The World's Best Pediatrician's Office

My kids go to the best pediatrician in the world, Dr. Oliver (with the Froberg Clinic).  I love her and her office.  She is nice and smart and great with the kids.  She comes into the exam room with a loud "Helloooo" that always gets the boys' attention and stops them in their misbehaving tracks.  And her office staff is awesome, too.  They're so nice and patient and they have gone above and beyond the call of duty for us several times.

Including today.

See, today was Spencer's annual exam.  I figured that it would be a 30 minute appointment at most, so taking all three boys wouldn't be a problem.

It was a problem.

Loudness and misbehaving and throwing toys and getting into stuff and whining and wanting to be held and not wanting to be held and at one point Josh jumped off the exam table and hurting his head and I just didn't have enough arms or strength to tackle them all.  Whew.

But it didn't seem to phase Dr. Oliver or her wonderful nurses.  And even though I felt like the world's most overwhelmed and underachieving mother, they acted as if things were perfectly normal and helped with the boys.

During Spencer's visit Dr. Oliver realized that Cole had just turned 18 months and asked if he was here for his check up as well.  "No," I replied.  "There was some scheduling snafu on my end, so we'll be back in January for that."

"No need!  We can do it right now, if that's okay." She cheerfully replied.

Of course it was okay with me - one less visit is always better in my book.  But I felt a little guilty because I knew we were the last patients of the day - on a Friday no less.  But if she was going to offer I wasn't going to turn it down!

So I stripped Cole down and tried to soothe him for his exam (he's been a bit super-clingy since being sick).  We got through that with only a few tears, while Josh and Spencer bounced off the walls. 

Dr. Oliver then left to get a nurse to come give Cole his vaccinations.  Right then Josh decided he had to go potty.  No, he couldn't wait.  So I sent Spencer to take him, which he was not too excited about, but too bad.

The nurse came in while the older boys were gone.  I figured this was a good thing.  She had to prick Cole's finger so she could get a small sample of blood for an anemia test, which he did not like at all.  Not that the prick really hurt him - he just didn't like the band-aid that was put on his finger afterwards.  That boy got blood everywhere and then shrieked and hollered once we got the band-aid to stay on.

At this point Spencer came back.  Without Josh.  "Go back and wait with Josh!" I told him.  "Aaawwwww, he's taking too long!" was his reply.  Too bad, buddy.  I sent him back, with a sinking feeling.  Josh should not be taking so long.

Cole was still fussing with his band-aid, which distracted him (at first) from the two vaccinations he then got in his chubby little thigh.  (Poor kiddo.)  He was not a happy camper.  I tried to soothe and get him dressed as quickly as possible because Spencer and Josh were still missing.

I finally got over to the bathroom with a whimpering Cole, only to discover a nurse in there with Josh.  She explained that he had been calling out for help, and when she went in she discovered his hands and the wall covered in poop.

Oh, kill me now.

I don't know why I was embarrassed, I wasn't the one covered in poop.  But I was totally embarrassed.  "World's Worst Mother" should be tattooed across my forehead.

I thanked her profusely, sent Cole and Spencer to go look at the large fish tank in the waiting room, and quickly got to work cleaning the rest of Josh up.  Good heavens, Josh.  What a time to exert your independence and decide to do this all yourself.

I finally got everything in order, but still couldn't leave because I had to pay the co-pay for Cole's unexpected visit.  It was now 5:30pm on a Friday.  I felt so bad for all the problems we had caused!  I felt like I should leave a tip or something.

But the staff was so nice and friendly and completely assured me that we were no problem at all.  They were so sincere and convincing that I almost believed them.  I told them not to worry, we hopefully wouldn't be back in until the end of April, once this baby is born.

They cheered when they learned it was a girl.  (I'm choosing to take this in a positive light.)

See?  They really are the World's Best Pediatrician's Office.