Flu shots...

After Katherine's gymnastics class this morning, we went over to Dr. Jon's office for flu vaccinations. Jon told the kids last time we were in, that the vaccine was no big deal, not a shot, just a nasal spray. Absolutely painless! Thank Heavens! I had reminded Katherine of that several times over the past few days.....

We arrived at the office and were called back to the room by a nurse. This wasn't Lisa, Jon's nurse, or a "regular" I recognized from the office. From what I later found out, they have a random nurse come into the office a few days a week to administer the flu vaccines and update the charts....

Anyway, she looks over the paperwork I filled out when I checked in. Just random stuff -- allergic to egg products, recently sick, etc... Katherine and Caleb decided that she'd be first and she hops up on the exam table. The nurse pulls out a needle and Katherine is stunned. "But Mommy you promised....." comes out of her mouth. So the nurse and I have the following conversation, which lasts several minutes....

Me: I'm a little surprised that it's a shot. Dr. Jon assured me it would be a nasal spray.

Nurse: We're saving those vaccines for other people.

Me: WHAT??? Dr. Jon told us that the vaccine would be a nasal spray, not a shot.

Nurse: Well, unfortunately, you'll be getting shots today. We need to save the spray for other people.

Me: Uh, no we won't. Jon told us it'd be a nasal spray.... and if you have nasal spray on hand, I want my kids to have it.

Nurse: Did you call in and specifically request the nasal spray?

Me: No. Again, Jon told me the vaccine would be a nasal spray. How was I to know that I needed to request it? I just called and made the appointment.

Nurse: Well, let me look at your paperwork.

Me: Silence......

Nurse: You filled out the paperwork for the injection.

Me: No, I filled out the paperwork the receptionist gave me.

Nurse: I'll be right back. I need to check how many nasal spray vaccines we have on hand.

** OK, the quantity of nasal sprays they have on hand is completely IRRELEVANT to me. Jon told me that Katherine and Caleb wouldn't have to have a shot. I then promised them they wouldn't get a shot. There is NO way, my kids AREN'T getting the nasal spray.... On a side note, Jon doesn't work on Thursdays or this would have been resolved ages ago.

The nurse comes back to the room with ONE nasal spray, and tells me that one of my kids can have the spray and the other will have to get the shot. Yea, I don't think so... That's not how I operate.

I then politely tell her in no uncertain terms that BOTH of my kids will be having the spray and she should go and get another one.

Nurse: We typically don't give the spray to two year olds. We've found that they don't sit still very well and it's easier for me to just give them the shot.

Me: Again... Jon assured me that they'd get the spray. I want the spray. Caleb will sit still, I assure you of that. Now, please go and get the spray so we don't have to waste anymore of either of our time discussing this.

Oh. My. Word. Why does it have to be this hard??? We ended up getting the nasal spray (did you really think we wouldn't??) and of course Caleb sat still and took the vaccine like a champ! On the way out, we ran into Lisa, Jon's nurse, and I gave her an earful. She said she's heard that all week! UUUUUUGH!