Noah had pneumonia twice last year.  Savannah has a compromised immune sytem.  I am almost frantc to prevent them getting the flu, especially after my recent experience.  I made their appointment in September, as soon as our pediatricuan opened them up.  My pediatrician's office called this morning at 7:15 to tell us they were out of the flu vaccines that my kids had an 8:45 appt to get.  She suggests going to health dept, they'll accept medicaid.  We're not on Medicaid, we're on JPS Connections.  Oh, then they magically DO have some flu mist vaccines for those children.  My son has asthma and cannot take flumist.  Well, they *might* have an injection vaccine for him in their super secret private pay stash, bring him on in.  Don't wait till your appt time, cause it is first come first serve and they only have ten left.  Great!

AND THEN...we showed up to a crowded waiting room.  Savannah got her flu mist, #8 of their last ten.   Her vaccination was free.  They did not have an injection vaccine for Noah.  The nurse had already called the other pediatric clinics and they were all out as well.  She suggested hitting the streets to get him one.  I drove the kids to school first.

AND THEN...I spent two hours calling every pharmacy chain in the phone book.  All the office staff and a few teachers kept popping up with random suggestions to help me with my hunt.  Did you know the AT&T yellow pages and white pages no longer have county service listings?  I had to get the health department's phone number from the school nurse.  They had pedatric shots BUT they had dispensed the day's allocation already.   If I'd like to show up around 6:30am tomorrow, I *might* stand a chance at getting him one.

AND THEN...school nurse was chatting about needing an independent radiologist that accepts private pay.  I remembered doing Savannah's foot xray that way, so I called our old doctor.  They helpfully gave me the info she needed.

AND THEN...I thought to ask if they had the vaccine.  Yes, they had pediatric and adult both!!!!!!  I pulled Noah back out of class at 10am to boogie him over for it. 

AND THEN...we found out 6 yr olds actually receive ADULT dosage.  I'd spent two hours making repetitive phone calls looking for pediatric when he needed adult. *bang head against brick wall*  Nurse was iffy about the injection due to Noah's egg allergy, but agreed his asthma made it a necessity.  Noah got his flu shot *happy dance* then sat in the waiting room for 30 minute observation to make sure he suffered no ill effects.  His vaccination was also free.   They offered to give me one, but it hasn't been 30 days since I had the flu.

AND THEN...Noah returned to school around noon.  I stayed to make sure he didn't have any ill effects.  One great perk of volunteering is you can stalk your kids like that.   I did some laminating, made a few copies.

AND THEN...I checked Savannah back out of school for her dentist appointment.  She behaved beautifully for the dentist, stayed perfectly still for her filling.  We were there for two hours.  Total, I spent 5 hours visiting three different doctor's offices.  Crazy.

AND THEN... I came home to update you guys!   I was up most of last night with Noah, so I'm thinking a 6pm bedtime sounds pretty darn smart.