Another blood draw...

I hate the night before Sophie has to get her blood drawn. Because I know what I have to do the moment she wakes up...get her dressed and out the door before she starts demanding food. Then the moment she sees the chair, I have to try my hardest to keep her calm. Then the moment from when they start checking out her veins, I have to use every muscle in my body to keep her screaming, fighting, thrashing body still enough so they can draw her blood. All the while, trying to keep my emotions in check because I am heartbroken in the inside seeing the tears just pour out of her eyes and the snot running down her face. Because this is how much she HATES getting her blood drawn.


But NOT today.


Today was different.


Today was blogworthy.


Today started off as usual. I told her she had to go bye-bye with mommy. I didn't tell her where we were going. No need to unless she asked. And she was just happy to be going somewhere. So we pulled into the hospital parking lot. She was excited to get out of her carseat. As we are walking down the hall, she seems to recognize the place. She said to me "we going to see the doctor". I said "yes" which actually did not turn out to be a lie (this is the same building her neuro is in which we ended up running into). We got to the outpatient laboratory and I signed us in. She said "where's the doctor". I said "we have to wait until they call our name". So they called us back and as I was giving them our insurance information, she recognized the chair. She looked at me with the saddest eyes and said "I get shot". I said "yes you are...I am so sorry baby girl". So as we walk toward the chair, she hesitates. Her face is full of worry. I pick her up and tell her it is going to be okay. She sits on my lap and I put my arms around her. They take her arm and tie the band around it. She is remaining calm. As they stick her with the needle, she screams out and flinches. But no tears and she is calm. I tell her to sit really still so they can finish quickly. And she does. She is sitting there watching the entire thing. She says to me "all done". I say "not yet, there is one more vial to go after this (they are collecting four)". They switch out to the last vial and she says "band-aid". I tell her "yes they will give you a band-aid". They finish and she is okay...a little hesitant but still very calm. She picks out a sucker and we are on our way out.


I tell her how proud I am of her.


And she says "I brave".