Thursday, September 10, 2009

Bedside Manner

So I finally got into the clinic to get my blood drawn (see previous post). I had both of the boys with me. Iain was worried about the blood draw, a little teary, and very tired. So he sat on my lap and watched the nurse. Oh, the nurse.

First, she gave us the first negative reaction we've had about adopting. She thinks we already have two little ones, so why would we want another?

Second, she argued for a few minutes about how far away we live:
Her: So you're really an hour drive from here?
Me: About 45 minutes, actually.
Her: My brother lives in your town, and it's right over there (she points).
Me: Well, it took us 45 minutes to get here.
Her: But my brother lives there, and it's closer than that.
Me: (really? Are we really arguing about this?) Maybe he lives in a different part of town.
Her: Well, he lives closer than 45 minutes.
Me: (internally) AHHHHH!

But here's the kicker. My almost-three-year old watches as she sticks the needle in my arm. In an attempt to make him feel better, I explain the process, point out the blood collecting in the vial, etc. (Meanwhile, the nurse tries in vain to get that rubberband thing off my arm while the needle is still in. Jerking it this way and that with one hand, mashing the needle down with the other, until I tell her I'll take it off myself. Ouch!)

She finishes, and puts the band-aid on. Iain asks what it's for, and I kid you not, this is what she says to my little boy:

It's so your mama won't bleed to death.


Did you really just say that?!

10 comments:

Adrianne Thompson said...

O. my. word
That's hysterical. Hope he recovered :)

Mrs said...

I'd respond, but my jaw's still on the floor.

Thank you, Dale Carnegie!

Raquel said...

WHAT??

Jen said...

Yikes! Times like that I wish my little girl would screech the entire time to get even :)

Christopher Ryan said...

WOW! I think that nurse needs to find a different office to work in - like the morgue - where her dirge will fit right in! Hopefully Iain forgot about her (and her uncouth comments) posthaste!

Aunt Steph said...

She would make a great "walk-on" in your next novel!

Jamie said...

Hi! I just found your blog from a response you left on another person's blog. We are also in the process of adopting from Rwanda and we already have 2 boys too. How fun!
Our dossier got to Rwanda the first week of August and we are in the process of waiting for approval.
I can't wait to follow your story. Good luck!
Just keep reminding yourself that it will be all worth it in the end. And don't listen to what other people say. I've had people give me a hard time as well. Especially "since I already have 2 boys".

Alison McLennan said...

W-O-W. That's one for the books. So glad it's behind you, and you're one step closer to being DONE with the paper chase!

Anonymous said...

Clearly this nurse has not had the joy of three small children in a home filled with love, or she wouldn't have said anything unkind or discouraging at all! And if she had, it certainly wouldn't have been about Mama's of said small children bleeding to death...maybe she'll have little ears in her life soon and she will learn to think before she uses such powerful tool (her words). Too bad Iain didn't scold her- or better yet- burst into tears- that would have been fun.

Anonymous said...

Clearly this nurse has not had the joy of three small children in a home filled with love, or she wouldn't have said anything unkind or discouraging at all! And if she had, it certainly wouldn't have been about Mama's of said small children bleeding to death...maybe she'll have little ears in her life soon and she will learn to think before she uses such powerful tool (her words). Too bad Iain didn't scold her- or better yet- burst into tears- that would have been fun.