When Butterflies Bite
Today, Butternut had his two-year well-child exam. He's still big and healthy, although his height measurement was likely off due to the squirming and screaming he was doing on the exam table. According to the recorded measurements, he hasn't grown any taller in six months, and I know that's not true just by looking at photographs. The doctor pronounced his exam perfect, and I was feeling pretty lucky that we were going to get out of there with just one booster shot.
But then, I said, "Oh, I just have one concern. He's been eating dirt. Maybe it's just a bubbe meinsa, (Yiddish; grandmother's tale, because, you know, women's folk wisdom is so unreliable) but I've heard that can mean he could be missing something in his diet."
"Oh, I'm glad you said something. We should test for iron and lead," said the doctor. (Iron deficiency is the likeliest dietary reason for a person to eat dirt, which is why pregnant women often crave dirt. And if he's eating dirt, he's probably eating lead, as well.)
My heart sank because I knew what that meant. Blood draw. Down to the lab we went. Butternut waited mostly patiently in line and in the waiting room. He clambered up and down the big swivel chair at the phlebotomist's station. I talked with him about what was going to happen. The p. told him that there would be stickers after, and tried to find out what he might like. As usual, he didn't say anything. i told her that he was fond of butterflies lately. He asked about her equipment in his usual curious way (WHAT"S DAT!?), and she told him that it was a butterfly that was going to give him a little butterfly bite. (Why couldn't she just say, "it's a needle and I'm going to stick it in your arm and it is going to pinch.")
There was much screaming, and many declarations from the phlebotomists about what a strong little guy he is. He refused the offered stickers (bees - no butterflies available; there must not be a Disney movie about butterflies out right now) at the end. I figure that was his way of re-exerting control. Then, he proceeded to tell everyone we passed on the way to the car about the "pinch" on his arm, pointing to his little bandage.
Now he's at daycare, where I hope he's having a big nap.
But then, I said, "Oh, I just have one concern. He's been eating dirt. Maybe it's just a bubbe meinsa, (Yiddish; grandmother's tale, because, you know, women's folk wisdom is so unreliable) but I've heard that can mean he could be missing something in his diet."
"Oh, I'm glad you said something. We should test for iron and lead," said the doctor. (Iron deficiency is the likeliest dietary reason for a person to eat dirt, which is why pregnant women often crave dirt. And if he's eating dirt, he's probably eating lead, as well.)
My heart sank because I knew what that meant. Blood draw. Down to the lab we went. Butternut waited mostly patiently in line and in the waiting room. He clambered up and down the big swivel chair at the phlebotomist's station. I talked with him about what was going to happen. The p. told him that there would be stickers after, and tried to find out what he might like. As usual, he didn't say anything. i told her that he was fond of butterflies lately. He asked about her equipment in his usual curious way (WHAT"S DAT!?), and she told him that it was a butterfly that was going to give him a little butterfly bite. (Why couldn't she just say, "it's a needle and I'm going to stick it in your arm and it is going to pinch.")
There was much screaming, and many declarations from the phlebotomists about what a strong little guy he is. He refused the offered stickers (bees - no butterflies available; there must not be a Disney movie about butterflies out right now) at the end. I figure that was his way of re-exerting control. Then, he proceeded to tell everyone we passed on the way to the car about the "pinch" on his arm, pointing to his little bandage.
Now he's at daycare, where I hope he's having a big nap.