British Bun in the Oven

[TracyTN 237]

Awww Trace that totally sucks. How much longer to go on his 11 mos? Or is this just a temp to perm situation with them renewing his work visa?

No one has said for sure, but I think once the 11 months is up, they'll move him here permanently. I still say he knew that was a possibility all along which is why he stepped on me.

I'm sorry to hear that, Tracy, what a drag. I hate that kinda sh!t! Whose decision was it to promote him? Is there anything your manager can do? Grrr...

Things are well with Limita, our grown-up four-month old! She missed daycare all last week because of a cold, very likely RSV, which led to an ear infection. She seems to like the antibiotic, tho...it tastes like bubble gum and is bright pink. She's doing a whole lot better now, and her appetite is returning to normal. Miss Piggy is back! We missed her.

I have to say, there are few things I dread more than going to the pediatrician's office. The office staff are (usually) surly and not that bright, there are sick kids there and I worry about Limita picking up something, and we (she) have shots to look forward to. So, I've talked myself into having a crush (harmless, of course) on the pediatrician we've seen the last three times. The guy is in his fifties and sorta dorky, but he's got that certain somethin'.

It was his manager's decision. My manager can't really do more than she already did - which was raise HER concerns to his manager. Basically his manager believed him instead of me and there you go.

Better yet, I am now coming down with a cold AND get to work this weekend too. The hits just keep on coming...!

Does your pediatrician's office not have a 'sick child' entrance and a 'well child' entrance? Most all of them around here do that. I know that doesn't eliminate all the germs but should help some. Nor does it eliminate surly staff. My biggest complaint about mine is they call us back pretty quickly but then we sit in that boring room in the back forever. Oh well! I'm cracking up at your 'crush' btw.

LOVE the picture of Limita - she is so cute!!!

[Empress of Groovy 373]

No one has said for sure, but I think once the 11 months is up, they'll move him here permanently. I still say he knew that was a possibility all along which is why he stepped on me.

It was his manager's decision. My manager can't really do more than she already did - which was raise HER concerns to his manager. Basically his manager believed him instead of me and there you go.

Better yet, I am now coming down with a cold AND get to work this weekend too. The hits just keep on coming...!

Does your pediatrician's office not have a 'sick child' entrance and a 'well child' entrance? Most all of them around here do that. I know that doesn't eliminate all the germs but should help some. Nor does it eliminate surly staff. My biggest complaint about mine is they call us back pretty quickly but then we sit in that boring room in the back forever. Oh well! I'm cracking up at your 'crush' btw.

LOVE the picture of Limita - she is so cute!!!

Aw, thanks. The pediatrician's office has a separate sick kid waiting area, but not a separate entrance or closed off room. Honestly, I wonder if it even makes that much of a difference considering that you might pass a sick kid in the hallway, and I think (although I'm not sure) that the sick kids and the checkup kids are seen in the same rooms. I'm sure they do what they can to disinfect surfaces, but you can't do a whole lot about airborne stuff. Oh yeah, the surly staff... When I was checking out after Madeleine's two-month appointment and shots (the poor thing screamed the entire time even before the shots--apparently there was something she didn't like about being naked under harsh lighting and examined by a strange man w/ a long face), this b!tch asked me a question but didn't hear my answer because she was distracted by one of her coworkers. She then asked me the same question in an annoyed tone, as if I hadn't answered her. I was already a little distraught after the shots administration, and here's this ho-bag giving me attitude! We saw her again last week, and I noticed that she's pregnant. She was her usual bitchy self when scheduling the follow-up appointment, and she initially looked at someone else's file even though I'd just handed her Madeleine's paperwork. When we were leaving, Jon said "What a fvcking moron," loud enough for her to hear. Of course, I hope she didn't hear it because...well...it's never a good idea to get on someone's bad side, but sheesh.

So...March 10 I get to see Dr. Dreamy McDorky for Mad-Ag's follow-up. I'm looking forward to it already.

I'm sorry to hear about the job bs. I wish I could offer something other than sympathy...what a tough spot to be in.

[Fandango 1,440]

Aw, thanks. The pediatrician's office has a separate sick kid waiting area, but not a separate entrance or closed off room. Honestly, I wonder if it even makes that much of a difference considering that you might pass a sick kid in the hallway, and I think (although I'm not sure) that the sick kids and the checkup kids are seen in the same rooms. I'm sure they do what they can to disinfect surfaces, but you can't do a whole lot about airborne stuff. Oh yeah, the surly staff... When I was checking out after Madeleine's two-month appointment and shots (the poor thing screamed the entire time even before the shots--apparently there was something she didn't like about being naked under harsh lighting and examined by a strange man w/ a long face), this b!tch asked me a question but didn't hear my answer because she was distracted by one of her coworkers. She then asked me the same question in an annoyed tone, as if I hadn't answered her. I was already a little distraught after the shots administration, and here's this ho-bag giving me attitude! We saw her again last week, and I noticed that she's pregnant. She was her usual bitchy self when scheduling the follow-up appointment, and she initially looked at someone else's file even though I'd just handed her Madeleine's paperwork. When we were leaving, Jon said "What a fvcking moron," loud enough for her to hear. Of course, I hope she didn't hear it because...well...it's never a good idea to get on someone's bad side, but sheesh.

So...March 10 I get to see Dr. Dreamy McDorky for Mad-Ag's follow-up. I'm looking forward to it already.

I'm sorry to hear about the job bs. I wish I could offer something other than sympathy...what a tough spot to be in.

I have someone like that at my doc's office...she works the front desk, and is the dr's neice. Her personality is that of a turnip, and no matter how many times I try to engage her by being friendly, asking how she is, it's always stone face (in person) or just dead air (on the phone).

She's a miserable biznatch.

Edited March 3, 2011 by Lisa C

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I have someone like that at my doc's office...she works the front desk, and is the dr's neice. Her personality is that of a turnip, and no matter how many times I try to engage her by being friendly, asking how she is, it's always stone face (in person) or just dead air (on the phone).

She's a miserable biznatch.

You have to wonder how these chicks decide on a job like that. I'm sure that harried parents of sick kids aren't the easiest to deal with, but geez...there are lots of other jobs out there. Overall, I like the practice. The doctors are really nice, and they're open on weekend mornings. The nurse who does the shots is good, too. Initially I thought she was kinda cold, but I've since come around. She's a vaccination ninja and did three shots in about two seconds.

In other news, Limita slept from 8:30 last night until 6 this morning! Hallelujah!

[TracyTN 237]

I'm surprised they gave the shots before the rest of the exam. Our doc always does the shots last.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

They did the shots last. Sorry, my ramble was sort of unclear! I meant to emphasize that Madeleine was quite upset during the 2-month exam, even before the nurse came in to do the shots. An advantage of this was that Madeleine was already screaming, and when she got the shots, the screaming escalated just a little bit. It would have been harder if she'd been all content and then screaming as a result of the shots. I'm not sure why--that doesn't make much sense, does it? The 4-month appointment last week was a totally different experience. She was all smiles for the doctor, and only cried a little bit after the shots (only two this time). Of course, desk chick was still a colossal b!tch.

[TracyTN 237]

Emily hasn't minded any of her exams so far. Her last flu shot - Chas took her for it and said she never even flinched. Good nurse!!

[Fandango 1,440]

Nick cries for the second that they sec the needle, then he's fine. The nurses don't admin the shots, my doc does.

[Justine+David 218]

ugh, giving shots to babes is one of my least favorite things about my job...doesn't help when the mom wants to take a picture of you doing it! definitely commend you ladies for getting them! I've had to convince a few parents lately why they need their kids vaccinated...would be much easier if I could just show them the kid with pertussis on oxygen and various IV drips...

[TracyTN 237]

I can understand some hesitation about them. There seems to be a LOT of information out there about the dangers associated with them. Some of it concerns me, but if I want my child to ever go to a public school, then she has to be vaccinated. (Most states only allow a religious 'opt out' reason for them and as I am anything but religious...!)

Plus I think the diseases themselves (as you've illustrated) would have to be worse.

[Justine+David 218]

Well, the autism thing has been debunked by research multiple times.

In my personal practice, I always wait 12 hours between each shot to allow the body to adjust (since my patients aren't going anywhere anyway) because it's gotta hurt having all of that injected into such a small body and lessens the chance of a reaction (this is anecdotal, of course). The babies generally do better in my experience so that I can avoid giving tylenol (bad for the kidneys in our ex-preemies).

In wide world of public health, however, can you imagine a parent coming in once a day over a few days to get immunizations? I understand from the pediatrician's viewpoint though that one has to take advantage of whenever the parents bring the kids in and protect the child's and public's health, since the majority wouldn't be consistent about bringing their kids in.

Edited March 6, 2011 by Justine+David

[TracyTN 237]

Yeah, I wasn't specifically referring to the autism thing. I actually don't know all the various objections ad nauseum but I have a friend who is that way - except she vaccinates too (public school). I think the mercury in some of them is one of her objections, but I don't know for sure. I probably haven't read up on it like I should since I really have no choice (seeing as we can't afford a private school).

[Fandango 1,440]

I have the same concerns - the jabs from my doc don't have mercury in them - I think she said that no one uses it anymore? I also do the shots separately; makes me feel better, and Nick doesn't get jabbed with multiple needles at once.

[TracyTN 237]

We've broken Emily's up as much as possible. I think 4 at one time was the most she's ever had - one of which was the flu shot. But it was either have 4 at six months or 4 at 9 months - I opted to get em over and done with. She's been a healthy baby so I have no complaints at this point.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

We've been doing the standard too. Initially I was tempted to space them out after talking to a couple of people (not medical people), but after talking to the doctor, I decided to have them done on the usual schedule--or at least what the pediatrician's office considers a usual schedule. She had three shots and an oral vaccine at her 2-month, and two shots and an oral at the 4-month.

I find the vaccination controversy befuddling. On one hand, it's a good thing that people are doing research and trying to be informed, but the tone of many "anti-vaxers" seems to border on the hysterical. I know that getting vaccinated is not without risk, but the chances of something really bad happening as a result are infinitesimal. Also, when Mad-Ag was sick with a cold for over a week, I was pretty worried. I can only imagine my state of freak-out (and guilt) if she ended up with a serious preventable illness.

I'm not a scientist or a medical professional, so I feel I should put my trust in the hands of people who are, and have faith that they are knowledgeable and have my kid's best interests at heart. I know that some people view the healthcare industry as some sort of racket that preys on people's fears and pushes unnecessary drugs and treatments for largely monetary reasons. There may be a bit of truth in there somewhere, but I don't feel I'm in a position to determine that keeping my kid from getting vaccines is going to benefit her.