H1N1 Vaccination Clinic

Oakland county held an H1N1 flu shot clinic today which ran from 9:00-5:00. After 2 months of researching and discussing the issue with doctors Axel and I decided to vaccinate the family. I thought it would be best to go to the clinic first thing in the morning since we had a busy day with gymnastics, soccer, nap time, and appts to look at houses. We woke the kids up earlier, got them dressed, and I headed out the door at 8:15. Axel couldn't go with us because he had a dentist appt. I got to the clinic at about 8:45 and couldn't believe the lines. I expected it to be busy but by the time we parked and walked to the back of the line there were 1900 in front of us and the clinic had not even started. As we stood in line for the first 15 minutes I was unsure if I should stay and endure the weather which was cold, windy and rainy. Yes, quite wet! I called Axel and he advised me to just stay in line since we would for sure get a shot (they had 10,000 to administer). The kids and I waited. We waited. And waited. We got very wet and continued to wait. I got to know the two moms behind me quite well. I'm not sure what I would have done without them! They offered Ryan a small chair to sit in. They watched Anya while I took Ryan to the nearest bush to go pee. They watched Ryan while I took Anya all the way back to my car to go pee. They picked up umbrellas when they fell. We had three. One for each of us. They were there to talk to and make the wait go by so much faster! I feel very thankful as we all smiled through the cold wind and rain. The kids even played together. The total wait was about 2 1/2 hours and that was cut shorter because they called all pre-registered people to the front of the line after 2 hours. We got into the gymnasium and I was so relieved I almost cried. Anya insisted on getting her shot first. The nurses smiled at her and said she should be the poster child for vaccinations. She was so good. Ryan wanted me to go next. Then it was Ryan's turn. What an ordeal. I had to drag him to the chair, put him on my lap and hold him down. He screamed like no other child in that building and boy did his scream echo! He got off the chair and claimed he couldn't walk because the shot in his thigh hurt too much. Eventually, we made it back to the car and enjoyed a pleasant ride home with the heat on as high as it could go.
Little does Ryan know he will need a booster in a month. Hopefully, the doctor's offices will have them by then!