Today, we took our boy for his six-month check-up. The doctor proclaimed him the picture of infant health. And as she does at every appointment, the doctor commented on his flawless skin. He does have beautiful skin – if only I could say he took after me in that respect. She also noted that he is of average size– head circumference, weight (16 lbs. 4 oz.), and height (26.75 in.). Not bad for a boy that started life very tiny.

Unfortunately, I can’t say today’s visit was fun for any of us. First, the child detests when strangers come too close to him. He has the space bubble of an American (his French father barely bats an eyelid when strangers try to grope him – stand in a line in France and you’ll see what I mean). Of course, the doctor was all in his face with her lights and her tongue depressors and, horror of all, her stethoscope. Then she poked around the abdominal area and regarded his yo-yoing testicle. Much screaming ensued.

Then they brought out the needles, and the screaming augmented by several decibels. Oh, said the boy, you want to hear screaming? I’ll show you SCREAMING! Then his head turned an upsetting bluish-red. He reached out for me screaming all the while, but the nurse kept holding him down. And she stabbed him again. And again. Then I took him in my arms and I felt like the world’s worst mother. It probably needn’t be said that I anguish over these appointments several days in advance. And I fear they aren’t helping his stranger anxiety. You would fear strangers too, if you were never sure if they might stab you.

On the positive side, Loulou has finished his immunizations for a number of diseases (until the dreaded boosters) – diphtheria, tetanus, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcal meningitis, Hepatitis B, and pertussis. So now I can cross those off of my list of things to fret over, and move on to more important things, like tsetse flies and the Asian bird flu.

And the boy was smiling again by the time we got home.