maddy went to
the dr. on thursday
for her 1-year appointment.
signed her in,
once again looking
up and down
the sign-in sheet,
noticing all of the
“mom” and “mom & dad”
notations written in
the column asking
who brought the
child in.
i was
the only
“dad” listed.
madeline played in
the waiting room,
the girl in
the chair next
to me said
to her mom,
“she is so cute.”
we were called in
and maddy was
weighed and measured,
so…
she is now
20 pounds, 9 ounces
and
28 7/8 inches tall
(49% of the way to her mom’s adult height).
once again, no one
correctly guessed both
her height and weight,
so i don’t get
to buy anybody
any books or cds.
updated growth chart:
before the doc arrived
madeline had a
few moments to
see if that little
girl in the waiting
room was right.
then i took a
few moments to
hold her tight.
the doc arrived,
poked and prodded,
and a few minutes
later she said,
“she’s doing great”
“congratulations on making it through the first year.”
wow.
i’ve done it.
i didn’t break her,
i haven’t (yet) ruined her,
and somehow,
with all the shit,
in spite of it all,
we are here.
but really,
it’s not me.
it’s all her.
she did the growing,
i just held the
bottles and the spoons.
then it was time
for her shots.
she’s gotten a lot
bigger since her
last round,
so this may be
a struggle.
nurse comes in
with a tray
full of syringes.
madeline smiles, oblivious
to the pain that’s
coming her way.
the nurse instructed
me to hold her
in my lap, saying,
“this time she’s getting them in the arms.”
i put her on
my lap and as
the nurse inched forward,
maddy started to struggle.
i held tight,
feeling like the
worst father ever,
as she cried
and shook her
head from
side-to-side.
one shot in,
and the cries
turned to screams,
second shot in,
and the screams?
they got louder.
louder than i’d
ever heard from her.
that is,
until shot #3.
holy shit.
my ears may
never stop ringing.
and just when we
thought the fun
was over,
the nurse pricked her
finger for a
quick blood test.
and then it
was over.
all of it.
the pain,
the cries,
the screams,
everything.
she fell asleep in
my arms before
i even walked out
to the car.
amazing how quickly
that transformation can happen.
let’s hope she still
loves me when
she wakes up.
(a few hours later she was up, and she did indeed still love me).
(also, check out this awesome article from the st. paul pioneer press…does this legitimize my third grade-level writing? i sure think so…).
130 Comments
Way to go… both of you! Amazing how tough they can be for those shots.
not the most original comment…and you’ve heard it before, but Maddie is one lucky little girl. You are doing such an amazing job. Looking forward to Oprah tomorrow.
and pretty much no matter what you do she will still love you… i know…my dad has done some pretty awful things and i find it so hard to stay mad at him.
youre doing a great job with her Matt. like i have said numerous times…truly inspirational!
I am so glad to hear she is doing great! And trust me, you have done way more than hold bottles and spoons! You loved her, nurtured her, encouraged her, and have given her the confidence to explore life! Kudos Matt! It has been such a joy watching you be a father through your blog!
Isnt it hard to watch people torture your child? Then to have to hold her still while they poke her… I hate shot days! Sounds like you two are doing great! Love that you are donating so many bags/boxes of baby things… It’s awesome!
oh my i love her chubby legs. precious. i also love how enamored she is with herself. mirrors are always a good time.
Shots suck ….. love your blog , and i love your photography !!!!! But most of all i love the way you love Maddy , congrats on making it thru the first year !!
Of course she still loves you! Maybe in another 12 years or so she’ll say otherwise, but she will always, always love you. Great job in not breaking her…you have more to do with her progress than you’re admitting to!
You saved her from those terrible people! You can get away with her thinking that for another few years. Of course she loves you! You are the center of her little universe. An amazing feeling!
You are the best dad ever!!
Nobody won? Damn and I missed it too…she’s such a big girl and yes, that little girl was right, she is so cute.
I hate the shots, I feel so bad holding Bella down for her torture, ick. Good thing they seem to have 10 second memories like goldfish and forget the role you played in it all. lol
xoxoxoxo,
Tricia and Bella
Shots are the worst but it’s great that they forget them pretty quickly. 20 pounds–she’s doing great!
Glad to hear things went well! Our office does all shots at the same time-they grab nurses from the other doctors, supposedly it feels like just one stick. It still sucks-poor babies, but worth it to keep them from getting awful disease. I am taking off work early tomorrow to watch Oprah. Hope you had a good Easter!
those first year shots are the worst, but they get over them so quick it is just amazing. You are doing a fantastic job, she looks great!
damn. i was looking forward to some cds…..
i think i’ll take your lead and bring my camera to our next doctors visit….so i have something to do while waiting endlessly for them to begin the torture.
good job on making it to a year.
you freakin rock.
Oh, she’s getting to be such a big girl!! And I agree with everyone else, shots suck major……but isn’t amazing how quickly they go from tears to smiles?? That first smile after the shots, when there are still tears on their cheeks…heartbreaking…
I still think you’re doing a kick-ass job….Maddie is happy and healthy (obviously, the pics don’t lie)…..happy first year, I hope the future holds more wonder, amazement, and happiness!!
The doctor was right, you did it! You made it the first year.
Looking forward to seeing you on Oprah tomorrow!
Oh, it’s the hardest thing ever when you’ve got to hold them still for their shots. But it’s a pretty concrete example of how we, as parents, have to do what is best for them, even when it hurts them (and you).
She’s a beautiful little girl, and you are doing an incredible job with her.
Congrats on the 1st year! Wait until you take her on her first roller coaster ride then you will really hear what those lungs are made of!
Actually, Maddy had the easy part, because it was all involuntary. You on the other hand provided a warm, loving and safe environment to do it all in. And that credit goes to you.
She is just too cute for words! You’ve done a wonderful job, Matt! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your life with all of us. You’ve touched me more than you know!
You’re doing great. She’s gorgeous. She looks so much like you in the mirror shot….
The little girl in the waiting room was definitely right.
And you’ve done a lot more than hold bottles and spoons, you know!
Wow, 1 whole year! Shots are the pits – hope she (you too) are recovering. You’re such a great dad!
She’s a cutie! I’m super jealous of her hair. My girl is 11 months and has about 3 strands.
you have made amazing strides this first year. Good job. love u both. xo.
So close to her height and weight- right on for the weight and 1/4 of an inch off on height! She is getting so big. Shots suck poor babe!
That’s so cute. I used to hate taking Jacob for his shots. He would smile at me and I would feel like the worst Mom ever. Its okay! They always still love you!
Aww! Poor Maddy! Shots SUCK! I hate them still to this day… well into my 20s.
She’s getting so big! Not to mention beautiful. Good job on making it through the first year daddy!
Just one thought: Why are Maddy’s leg rolls SO much than mine?
xxx,
j.
That’s, SO much cuter than mine.
Sincerely,
Two Bottles Of Pinot Noir Later
You have definitely both survived, and have done quite a good job at it all. And just to be argumentative, you have done way more…WAY MORE…than just hold spoons and bottles. You have hugged and kissed and loved that girl so much, and she has grown so well because of all that you have done. You have seriously set the bar.
Congratulations on a year. I hope the party this weekend was wonderful and that you both felt surrounded by love.
Thats the hardest job!! Holding them while they are getting their shots!! The guilt, it always breaks my heart when the cry in pain!!
Your doing grea Mattt!! Love the pics as always!! She is so Big!! Yeah Maddy!!
Ugh, I absolutely hate when they have to get shots. Unfortunately, prepare yourself for when she can scream “Daddy, help me!!!” as you hold her down so the mean nurses can prick her. Why can’t they just administer in a liquid form that tastes like candy??? Let’s find an investor and create it. We’d be billionares.
Congrats on making it through the first year dad!
I hate when they get needle sticks for any reason. One night we took my son to the ER with a high fever and diarrhea and the stupid nurse had to stick him seven times before she finally could draw blood. I wanted to punch her out.
20 lbs! She’s doing great!!
Every time we take mine to the Dr, the paper on the table makes him cry. There’s no mirror baby to distract him.
You are doing an awesome job Matt!
And she’s awesome at growing, and being super cute!
@stacy – i will not be able to handle the, “daddy, help me” screams.
Congratulations on making it through your first year, together! I’m looking forward to following you along your journey through year 2. I’ll be watching you on Oprah tomorrow. Can’t wait
Glad the doc appt went well! Yay
the mirror pics are so cute i can barely stand it.
Reading your blog makes me feel like I too can survive being a single parent Matt! Thank you so much and Maddy is growing so fast I can’t even believe it!!
Congrats on making it through the last year Matt. You have done an AWESOME job with Maddie
She is absolutely adorable!! Glad the doc appointment went well…despite the nasty shots…I hate taking my kids for them and holding them down for the torture…but thankfully they forget it just as quickly and the snuggles after are always nice!! I hope you guys had a great Easter…LOVED her birthday pics…looks like a great party!! Can’t wait to continue on your journey as you embark on year two…the toddler years!!
Shannon, Alex and Caitlyn
That little girl is so right. Sometimes my four-year-old sister does the same thing when she sees a little girl that is younger than her… and i’m sure she would say that to Madeline too.
Loved the birthday photos. You’re in a ton of them.
20lbs+ check
12 months check
So does this mean she gets to flip around in the car? Couldn’t wait for that! I think I though it would stop crying in the car~ not so much.
One of the many joys of parenthood….I always make sure to tell them it’s the nurse/doctor’s fault, even if they don’t understand. It helps to make me feel a *tiny* bit better. Fortunately they always love you, even when she pratically tells you you’re the Anti-christ for making her miss the egg hunt because you had serious stomach issues. We’re talking serious. But that’s another story.
P
Congrats on the great check up! You are a great father and you are doing an amazing job!
I have not commented in a looongg time, but still read every single entry you make. Just wanted to let you know that is exactly what my son, who was full term and weighed 6-13 at birth, weighed at his one year check up. Both YOU and Maddy are doing amazing!! Keep that little beauty growing!
Isn’t it funny that you see Maddy every day and you know she’s doing great, but it still helps to have the doctor confirm it at the appt?? She’s adorable. Mine just got her 18 month shots and I hated that look on her face when they gave her the shots…. then a lot of “mama mama mama” poor thing. My clinic does the same thing someone else mentioned, all the shots go in at once by several nurses. You’re a great dad!
Yes, but you hold those bottles and spoons pretty well…
I was only 100lbs out in my estimate.
Yay for getting through that appointment! My ears would’ve been bleeding by the end I’m sure! She’s still so adorable!!
Love, Mere
Holding the bottles and the spoons obviously got the job done! You are right, the “Daddy – help me” screams will be horrible and you will crack under the pressure – we will read the newspaper the next day: “Blogger punches nurse in the face at the request of his 2 year old daughter.” HA
Great job and it seriously doesn’t get much cuter than baby plumber butt. LOL
Ugh! I hate shots! I usually end up crying with my little ones. I’m glad Maddy had a great check up! She’s grown so much! You’re doing a great job, Matt!
your post made me cry thinking about holding my kids when they got their first year shots, knowing it is for their own good, but making you feel like like dirt anyway… am leaving work early today..shhh…to watch Oprah….I hope your site explodes with everyone wanting to donate to the foundation
Don’t sell yourself short, you’ve done an amazing amount of work in this first year. Parenting is difficult enough and you’ve done it while dealing with the loss of Liz. Grief and parenting…a challenge beyond words. Not to mention starting a non-profit. You are a strong and caring person and Maddy is lucky to have such a great dad. I’ve said it before, but thanks for sharing your lives with us.
And those shot days are awful. Our doctor always offers to bring in another nurse so I don’t have to hold her. Yeah, because I’d rather stand back and watch other people torture her? No thanks!
Oh boy. Shots are the worse! Their pain is like a punch in the gut. No tears on your part? You did better than me ’cause I cried like a sissy girl when my 1st got poked.
lol
She weighs just as much as my 18 month old!! She is growing awesome! You have done more than amazing in the last year. It has been absolutely tremendous to watch the two of you grow through this tragedy, and with one another. I, again, dont have cable (or a TV at all!) so I hope someone will be able to post the video of you on Oprah…
Be blessed today, Matt.
Glad she made it through the appointment! And while Maddy has certainly done all of the growing, you have done a ton of work too! Give yourself credit! Those shots are so much more traumatic for the parents than they are for the kids, I swear…
Congrats to you you BOTH on a great job!!!
You have done an amazing job w/ her this past year!
Glad those awful 1 yr. shots are over…
That article by the Pioneer Press is awesome!! Can’t wait to watch you on Oprah today!!!!
Hate the shots, but only a couple more visits with them and then, in general, there’s none between 18mos and 4yrs! Like the doc said – you’re doing a great job. Looking forward to watching your mug on O this morn!
Wow 20 lbs! Way to go Maddy! I always hated the shots. You are doing a great job, she is thriving and is happy it takes more then bottles and spoons for that to happen!
http://sprucehill.typepad.com/
She’s a big girl! AND she’s beautiful!
Keep up the good work!
Congratulations on making it through the one-year shots. Maddy and my little boy, Cooper, are almost exactly six months apart, so it’s good to see what I have to look forward to.
I also adored the article (it made me teary [perhaps a Pavlovian response to no capitalization? That could be awkward down the road]), and I can’t wait for Oprah today!
Congratulations on making it! Never doubted for a minute the two of you could do it.
Can’t wait for Oprah tomorrow!
First of all, congratulations on parenting a beautiful one year old. Second, just a couple words about shot…I have 7 kids and never once did anyone have shots in the arm, I’m wondering if that wouldn’t hurt more because there is less fat there? Also, we always have 2 nurses put one shot in each leg at the same time (then if there is a 3rd shot it is done as quickly as possible) so there is less time taken for the trauma. Maybe you could advocate these things in your office? It’s hard to see the little one in pain and any techniques to make it easier I think are worth it.
Enjoy year #2
Oh, man! They gave her the shots in her arms already? My clinic prefers their chubbier legs until they’re like 5 or so. Thank goodness they do get over it quickly, it is so hard to hear them cry like that. Congrats on making it through the first year! It’s an accomplishment for any parent, but given what you’ve been through, it’s that much more. You should have smooth sailing from now until the teen years, right?
You’ll get a ton of comments/opinions on the car seat thing, I’m sure, but I will let you know that the American Academy of Pediatrics has just recently changed their recommendation to rear-facing until age 2. The statistics support that it’s much safer………you know, in case you were wonderin’. (I can’t imagine how much unsolicited advice you must receive.) Google “car seat board” if you’re looking for car seat recommendations – there’s one site out there that has a ton of car seat techs on it with great advice.
Looking forward to seeing you both on Oprah!
P.S. It’s been a balmy 57 degrees here in MN. About time to break out the shorts, I think.
You’re not alone, Matt…nobody likes letting their kid get shots. One time I saw a father holding his daughter so she could get her shots and he was actually more shaken up then she was. We just popped a few M&Ms in her mouth and SHE didn’t care anymore.
The shots in the arm almost made me lose it with my little girl.
And since no one won, let’s guess your weight and height?!
Wow 20 lbs awesome =) yes, the shots are no fun. I have found that the older my daughter gets the harder it is for ME…
I have the DVR set for Oprah, I can imagine this little blog of yours is goint to be slammed today!!!
she’s the same weight of my little boy. man, they’d be cute together! i hate shots, too! i know the sign-in sheet was another stab in the heart you can’t avoid. but i hope the good news from the dr. helped the pain. love your twincities press and can’t wait to see oprah. i have to say if something happened to me, i’m not so sure my husband could do what you are doing. it would be more like mr. mom. gosh, liz must be so dang proud of you and that gorgeous girl you two made.
Awww Maddy… all them shots! Poor baby! Thank Goodness they don’t remember that pain
Great post like always!
Shoots are the worst! Just wait she’ll start to remember them… and then the fit will start when you hit the doors to the office!
I must complement you on styling your daughter! Most dad’s just can’t do that! And every photo on your blog she looks so cute!
When my oldest was little, he used to start screaming and crying as soon as we pulled into the parking lot of the doctor’s office. He did not like going to the dr but he grew out of it. When he was in high school, he got a screw driver stuck right through his hand in the woodshop class and he remained calm through the whole thing. I, on the other hand, was a hysterical maniac. Congratulations on getting through the first year!
Oh poor dear! Just went through the shots with my little one year old…they are so pitiful during that…breaks my heart too! But I agree, the ‘help me” screams when they get older are even worse….sooo sad!
Love the pictures and the post…I also looked at the other pictures on flickr and they are WAY cute! Looks like you had so much fun at her party. Green face and all! Looking forward to Oprah today!
hey, i am loving the arcade fire t-shirt! have you seen the trailor for the movie Where the Wild Things Are? arcade fire is playing in the background and the trailor is so visually beautiful…i can’t wait to see it! i watched you on oprah today and am so inspired from the perspective of a mother lucky enough to spend time with my 7 month old daughter, goldie. she fell asleep in my arms after breastfeeding while i was watching your segment, and instead of putting her in her crib i decided to hold her instead. thank you for reminding me how precious time is.
Congratulations on Maddie’s first year. You’re such a great father and it’s obvious to us all in the words and pictures you share. That’s one happy little girl, despite the moments of pain she must endure at the doctor’s office.
Beware, however, the 15-month visit. My daughter seemed to remember the 12-month shots pretty vividly and has taken to screaming that awful scream the second the pediatrician comes into the exam room.
I’m counting the minutes till Oprah comes on today.
long time reader, first time commenter. saw you on oprah today and was just so moved. thank you for sharing your story and all the photos of your precious little girl. you are amazing.
Matt,
Shots are pretty bad to watch as a parent. My son got hair wrapped around his toes, inside his footed pajamas as an infant. When we notice his toes were blue and we tried to get the hair but the swelling had buried the hair under folds of skin. We took him to the ER and they used Nair and tiny scissors to get all the hair off and he screamed like I’ve never heard before or since. I hope I never do it was horrible. But the toes are all okay and we washed all his footed clothes inside out from then on!
Maddy will always love you for all you do, she won’t remember the shots in the long run…just the nights you read her books or all the photo sessions and other quality time you’ve spent with her.
Maddy is adorable as ever and getting so big!! Your are doing a wonderful job. I have my DVR set and am looking forward to seeing the two of you on Oprah! The kleenex box will be nearby.
I would guess your blog is going to get flooded soon after the episode airs, good luck going through all of the comments!
Baby shots are so heartbreaking!!! My son is 10 months old right now, so we have the 1yr appointment coming up soon. Hope you got my email about car seats – don’t be tempted to turn Maddie around to forward-facing – rear-facing is 5 times safer. Keep her rear-facing to the limits in a convertible car seat.
Great job Matt!!! She is adorable!
AMAZING is what describes you. You continue to fill our hearts with precious Maddie. We continue to embrace you today, tomorrow and always.
I have Oprah on record.
Madeline’s a tough kid! Congrats on getting through Year 1!
Shots are the worst…and you have to go back in 3 months again, just something to look forward to.
You have more than survived the first year….you’ve done it all by yourself and she is still turning out perfectly. I know it’s been a bad year, but she is the best part
Damn those shots! And in her little arms too! Anna always got her shots in her chunky legs. Glad the screaming was short lived…it is so hard to listen too I know! You wish you could take the shots for them! Love the mirror pictures! Maddy is a doll as always!
Congratulations on year 1 – and ALSO, congratulations on your appearance on Oprah this morning! (but where was cute Maddy?! I missed her smiling face like on Rachael Ray!)
YAY Maddy! She’s getting so big! So sad she had a rough time with the shots. Only one more round at 18 months and then she will be done with them until K, right? (I think that’s right-we don’t vax). The little girl in the waiting room was right-she IS cute!
That article is so cool! How fun that they wrote it in the same style. I love your style of writing!
Congrats on a good 1 year appointment. Can’t wait to see y’all on Oprah today!!!
Congrats on the one year appointment. We all feel a sense of accomplishment when we get to the one year mark and we haven’t broken them (yet)
You did a great job this first year and will continue in the years to come!! Congrats!
Congratulations, Matt. I’ve followed your blog since the beginning (before you were famous
) and am completely in awe of everything that has happened for you and Maddy this past year. Who would have thought? Your perserverance and honesty is so refreshing and REAL. Every time I start reading a new post, I can’t help but think of how proud Liz must be. Not only do you have the ability to pick out killer outfits for Maddy, she is healthy, happy, and has already seen half the country! And, it doesn’t hurt that Maddy could not be any more beautiful… she is simply stunning. Thank you for sharing your journey, for helping others in your situation, and for giving us strangers an opportunity to watch your sweet baby grow and thrive.
Matt, every single time I take Miles for shots I feel like the worst parent in the world. I think it’s par for the course. She is such a gorgeous child. I’m so grateful for you sharing her with us; I am living a richer, fuller life because of people like you and Heather Spohr; I feel more love and more sorrow, but isn’t it true how all of that is eased when we share it? Sorry for the rambling – watching you on Oprah this morning must have made me nostalgic. I hope we can meet sometime when we make a trip home to the SoCal. Happy Monday & kisses to Maddy.
Judging by the picture of Maddie looking at herself in the mirror, I am certain that she is going to love all the photos and blog entries you’ve written about her. Dare I say it…I think she is going to be a ham…and a handfull! I will be watching Oprah today!
Your story about shots made me laugh out loud…sorry no disrespect to Maddy cuz I know they hurt like hell!
You did it! You made it through her first year! You are an amazing dad and an inspiration to me and so many. I’ll be watching O today! 
Can’t wait to see it!
Just saw you on oprah! Awesome, your story is so inspiring! I look forward to reading your blog.
I am watching you on Oprah right now…what an inspiring story. I’ll be back to read your blogs.
Hello! My name is Carly and I have been following your blog for about a year now. I have a daughter that is just about a month older then Maddy her name is Grace. Grace reacted the same way to her 12 month shots, she looked at me like I was the worst mom in the world. You are doing an amazing job raising Maddy, she is truly beautiful.
i was the only
“dad”
listed.
that kind of
rams it
home when it
happens,
which is more or less every time
in fact.
still maddie is doing well
and my little girl
is almost half her mum’s
height now
which makes all the hard times feel
worth it.
and when the paper back home
calls my unconventional prose
poetry
then i know it’s really been
a great day.
Congratulations on Maddie’s one year check, and your own literary plaudits, Matt. It’s been a rough road to get here, but the view is improving every single day.
Best wishes from London. And spirits up.
*HUGS* you did it! I hate now and before and always will hate the shots part. While I know it’s good for them, I still hate doing it.
So far both kids still love me after holding them down for shots. Don’t worry she will always love you!
I hate it when they have to get shots, you can hear my boys down the hall and into the parking lot. Even @ 5 yrs they hate it, of course my boy beats up the male nurse administering the shots, kinda comical.
They always love you after, even when the lolipops don’t work, you will always make it better.
Matt, I saw you on the show of Oprah and it brought me to tears. Your love, passion and internal strength is inspirational. I lost my husband 6 years ago to cancer and it was my 3 daughters that made it possible for me to move on…to live. I share the dispair of hurting so bad that it seems impossible to keep breathing. BUT the laughter and love of a child provides so many reasons to see the world in a whole new light. Thank you for sharing and making your loss an inspiration to others. I believe we all have a purpose in life and I believe you have found yours.
xox Francesca [Cesi]
I’m remembering the pain of those shots with Anna all to clearly, having just survived the worst mommy torture in years with her last fall. The chest x-rays and blood draws with she was diagnosed with pneumonia at 5 mo. old were worse, though, I think…but it’s a close second.
I can’t quite fathom how it’s been a year for you already too, or close to a year since I was first pointed to your blog. For better or worse, time flies. You continue to do an awesome, amazing job with yourself and Maddy and with honoring Liz and the hole she’s left in your lives. Thanks for continuing to share the journey with the rest of us onlookers.
Much love! You are awesome and all us parents that have had to take our kids for shots know how you felt.
I still get tears in my eyes, 5 years and 2 kids later, when I have to take them for shots, it breaks my heart.
Great job on the big O, love seeing you guys on the screen.
Can’t wait to read about her b-day celebration.
I heard your story today on Oprah and I couldn’t wait another second to come check out your web. I can’t believe what a great father you have been for the past year. Its really shocking to me because I was a single mother for a while and I have seen how many fathers even with the help of the mother there don’t do half of the things you do. I salute you. I wish you lots of blessings and my prayers are always with you and Maddy.
I got tears in my eyes thinking of the screaming with the shots! The day after I brought Emily home from Guatemala I had to bring her to the doctor and they gave her 6 shots! I was worried she’d never want to bond with this awful mom!! (I bawled too!) Oh the memories! by the way..awesome Oprah show. Continuously proud, Matt.
I’m afraid to say that the shots on and past a year suck big time! Thankfully they get fewer and further between. After 2 years (which will come quicker than ya think) she’ll probably have just one well child a year.
Your doing awesome, keep on rockin’!
Shots in the arm?!?!? My oldest is almost 7 and we practically had to BEG the nurse to do them in her arm for her kindergarten shots.
You are such a wonderful dad. Maddy is one lucky girl. <3
Way to go on surviving, and living the first year. You are an inspration to many. May God richly bless you and your sweet Maddy.
Jen
PS. I laughed at the holy shit, after the 3rd shot, I vividly remember those screams from my kids.
The shots are so killer!
I was reeeeally close on my guess!
That article was pretty funny. (She does not have your flair.)
Oh, the shots, they are so hard- and never get any easier! My oldest son just got his kindergarten shots (4 of them!) and he was so brave, didn’t shed a tear, while his 2-year old brother SCREAMED his head off in fear for his big brother. So sad!
wow this poem/prose is wonderful. You captured your experience very well! your daughter is beautiful and I am sure you will not ruin her…to me you sound like a GREAT dad!
Good luck!
yeah- those cries.. they just suck.
feeling like the worst parent- you can get that from anywhere- after my son had an adverse reaction- I stopped having them vaccinated
-that alone probably puts me in line for some horrid parent medals from a fair few others.
I still remember though when he was Madeline’s age and somehow through “those” screams after his shot he actually sucked it up and turned to the nurse and through his sniffles said “Thank you.”
than she was crying too.
they deal.
Still it IS a nice feeling when you let go of the worries and doubts- and the opinions of all those *others* and sit back and feel good about who your children are and how far they have come…
seriously- of all the things you can be proud of-
…bringing good people into the world- nothing can compare.. not really.
Imagine though if all the moms out there were congratulated on *making* it the first year.. or at all..
Makes me remember that nurse.. that ONE nurse who said the ONE thing..
the fucking *adoption* comment..
maybe just maybe you should take your plump rosy cheeked little one year old bundle fer a swing by sometime..and remind her that sometimes silence is golden.
I love your blog. You are truly amazing. Maddy looks just like her Mom. I believe that Liz is watching over both of you. God bless.
yeah, one year down! Great job, and man did she pack on those healthy pounds, GO maddie, i am so proud to know, well not know but know of you. i can’t believe i miss Rachel Ray and freaken Oprah WTF
The shots are the worst!
You are an awesome dad! Way to go you two….. Hope you had a wonderful Easter!
you have made it through the first year. I realize that should be a milestone to be proud of (and of course we are all proud of you and Maddy!) but I imagine it still feels too raw to feel like a whole year has passed and like something you should “celebrate”.
Your girls looked beautiful on Oprah yesterday
My Elliott goes in for his first round on Friday! Hopefully he is half as brave as Maddy…and hopefully I do half as well as you did. Holding him while hes screaming is like holding a greased pig.
Happy B-day baby girl. Although you are officially a toddler!
Great job Dad!
My girls are 6 and 8 and I take them in for joint doc appts. Which means, shots all at once. For both of them. At the same time. That get’s mighty loud. Little girls voices screaming bloody murder and they both climb up on my laps, all over me, to get some comfort. It’s brutal. I still cry, every time.
you Sir a fucking amaizing Father, person, soul. your little girl is more then lucky to have such a great daddy. he likes awesome music too, oh and dont for get the robots. how should she go wrong! you are wonderful. Liz gave you the best gift anyone can ever give. the love of child. Youre doing great daddy, and maddy, well shes the most awesome of them all. Smils on my stranger, friend….
Jamie
Your story has touched me so deeply! I saw you yesterday on Oprah and I couldn’t get over how strong and wonderful you are with your daughter. I know that any woman would be blessed to have you raise their daughter. As a mother myself, god forbid something happens to me I can only hope that my daughter has a father like you in her life. I know that when Madden grows up she will be so thankful that she will have this blog to read all about how her life came to be. If you’re ever unsure if you’re not doing a good job just remember all the love that you have given her every day and know that means the world. I nominate you as the father that every man should aspire to be.
It is amazing how much Madeline looks like her mother! She’s healthy and beautiful and you are doing a wonderful job. She’s so lucky to have you for a father.
Happy (belated) birthday to Madeline and congratulations to you for doing a spectacular job!
Just wondering why the injected your poor child via the arm. I have a child who is current on all vaccinations and never a one went into the arm. ALL where in the thigh. Maybe you can request that next time.
Shots suck. Really suck.
Mine are grown and I remember the shots.
The kids were pros by the third time.
And, I was the only one in pain.
The guilt doesn’t linger.
It is remembered but long since felt.
Shots really SUCK! I felt like the worst. Mother.ever for holding my son down at his 9 month appointment this week. He still loved me after his nap too. I laughed when I read Maddy’s stats b/c my 9 month old son is 20lbs 9 oz and 29 inches. I love your blog you are such a wonderful Dad!
I’ll give you a quick heads up Dad – It’s okay not but in the not too distant future you’ll have to stop charting her height and weight. At some point, us girls don’t like it.
)
But seriously, your champ. These appts are tough.
Stay strong. I have love for you, though I do not know you. You give me strength. You bring light to my day. You are real. Thank you.