So on the rare occasion I DO take her out of the house, I keep her car seat covered up. I don't need anyone breathing on her, poking at her or stroking her. Yes my baby is adorable, and fun to look at, but I don't need your germs near her. So my general thought process is as follows: if she's covered, then it's for a reason, and that should be enough to keep people from being too curious. Am I wrong in thinking that?? Apparently so!
*sigh* I took Madison to the doctor this morning. It was time for her second round of the RSV shot. I HATE going to the doctor. I'm paranoid enough about germs, so going to a place that is crawling with them, makes me squeamish. But I keep her covered until the doctor looks at her. And I've never had any problems with people wanting to take a peak....until today.
I was at the counter trying to make her next appointment. The receptionists always get confused. She isn't on a normal well child visit schedule. Because she was preemie, she's about 2 months behind. So they always get confused as to why the doctor wants to see her. So I usually end up getting frustrated and tell them that they doctor just wants to see her! Please just make me an appointment, who cares what it's for. In addition to being frustrated with the front desk people, I had a crying baby. I mean I'd be crying if some gave me shot with no warning, and not being able to vocalize my frustrations. Well, her cry is pretty loud to me, but to most people (including the woman standing next to me) she probably still sounds like a newborn. And apparently that makes her cries cute? I don't think so. But this woman next me thought so. She looked at me and asked if I had a new baby in the car seat. Uhhh, nope, just a doll that cries, because crying babies is fun! I kept that to myself though. I politely said yes, I did. And she walks around me and starts to bend down towards the car seat and ask if she can look. And I was really surprised at just how forceful I was in my answer. I said NO, she's a preemie baby and I don't want you to look at her. Then this women, who I DON'T know from Eve, who was there with two kids at the doctor for who knows what reason. Gets offended that I told her no. Gave me a crusty look and walked away. OK, for one it's MY baby, and if I don't want weird people looking at her that's MY decision, and you don't need to get offended!. Two, we were at the DOCTOR, you are there for a REASON. I don't know what that reason is. For all I know one of your kids is sick, so I don't need your foreign germs on or around my child. And third, the car seat cover was DOWN! I had her covered for a reason. If I wanted the whole world to see her, I would leave it UP.
Am I the only Mom that get bothered by this? It's kind of like when other people touch your belly when you're pregnant. It's a matter of personal boundaries. You just don't touch someone else unless your invited too. And while we're on the topic. WHY oh WHY is it acceptable to touch a pregnant woman's belly? What social rule, ever made that okay? I just don't get it. I don't go up to random people and touch them. But I am all about personal space. I even hate it when people get to close to me when I'm in line for anything.
So that is made rant for the day. Other then weird lady wanting to look at Madison the visit went pretty well. She is growing like a weed. She is almost 3 months old (May 24th) and is now up to 7 lbs 13 oz, and 20 inches long. She is still below the curve, but her doctor assures me that in the next month or two she will be at the bottom of the curve for her age. He even said twice, how amazed he was with her growth. And that he wished he saw more preemie babies doing as well as she is.
It makes me feel so blessed when we find out just how good Madison is doing. She had such a rough start in her life, things could have just as easily gone the other way. But the Lord decided that she was going to thrive. For that Tyler and I are eternally grateful for that.
By the way, Madisons' pediatrician is AMAZING! His name is Dr. Peter Lindgren. He is so good with her. Every time we go, he tells be how beautiful she is, and he looks at her as if he was looking at one of his own kids. And is very easy to talk to. He listens to all of my concerns, and doesn't make me feel like any of my worries are trivial.
