12 month vaccination

We were supposed to take X for his 12-month vaccinations this past Saturday, but we were told to rethink that by the nurse, as he was still recovering from his never-ending cold and introducing more enemies to his taxed immune system with his green snot and all seemed a little too counter-intuitive. So he didn't get vaccinated on Saturday.

But today's the day. We can't put it off any longer because before we know it, he'll be 13 months old, and we kinda need to be on time for his vaccines. So I'm taking him to the community centre later to get 3 jabs in his little toddler thighs. Sigh.

Every time he goes for his vaccinations, it affects me like nothing else. My mommy instincts tell me that I'm going against my heart to inflict pain upon my boy, and I know that he will spend the next week or so really out of it and not be himself entirely. Then there's all those (probably untrue) stories about the side effects of vaccinations. Especially the one that he's taking today - the MMR. Autism and stuff. Scary, and like I said, probably untrue. But nonetheless, it's unnerving. Plus this time he's already sick and hasn't fully recovered yet, so I don't know what things will be like. But we just have to bite the damn bullet and do it right? Like husband said, he'd rather have an autistic kid than a dead kid from rubella or something. That totally puts things in perspective so I'll just do it.

Speaking of rubella, I need to remind myself to call my obstetrician for a copy of my bloodwork from when I was pregnant and take it to the GP for a booster shot before we even think about conceiving again.

It really doesn't help that this morning, he fell face-first into the carpet when trying to run away from his daddy and got really upset. And then he ran out of our bedroom and crashed face-first into the vertical edge of his toy shelf after losing his balance, resulting in a tiny cut on his lip and a ginormous bruise and bump on his forehead. Ouch. :( See the sad little face?

I know it's all part and parcel of him learning how to negotiate his environment and it's what happens now that he's trying to run but is still unsteady on his feet, but a part of me (and his daddy too) cringes when these things happen. I know it is beyond my control mostly. I also always let him pick himself up and let him decide for himself if he needs some consolation and love, and if he does he knows he can come to us. If he's fine, he'd simply pick himself up and go on his merry way. He's a brave and tough little dude, but us as his parents? Not so much. Our hearts break a little to see him hurt.

Anyway, we've enjoyed 6 months without having to take him in for vaccinations. It was nice while it lasted. Let's get this over and done with and we'll be good for the next 6 months again, until his chicken pox (varicella) vaccine at 18 months.

I'm sorry little one, it truly is for your own good... I love you...