Preparing for Kindergarten

Our house has been full of energy and excitement this past week! The cause....two boys who are preparing for kindergarten. A couple of the families that I provide daycare for were on vacation this past week so I decided to take full advantage of that and pack the week full of "need to do's" for the boys. The week started off with me registering the boys for school on Monday. Reality finally hit me once I saw their class list and discovered what teacher each of the boys had. Greyson will be in "Ms. B's" (Ms. Berkenbosch) class and Kaeden will be in Mrs. Cox's class. They were both very excited and made me read the list of their fellow classmates. As I read the lists to them, I would here an occasional "Yes!" or clap of hands to show their growing enthusiasm. As we walked out of the school that day, both boys beaming, I couldn't believe that my "babies" were actually going to be in school full time now.

After registering them for school, we then ventured to the Dentist's office for a regular check-up. Both of the boys saw Dr. Matt and came out with no cavities and a set of sparkling clean teeth. They do pretty good for the dentist, they just think his toothpaste "tastes icky", but they love the fact that they get a sticker and a new toothbrush!

Wednesday brought on a whole new "barrel of fun".....NOT! That afternoon we went to see Dr. Frost to have their kindergarten physical. Now, I had been preparing them for this for a couple of weeks to help them to be brave and strong, but if I had been them, I would have been terrified too! I enlisted mom's help that day because I knew I couldn't do it alone and I was right! We started off by having to give a urine specimen and have their finger poked or "finger shot" as they called it. Leaving the "specimen" brought on an entire onslaught of questions to which I had few answers. After leaving the restroom sweaty and frazzled, I then had to sit down with each one of them while they had to get their finger poked. Greyson took it like a champ, but Kaeden needed a little coaxing and had to add in his last minute "Wait! Don't do it yet. Mom, I need to tell you something.....I love you." and as I told him I loved him back, I held out his finger and they poked it. Sob, Sob. Next came the actual appointment. I decided to do one of them at a time, so mom stayed in the waiting room with Greyson as Kaeden and I headed back to the exam room. The few minutes spent with the Dr. went fine, but after that it kinda' becomes a total blur. I remember the nurses coming in with a tray carrying FOUR syringes, all lined up. They had me sit in the chair, Kaeden standing, facing me, my legs wrapped around his legs, me holding him in a "bear hug" while also having a tight grip on each arm as they proceeded to give him two shots (one at a time, mind you) in each arm. That was one of the hardest things to to do, to see and to hear. I felt HORRIBLE and physically and emotionally drained.....and I still had one more child to endure that with. Sigh! Once Kaeden had stopped crying and Marsha (Dr. Frost's WONDERFUL nurse) had talked him to going with her to get a sucker and stickers, I went out to the waiting room to retrieve my other child. When I got out there mom asked "Why are you so hot and sweaty? Did he do that bad for you?". Well, she soon found out Why I was so hot & sweaty because she came into the room with me as Greyson was being examined and received his shots. When the nurses left the room she then said "Oh, now I know why you were so hot & sweaty".

All in all, the boys did darn good! Poor things! I wouldn't want to sit through four shots either. Andy and I rewarded them by taking them to the McDonald's in Altoona for supper. After they were done eating, they played in the "Play Place" for over 30 minutes. Bribery can get you far...sometimes, anyway.