kids played for a second, and then his sweet little son wanted to venture over to the big kid park. We were playing in the little kid park that was fenced in, and the Big Kid park next to it was not.

So, cute dad left and never resurfaced until I was leaving. As I was navigating the stroller out of the gate with Pigpen holding my hand, I saw cute dad again with his little boy. He asked me if I knew who this other child belonged to. I looked over at the cute little boy no older than three. I asked him where his mommy was, and he just looked at me with a blank stare. I looked at cute dad, and he said that the kid had been hanging out with them for the last 15 minutes or so, and he hadn't seen anyone looking after him.

So, that's the situation.....no, he didn't ask me out, or try to make out with me. :) So my thoughts were...."I'm sure this kid's parents are here, but who are they, and why aren't they seeing this go down......"this" meaning, two strangers looking for his parents. I know cute dad was a bit concerned, but I also know that his fun outing with his son at the park had now turned into; fun outing with son and random kid that he now felt responsible for.

I looked around, and told him I wasn't sure as Pigpen was telling me that he wanted to go back into the park. I told Pigpen that the car was much more fun, and surprisingly he agreed. The cute dad looked at me and said, "wow, that really works?"

I smiled and walked off, and as I was leaving I stopped by a picnic table of women and asked if anyone knew who the little boy in the striped shirt belonged to. Then, this young girl looked at me and said in a "so annoyed that she had to stop talking about whatever it was she was talking about tone" ; "he's mine, and he's fine." Whoa there sweet heart! I didn't really know what to say since she made it sound like I was some crazy worried over protective mom, By the way, she was sitting at the picnic table about 20 yards from her son with her back to him, and he was barely visible from where she was. I quickly said, "that guys a dad which means he's new to all of this, so just humor him." They laughed and then she said even more bitchy, "he's fine! Andrew, you can go in there....it's allowed."

Oh, she was such a snatch about the whole thing. I thought maybe she was just going to be that way to me, but when she yelled across the playground like we weren't letting her kid do something it was just gross. I wish I would have had the quick wit to say, "we were just a little concerned since he wouldn't speak to us, or even point out his mother".....underlying meaning, your kid is way too young to play by himself if he isn't old enough to point you out, you snatch!

I don't know, I'm still a little shocked that she didn't even know where he was, or seemed so nonchalant about his whole existence at the park. I totally think I could have walked off with him, but who knows. I just know, that my kid has one of my eyes on him the whole time everywhere we go. Am I psycho, or should I just relax?

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Zady's Shots

So my mom was in town, and we had such a great time together! I love her so much!!! Okay, back to the story. Zady hit her four month mark, and that meant more shots, and because I am the wife of the year if not the century, I decided to forgo the shots until a more suitable time. Her four month checkup was right before I left for my girl's weekend to NYC, so I decided to not get her shots in case she had a reaction. I didn't want to chance it. I wouldn't be able to leave my husband at home with a sick baby that was just learning to take a bottle. I just couldn't fathem, so I made an appointment to get them a week later.

I dressed Zady in her fabulous little brown dress that makes her look like an Eco Baby model. The dress is brown with little blue, green, and pink birdhouses all over it....it is perfection. I thought this would be easy for shot administration since I wouldn't have to mess with pants. I was armed with funbags full of milk, and some Tylenol if need be. The nurse came in with 3 syringes and the rotavirus drink. I asked her what we were getting today, and she spouted off the usual. Rotavirus, DTaP, Hep B, and MMR. They sounded right to me, so she went for it. Zady lapped up the rotavirus, and then hated the rest of the experience. I nursed her as soon as the nurse left the room, and she immediately forgot about the horror, and concentrated on her quest for being the fattest baby girl on the planet.

After we had occupied the room for about 20 minutes I was just about to put the Bird back in her carseat when the nurse popped in and told us not to leave until she talked to us. My mom and I looked at each other and said okay wilst shrugging our shoulders.

I couldn't imagine what she wanted to talk to us about, but we waited and waited, and then I finally opened the door to the room as to say.....hello, what the hell, in a jesture of course. The nurse comes in and shuts the door, and then tells us that she looked at the wrong chart, and accidently gave Zady the Hep B shot. Of course the first thing that pops into my head is Autism, and all the controversy over vaccines. But, I calmly asked, "is this dangerous?", and she assured me that it wasn't, and that they used to give them the Hep B shot at this visit until just recently.......I asked, "how recently," and she told me it changed about a year ago.....which means about two years ago.......ahhhhhh! I was so mad, but trying to be calm and not bitchy. She said that I could talk to the doctor, and then she told me that she is an honest person, and that is why she couldn't let us leave without telling us. I was thinking to myself....."woman, we were here for an extra 20 minutes before you popped in and told us to stay longer. So we waited for the doctor to come in.

Once the Doctor came in, she assured us that it was not harmful, and that with this misshap, she wouldn't need to get the Hep B at her 6 month visit. SHe was trying her hardest to spin it into a positive. I cleared up any questions, and then made her stand there as I typed in the info into my IPhone so I wouldnt forget any important info for my next visit. Talking to the doctor made me feel better, and made me able to put the "mishap" in the back of my mind as we headed for the mall.

Zady was acting perfectly normal, so I was totally over everything in about 2 hours. My mom and I were having a great time at the mall. We had a lovely lunch, and were now having fun in the makup department of Niemans. This is when I learned that earlier that day they had a brunch and a private screening of Sex and The City. I was appaulled!!! I looked at Leo with sadness in my eyes as I said, "what?? Where was my invite???? He gave me a sheepish look and asked me if he should get my mom a champagne as well as me......

I quickly got over it because, I mean really, I could not have gone....I have a baby! Oh well, and plus, we had to take Zady in to get too many shots that morning. Then....dun dun dun!!!!! I was waited for my champagne in the Shoe Salon when my phone rang. There was a woman's voice on the other end of the line that said, "is this Zady's mom?" It was the doctor. She told me that she wanted to call me because it's been bothering her all day. She misread the chart earlier, and was mistaken on her answers to my questions. My heart sank as I walked over to the corner of the shoe salon in the most fabulous pair of Miu Miu platform heels you can imagine. She told me that the shot would not count after all toward her needed vaccinations, and that she would need to get another one at her six month visit. I was fuming!!!

I told her that I was upset before, but that now I was absolutely pissed because she was basically telling me that my four month old baby got a vaccination that she didn't need. I was so mad, and I was not going to just laugh it off and say, "oh okay." She told me that I had every right to be upset, and that she was very sorry. I then went on to tell her that because of this, I am forced to be one of those annoying parents who second guess and ask and make sure about everything their staff does. I don't want to be that mom, but apparently I'm going to have to be. I told her that I go there and put my child's health and wellbeing in their hands because that's there job, and now I'm going to have to be the "internet parent" because of this incident.

I hated it!!! I hated everything about the situation. I hated that the nurse messed up, for my child, and for the nurse. I know that she was busy, but give me a break.....that could have been really bad! Apparently she was reprimanded and management was notified......whatever! It's all just gross. I'm sure it ruined her day, and it made me feel like a bad parent. It made me feel guilty that I didn't have my child's shot records and the shot record reccomendations by the American Board of Pediatrics memorized.

Needless to say, the bird is fine, I gulped down my champagne, and got a great discount on the Tory Burch studded thong sandals that I wanted. Lesson learned.....always be on top of things at the doctor, and know that ultimately you are the one responsible for your child's health.