Ben's 18 month stats

Yesterday we endured Ben's 18 month appointment.  I say endured because it was an almost-2-hour appointment with 2 little boys, needles, and limited space to run.  The appointment started out normal and fine (normal includes Ben screaming the entire time he was weighed and measured).  The doctor came in shortly after the nurse left.  Just as we were getting into her examination of Ben, Luke claims he has to go potty.  I ignore it.  He claims he HAS to go potty.  I tell him to hold it a little longer.  He's screaming it now.  Dr. Vick says, go ahead.  I'm guessing Ben won't stay with me (she was correct) so I will go check if there is another patient waiting to see me.  We traipse down to the nearest restroom - Ben in only his diaper - and Luke goes potty (he DID have to go).  We head back to the room and Ben takes off running down the hall right at another one of the doctors who is back in the 'doctor area.'  I run after him and Luke thinks its all so funny so he starts to scream in excitement and run after us.  I corral them back to the room.  And we wait.  And wait.  And wait.  We read books on the floor.  Ben opened every one of the doctors drawers and tried to take things out.  Luke got a paper cut so we snooped around until we found a bandaid for him.  Ben took everything out of my diaper bag and placed it throughout the exam room.  Ben also figured out how to open the door and tried to escape a handful of times.  So now I had to sit against the door on the floor, reading books.  And I thought if only I had made Luke go potty at home before we came.  

FINALLY, about 45 minutes later, Dr. Vick came back, feeling so bad that it had taken so long.  Ben gets examined, not screaming this time.  But half way through the exam Luke starts to yell that he has to go potty again (as he's lying on the floor in the middle of the room).  What?  How is that possible Luke?  I ignore him.  He keeps telling me he can't hold it.  I tell him to count to 20 three times.  He refuses.  I get all my questions asked and answered over his yells and as the doctor leaves we also leave, heading once more to the restroom.  Ben takes off running out of the open door and in one second he has the exam room door next to us half way open.  He in his diaper.  I grab him and shut the door, mortified.  Luke squeals in delight and starts running down the hall.  I look back at Dr. Vick and say And I want to have more kids?  I'm sure I'll have another boy too. Am I crazy?  She just laughs.  Luke goes potty and then back to the exam room we go one last time for the shots.  Ben seems to have been aware of what's to come the entire time we were locked in that little room.  Two nurses come in (our nurse brought along reinforcements).  For some unknown reason, LUKE starts to panic and scream.  He knows he is getting Flumist (just a little squirt of the flu vaccine in each nostril.  He did it last year at 2 yrs old and had no problem).  I try to console him but he continues to SCREAM as loud has I've ever heard him.  I'm holding Ben on the exam table for his shots and Luke bolts for the door and quickly opens it saying I want to go home!  Our nurse dives for the door and slams it saying you can't leave, honey.  You have to stay here with us.  It's okay.  You aren't getting a shot.  Back at the table her and Reinforcement stab Ben's legs and have bandaids on before you can blink an eye.  I watch Ben's face the entire time.  The pain registers quickly and then come the screams.  So now I have 2 screaming boys and the nurses trying to catch Luke and pin him down for his Flumist.  I sit on a chair holding screaming Ben.  Screaming Luke is on the chair next to me trying to crawl on my head as the nurses approach with the Flumist.  I say let's just wait a second until Luke calms down.  For some reason they didn't hear me.  One nurse puts Luke in a headlock and the other squirts the mist up his nostrils.  And they are out of there.  For another few minutes I have two screaming boys.   

Finally, with no more screams, I am able to dress Ben and gather my scattered belongings from around the exam room.  Ben refuses to put on socks or shoes.  I don't care.  Go barefoot Ben and enjoy.  I pull out a tootsie pop for each of them.  For once I was prepared.  I now have two smiling boys, sucking on their red tootsie pops as we exit the building, under-dressed but content.

The best part of this whole deal is that Ben doesn't have to have another shot until he turns FIVE YEARS OLD!  Now for his stats:

Weight:  32lbs 6.5oz (99th percentile)

Height:  33 3/4 inches (85th percentile.  This is not correct.  He is tall enough to hit his head on our 34+ inch counter)