Jamie Patterson Managing EditorWhen a child is sick, the whole house can turn into a hectic place.
But with our son James, he managed to turn Yazoo City upside down with his ailment.
I knew it was serious when his kindergarten teacher called me last week at work to tell me that he had a 103-degree fever. Thinking a good night’s rest and medicine would do the trick, we took it pretty easy at the house that evening.
When he woke up the next morning with another high fever, I knew it was time to make an appointment.
“Am I gonna get a shot,” James asked, with a concerned look in his face.
“I doubt it,” I said. “The doctor will probably just give you some medicine.”
The great thing about working with your husband is that you can work out a schedule that works for the both of you. Jason would take him to his appointment that morning while I worked at the office. After lunch, we would switch up.
As I settled in for my second cup of coffee later that morning, Jason called me to tell me that James had strep throat.
And...that he would have to get a shot. I felt horrible because I led James to believe that he wouldn’t get one. But I continued on with my work, not giving it a second thought.
It was time for our switch up so Jason and I met up about an hour later.
“It was awful,” Jason said, with a look of terror remaining on his face.
James hid behind a chair, clearly guilty of whatever he did at the doctor’s office.
Apparently, when the man arrived with the stick that they rub the back of your throat with to test for strep throat, James lost it. He informed the nurse that he would not be sticking that stick down his throat.
James then tried to assault him before biting down on the stick so hard they were afraid he would break his teeth.
“Are you serious,” I asked Jason, as he retold the tale.
“It gets worse,” he replied. “He was spitting and squirming and fighting as hard as he could. I had to wrap my legs around his to keep him from kicking. It seemed like it would never end.”
They were finally able to perform the strep test thanks to a very persistent effort.
“Then it was time for the shot,” Jason said, rubbing his head.
I had to take a seat.
“What happened,” I asked, looking at James who was still looking down.
“They had to bring in backup from the front desk,” Jason said. “I had to lay across his chest. They had to hold his legs too because he was still kicking.”
To top it off, James was screaming at the top of his lungs the whole time.
“No he didn’t,” I said.
“Oh, yes, he did,” Jason replied.
I was so embarrassed. My child had turned a doctor’s office completely upside down by himself.
When James and I got home that afternoon, I asked him why he acted that way.
“You lied to me,” he said, pretty pathetically. “I did get a shot.”
He then pulled his pants down to point at the bandage on his upper thigh.
“Look at this,” he said, this time a little more assertive.
Later that evening, Jason and I contemplated on sending the entire office a gift basket or something for their troubles.
“You know, I would like to think that they are used to kids acting nuts when they get a shot,” I said. “But I have a feeling that this was a first for them.”
“It was out of control,” Jason said, getting that concerned look on his face again.
Quite embarrassed by the whole thing, I tried not to think about it. Until church that Sunday when a very friendly man approached me on the way from Sunday School.
“I heard your son wasn’t too happy about his appointment,” he said.
I soon discovered he  was in the waiting room when James had his breakdown.
“Yes, that was my son,” I said.
It made me feel better when he began to laugh about it.
Now...I just have to figure out a way to persuade Jason to take the kids to get their flu shots. Any suggestions?