A Date with a Phlebotomist

  Max's new doctor is definitely on the ball.  When i said i didn't remember when, or if, Max had  ever had bloodwork done, the doctor said we need a baseline lab.
  So Max and i went in for it today.
  Now Max is always the first one up in our house.  He gets dressed and goes downstairs to have his bowl of cereal, and settles in for TV until the bus comes.
  i talked to him about the bloodwork and how he needed to not eat.
  And there was The Sign.

     i'd used a version of The Sign before Max's wisdom teeth were taken out several years ago.  (The alternative is for someone to stay up all night until he gets up - not a good way for happy campers, but might be necessary with some folks.)
  We still have a baby gate at the kitchen entrance.  MyGuy hates it, but sometimes it's useful.  i just close it & tape the sign up.
  MyGuy happened to be downstairs this morning when Max was ready for breakfast.  He reported Max saw the sign and simply said, "Oh well," then moved on to the next thing.

Going for the Lab

  i should've realized that, if the lab opens at 8, i should arrive BEFORE 8.  

  We got there at 8 to find 2 dozen people already waiting outside the door.

  Max had no problem with that.  He simply accepted his word search book and got to work.  When the door opened, he moved locale.

  The intake gal had trouble with the notion that i didn't have his social security number.  No, we are NOT supposed to need it.  No, the insurance does not require it.  Finally she decided that she'd just have to use zeroes and we'd have to deal with the insurance later.

  That would be a first.  SSN is for taxes and work.  Period.

Blooddraw

 Max wanted me to come in with him, and staff didn't object, though there was no room in the procedure room.  i stood in the hall a minute.  

  The tech and Max interacted well.  i told Max, "You're doing fine.  i think i'll step back to the waiting room, okay?"

  He barely noticed i left.

  And i'd  barely sat down before the tech brought him back.

  Good thing he has veins like MyGuy instead of me.  They tell me they're not going to try more than twice - and that's a valid warning, because sometimes it's been nearly a dozen sticks.  

And After

 On to the Golden Arches.  Max let me know he wanted to get stuck tomorrow morning too.  (Are you CRAZY?????)

  And we had the usual discussion about going home or to school, but it's much shorter now that i have the wonder-full teacher's tip about telling him he gets to come home at 2:30, not now.

  So that's past now. . . . .