This Place Called the Doctor's Office

Going to the doctor and spending time in said office could literally be a fascinating documentary. (I just said literally like Chris Traeger from Parks and Rec-hilarious!) Anyhoo, today Cecilia had an appointment so I took her alone, which is not very common because Joe is usually able to come. Today I was 5 minutes late, which has not been an issue before. I get Ceci checked in and walked to the well waiting room-they do have a sick waiting room, which I think is fantastic!

So, as I round the corner to the waiting area I see that it is packed. My heart takes a little drop but I tell my self not to worry because the office has a lot of doctors-I just knew we would be seen soon. BOY WAS I WRONG!!!

We waited for 2 hours to see a doctor, and it wasn't even the doctor that we normally see. This was for a check up for post ear infection and 5 month vaccinations. The whole appointment took 10 minutes. So let me just explain why I think doctor's offices are quite a thing.

1. Screaming children, and more screaming children because the other child screamed first.

2. Moms (or dads) going around the room complimenting everyone's babies and asking how old they are. I got asked 8 times how old Ceci was in probably 20 minutes. 

3. Other moms telling me to be careful of my earrings because babies like to rip them out. Yes, dear  other mom, I do wear earrings a lot and yes, I do know they attract babies like flies-said smiling.

4. Strollers, and more strollers and more strollers. All tricked out and loaded with the daily necessities-now this might be a big city thing, but seriously it is a spectacle. (side note-strollers are called carriages here-I shall stick with stroller-just fyi)

5. Hearing a brand new baby cry which makes my heart ache for a tiny baby again. Too soon?? Maybe :)

6. THE BLASTED HEAT. It is May whatever, please be kind and turn your heat off-no one wants to wait in a small room with crying babies with the heat on. Seriously!

7. Finding reassurance from the doctor that it is normal for your baby to do x or y. I know that some people dread well check ups, but I really do love them. I always find myself looking forward to finding out just how tall Ceci is or how much she weighs. 

8. Fighting the urge to question other parents' decision on why they allow their 4 year old to talk and chew on a pacifier at the same time.

9. Seeing the look in the eye of a brand new mom with her 4 day old baby and the anticipation, fright and yearning to want to be good at this thing called parenthood. ( I wish someone would have filmed our first doctor's visit to see what kind of fools we looked like)

10. The nurses-now I just about just left this as need I say more, but let me explain. The nurses that we deal with are truly fantastic. They do all the gross jobs, they deal with more screaming babies and poopy diapers and sick kids than anyone I know. They are saints and I am always thankful that they are kind hearted and willing to love my baby.

Today my visit was not so great as you might deduce from my rant in the beginning. But I know that the next time will (hopefully) be better. And truthfully, being there for so long helped me realize that I had some words to say about this place-some good and some bad. And now that they are all put down here in this space of sharing and ranting, I should leave with something positive-Ceci did truly fantastic today. She is such a trooper and only cried at the end!