I have sufficiently cried over this so now I can write about it. (Though I'm still bothered by it so this will probably be long.)
On Tuesday I took Isis to the doctor. I could tell it was a busy day in the office. Both waiting rooms were packed. We were there 20 minutes early and waited an hour to be seen. Her doctor, because he was rushed, was a little rougher than usual in his routine check. Naturally that was a little upsetting to Isis but she was okay when it was over. He was in and out in 5 minutes. He requested a glucose check to make sure nothing else was causing the infection.
Before the nurse came in I told Isis what was going to happen. I don't think it's fair to surprise kids like that. She was definitely paying attention because she responded "poke finger, sleep!" (Sleeping Beauty... smart girl) and got teary-eyed. The nurse came in with his tray and she started crying. I took off her shoe and sock and among the kicking he got her toe cleaned and pricked. Now it actually hurt so Isis was really trying to pull away. I hugged her and held her leg as best I could while the nurse tried to get the blood onto his test stick. He managed to scoop some off and roughly tried to put on the band-aid. Looking at the little monitor he grumbled and sighed heavily. "It didn't work?" I asked the obvious. "No. I have to go get new stuff, " he replied obviously annoyed.
He left and I held and soothed Isis. When he came back Isis stared crying immediately. He rips off the band-aid and for the next 3 to 5 minutes proceeds in a very rough and forceful manner to squeeze her toe to coax new blood out. It would barely seep out and he'd wipe it off with a cotton swab. He did that three or four times. (WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THAT BLOOD???) He then commenced squeezing the heck out of her toe which is now extremely sore. And then he has the nerve to say in great
agitation to my hysterical daughter, "If you'd just hold still this would go faster!" EXCUSE ME??? She is TWO and you are hurting her! Are you not working in a
pediatric office?? I, the non-medical professional, said, "It looks like the blood has clotted. I think you need to stick her again and be done." Another gruff sigh, "Yeah, I do." And he left.
Now I was crying with my sobbing daughter as we rocked back and forth.
When he came back this time Isis went
ballistic and was climbing all over me to try to get away and screaming. At this point there was no way she was going to be calmed or soothed. I said, "This needs to be quick." He rolled his eyes as I took off her other shoe. Somehow I held her just long enough to get the sample. I rocked her as I told her, "It's all done. It's over. You're okay."
Then the nurse tried putting a band-aid on the new prick. Isis could take no more. She screamed and jerked as violently as before. In frustration he shouted, "IT'S JUST A BAND-AID!"
That was beyond the last straw. Through my tears I shot back, "Give it to me! You are
DONE." Judging by the way he tried to flick it off he would have thrown it at me had it not been stuck to his glove. I ripped it off his glove. He sat and watched as I tried to put it on but she wouldn't even let me do it. He gave a frustrated sigh again and I told him to go. I dabbed her toe with a
Kleenex as she clutched the band-aid in her hand. Isis' entire body seemed to be convulsing; every limb and muscle was shaking. She was literally in shock. I was
SO mad and very upset. Both of us just sat there rocking and crying for a bit. When I had calmed down and Isis was nearly asleep we left. No, I didn't say anything on the way out. I was too upset and distraught. (I have since found out this nurse's name and written a letter. I still can't get in touch with anyone by phone.)
I cried about this traumatic ordeal the entire day. I couldn't protect or soothe my baby. I didn't have the presence of mind at the time to use more forceful language (like, what are you doing? get the h--- away from my child; don't touch her again; are you an idiot? get me another nurse now; you need to leave, etc.). I didn't insist on a different nurse, and I didn't ask to speak to someone about this right away. That bothers me.
Even if you're tired or have had a hard day (it was only 11 am), the attitude and behavior of that nurse is absolutely unacceptable. Even being the mom, if his behavior and treatment upset me, an adult who knew what he was actually doing, how traumatic was it for my tender two year old? That treatment isn't tolerable for my or any other child. This was the worst experience I've ever had with medical "professionals."
Is this typical and have I previously been lucky? I hope no one else or their child has been or will be so poorly treated.
Isis loves raw pumpkin - blah!
Isis drawing her own pumpkin face. :)
Washing the seeds for baking.
See more of our pumpkin carving fun (and other Isis pictures from this vast update) here.
In the last few months, and I'm not sure how it happened, our house has turned into princess central. Is this something little girls are born with? She has seen two princess movies- Sleeping Beauty and Enchanted. She sings and dances and dresses up. Prince Daddy often has to "wake" her with true love's kiss. She is a crack up giving Prince Daddy true love's kiss because it is always in slow motion and quite dramatic. So funny. I'll have to get a video sometime. These are some of Isis' princess dress up combos: 
Two happy little girls standing in a HUGE puddle on the kitchen floor with ice cubes everywhere. That wasn't a big deal to clean up and it was fun hearing them laugh so much. Still, I'll remember to lock the water spout on the fridge next time. :)
A few days later the same thing happened. Notice the bed that she is not sleeping in. Is the rocking chair that comfortable?
This time, however, there was evidence of her "playing."
Sure it doesn't match but how much can you expect with scrap material? :) And they stay put!
and the "BIG swimming pool"... by the time we left she knew it was a lake. :)
Look at those cuties! :)