A Visit to the Doctor

Today, Gabriel went to see the doctor.  He had a bad reaction to a mosquito bite by his eye.  It swelled up underneath.  On the way to the office, I briefly went over the routine.  The doctor would listen to his heart, look at his ears, and check his eyes and throat.

"Stickers?"  he asked.  He knows he gets stickers at the doctors!  But he didn't say much else.

At the doctor's, I watched as Gabriel willingly climbed on the scale to be weighed.  He sat patiently on the chair while the nurse took his temperature.  He's never done that before!  Usually, he fights the whole intake process. 

Then he asked for stickers.  He got two with cars on them.  He correctly identified one as brown, the other as red.

When the doctor came in, Gabriel asked, "Doctor?"  She went down to his level and they had a little conversation. 

"Listen heart?"

"Yes, I'm going to listen to your heart."

"Look ears?"

"Yes, I'll check your ears."

He sat very quietly while the doctor examined him.  Then he made her check his ears again.  "Still look perfect!" the doctor said.

The only part that was a little difficult was when she had to check his throat and use the tongue depressor.  He was a bit reluctant and squirmy so I had to hold him still. 

The doctor prescribed an antihistamine and some hydrocortisone cream.  

I was amazed by how well he did.  He's not typically naughty at the doctors.  He's just really active, bouncing around, squirmy, and ready to be done soon after we start.  Today, he was patient, cooperative, and could carry on a conversation, and yes, an understanding about what was happening.

Lately, we've been reading a lot of Maisy books.  One that he's read is called "Doctor Maisy."  Maisy pretends to be a doctor.  Gabriel likes to read the part where she takes her Panda's temperature and "hears" his heartbeat. 

I think the simple act of reading this story several times in a row has helped him to be prepared for the doctor.  That and just going over what was going to happen beforehand.

I loved his little conversation with the doctor.  I loved that she gently met him at his level and talked over the exam without me.  It is a sign of his growing independence, his moving out of babyhood and towards, ever so slowly, childhood. 

But he still is a toddler, still in much need of Mommy and Daddy. In need of lots of snuggles, kissed boo boos, a sippy cup of milk at night.   In time, though, these days of him being still so very little in so many ways will fade. He's going to start growing up.  Soon, before I know it, he'll be three. Then four, five, six...

But like the doctor, I need to meet him where he is at in the moment.  And gently prepare him for what is to come.