A bad day

Harry,

Today was not a stellar day for either of us.  You had the day off from school, but somehow despite that treat, we had a dark cloud following us.  Listening is not one of your better skills, but today was particularly bad.  I have just left you to go to bed and in the course of today you lost 2 days of television and my reading a story to you at bedtime.  You actuall read a book to me and I think that is the first one you have read all the way through besides the short ones they send home from school.  You did a great job too, there were words you didn't know, but for somebody who just could not pay attention most of today you made a good effort.

The worst part of the day was this afternoon when we had to go to the flu shot clinic.  I am not sure why, but you totally freak out about shots.  The idea of them hurting absolutely terrifies you and you get very worked up in a short period of time.  I finally had to have one of the nurses (a man thankfully) help me to hold you down, while another nurse did the shot.  We were both crying by then.  I can't really tell you why I was crying, I guess I didn't like having to force you to do something that terrified you so much.  It kind of reminds me of when you were a newborn and the took blood from you to test you for bilirubin.  You were a couple of days old and you cried and cried and so did I.  I don't think you noticed much that you upset me, but it took me a moment to get it back together.  The people there were very nice and you weren't the only child who was afraid or cried, but you are my child after all so to me it is a big deal.

The shot was the first of 2 (Dad's taking you next time -share the love I say) H1N1 vaccines you'll get this year.  That is a type of flu that is currently being called a pandemic.  It is going around your school already so we may be too late already, but one never knows and it is worth trying.  There is a bit of hysteria about it because in rare cases it has killed otherwise healthy children.  I am a bit worried, but I know that flu has been around forever and children have survived it.  The truth is that I am the most likely to get very sick if I get the flu, just because I seem to have a weak immune system and things like the flu really throw my body for a loop (last time I got it I was sick for 6 weeks).  You and your brother seem to do okay with illnesses, although neither of you have been sick very often.  Anyway, we say some extra prayers and wash hands more often and just try to keep healthy and active as always.

Well my little guy, I am sorry that we had a hard day.  I love you very much, especially when I am having trouble understanding what is going on with you.  I hope tomorrow will be better, but even if it isn't I will love you just as much.

Mom