Chapter 11 And Life Goes On......

"Bret honey, can you please help me." I was getting a bit frustrated. We had Kate's doctor's appointment this morning and I always seem to run late! "Here. aput on your coat....we need to be in the car....now!!" I swear he was the most easy-going, good natured little boy in our whole county!

I bundled up Kate, grabbed the bag and headed for the back door. "We're going Bret....bye!" Here he came, happy as a lark, on past me and opened the back door and hopped in.

Back in those days there were no such things as car seats and hardly no one wore their seat belt. I backed out the drive and started south, little Kate propped against me and Bret leaning over the seat messing her hair with his hand.

"Well, here's Kate and Bret," the friendly receptionist said as we made our way through the door. "It looks like the doctor sees Kate this morning. It won't be long."

I took a seat in one of the wooden rockers while Bret headed for the book shelf. Soon he came back with "Bugs Bunny and His Mother", crawled up on the little couch beside Kate and me and we began to read.

That is what I liked so much about our doctors. I always felt so "at home" in their little brick office. Oh, I have to admit there were times I was pretty anxious sitting there but they just had this way of "calming me down."

"We're ready to see Kate now." a short dark haired lady called from the hall. She was my favorite when it came to drawing blood or giving shots. She was so fast and did it so easily.

In room number three we took a seat. Bret was pretty quiet now, standing there beside me, his hand resting on my lap while I bounced Kate up and down. "I think Donna will see you today." the nurse said as she passed by Bret giving him a squeeze.

"My sister has to have a shot." he told her looking up.

"I know....you'll have to help me ok? Can you do that?"

Bret nodded his little head up and down and she disappeared out the door. We could hear her place Kate's records in the holder on the other side of the door.

The room was tiny with a high window on the south. In the middle was the table covered with white paper. A small desk sat in one corner,a little glass full of cotton swabs, tongue depressors, cotton balls, and a number of other things sat along the back. Silver lids covered them. A stethoscope hung from a nail on the wall.

The door opened and in walked my dear friend. Donna was a PA. She was my age, about my height, single, with dark brown hair falling to her shoulders. It was her manner and tone of voice that we loved so well. If I was worried about something or upset, Donna would say only a few words and I would just know everything would be ok.

"Well, look here" she said shutting the door. "It looks like you brought your little sister to see us this morning Bret."

"Yea...she needs a shot." he answered looking serious.

"Well, you're right about that but first, if it is ok, I'll listen to her heart and lungs and weigh her." Bret nodded his little blond head up and down real big like.

Kate doesn't enjoy lying on that hard old table but I wrapped my arms around her little shoulders while Donna gently listened to her heart, lungs and felt her little tummy and checked her ears and all the time chatting about this and that.

"Well, it looks like Kate is in fine shape, plus she's gaining real well. How about seeing her in a couple months? Could you bring her back then Bret?" Again a nod of his head.

After another ten minutes of talking, we said good bye to Donna and in walks our "handy dandy" nurse. She's just the opposite of Donna. She is tall and thin. Her black hair is cut short. Her voice is quiet and kind, but she is a serious type.

Bret's eyes get big 'cause he knows what's coming. He stands close to Kate and me, watching every move.

Nurse Mary is the best for this. I hate it when my children have to get shots but she sure could make it fast and easy. She was talking in her low, soft voice as she made her way to the desk. Her back was to us so Bret couldn't see what was happening. I could tell she was getting a small syringe from the drawer. She stood there filling it, then I heard the clink of the silver lid as she took it off, reached in for a cotton ball. I could smell the alcohol as she dabbed the cotton ball on top of the container. All this time she is talking calmy to Bret and me. She turns very slowly, rubs little Kates upper leg fast with that cotton ball and....boink....its all done!!

"Well, Bret would you like to pick out a sticker for Kate and yourself?" she asked opening a very colorful drawer.

"But Kate needs her shot!"

"It's done-- Just like that!"

Slowly Bret walked to the drawer and picked out two big stickers.

"What do you tell the nurse, Bret?" I ask.

"Thank you" he whispered, walking toward me, looking at the big bright happy faces on the stickers.

We made a fast stop at the IGA for milk and a few necessities, then made our way home. Kate was fast asleep when we arrived so we put her in the little crib while Bret and I made lunch. Daddy would be home soon.

After lunch and sending daddy off with a fast smooch on the cheek, I cleared off the table and called quietly to Bret. "Come here honey and mommy will lie with you and read a book."

"Ok, lets see what we have here" I said stretching out on Marks and my bed, little Bret snuggling close, his eyes wide. I opened the book and started to read. "Farmer Brown worked all day in the field planting corn.... " Little Bret was breathing softly-- his little eyes shut tight.

I slipped out of bed and shut the door, leaving a crack and walked across the hall to check on Kate. She was fast asleep, lying there on her little tummy, her legs curled up under her. I backed out, pulling the door closed. Whoo...I needed a breather! Grabbing my coat I walked out into the crisp fall air. Now our little place was looking "farmish". Three of Mark's portable sheds stood in a row out by the propane tank. You could hear the snorting of momma sow as she rooted, banging her water trough up and down. Bang....bang. I turned on the water hydrant and filled the water troughs, then ambled back to the house.

I wasn't in the house more than ten minutes, when Kate started to cry. She was sitting in her crib, tears running down her cheeks.

"Oh sweetheart, here I am. I'll bet you're hungry." I walked to the bed and lifted her out. Her little hands felt warm. I sat down in the rocker preparing to feed her, but she was restless and her sobs still came.

"What's wrong with Kate, mommy?" Bret stood there in the doorway, rubbing his tired eyes with his fist.

"Do you remember that shot she got?" He nodded his head up and down. "Well, sometimes babies get a little temperature and just feel upset afterward. That's what's wrong with Kate. Lets go get her something to help her feel better, shall we?"

We three sat there at the table having crackers and cheese. Bret had a glass of juice and Kate finally perked up a bit and was sucking her juice bottle. We just sat there chatting "little people talk", breaking little pieces of cracker off for Kate. Sometimes, mommies just have to have a little" mommy time".

We heard the familiar sound of a pickup pulling into the drive way. "Daddy's home." Bret was down off his chair and to the door in a flash.

"Well, how's my boy?"

"Ok daddy but Kate's not. She hurts because of her shot."

"Well, let me clean up and we'll see what we can do about that." Mark said as he took off his coat and headed to the bathroom.

It wasn't long before he was back again. "Here, let me have Kate and she, Bret and I will do a little playing while you get some fresh air. Could you feed the sows for me?"

I love that man! A mother needs a break once in awhile....that's for sure! "Sure can" I said grabbing my coat and heading to the shorty fourty.