Let me tell you, Mary Poppins is a liar! The sugar thing doesn't work.
In about three years, when this is all through, Von will be a master negotiator. He is learning the art now and practicing twice a day every time we engage him on taking his medicine.
We both have something that we want.
Me? I want him to take two squirts of his medicine. One that tastes awful and one that tastes really awful.
Him? Anything BUT the medicine.
So here is how it goes:
Me: Time for your medicine.
Von: (Mumbling through a hand covered mouth with panicked eyes) I don't want medicine.
Me: You have to. It's not open for discussion.
And then the discussion starts, him stalling for time, me looking for leverage to get him to take his medicine.
At the hospital it was easy. We had fake dog poo and the leverage I had was promising he could roam the halls placing the thing on the floor to trick the nurses. It worked beautifully, every time, on the same nurses. But at home, sisters aren't as impressed and...no leverage.
Sometimes, because of his salt cravings, he negotiates a pizza or chips or he negotiates a sit in the hot tub.
Once he negotiated for me to get a 'poke' with a syringe because he had to get one.
But tonight I made a tactical error in the negotiating process and the photo shows he knows he had the upper hand. He masterfully suggested a trip to Home Depot (complete with protective face mask and in his new 'pajamies'). But when I agreed to this too quickly, he knew he had me and asked for more.
"Home Depot AND a bag of Cheetos."
We shared the Cheetos after we got home. Win. Win.
14 comments:
I just found out about this and read Lisa's Facebook comment about the blog. Tears come as I read these entries and my heart goes out to all of you.
The love, tenderness and care expressed is poignant and beautiful.
I enjoy your humorous touch in this negotiating one.
By the way, you are a good writer.
I'm for you and your little guy. How sad a little one has to go through this.
One comfort is to know God's purposes can be found in suffering. I've found the depth of compassion. character and understanding that comes from walking down a grievious path is part of the good things that can come out of something as unwelcome as this situation. I pray God will comfort and strengthen each of you individually and as a family.
Isaiah 41:10 (Amplified)comes to mind, "Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice."
Von has a dog Moises here at my house, he has something about NOT wanting to be on my back porch. ANYWHERE..else is fine, especially on the couch. I guess we all have had a bad experience that has fixed us for life against certain activites. Why not put some real candy in a medicine bottle (like Ovaltine) and trick him into thinking it is bad, and pleasantly him discovering that it is GOOD. I really would like to hug the guy when he takes it.
Home Depot and Cheetos is better than a new puppy or a Tree House. You could have a "treasure box" with all kind of goodies from the dollar store, and he can pick a treasure. Maybe a coupon good for a Home Depot visit or mini bags of cheetos!
If I could take his medicine for him I would, love you Von!!
I can't read your blog without crying! I sure do love that boy. I get so excited when your blog appears on my google reader, always looking for an update. I am hanging on to every word......Thanks for sharing your journey. I hope it's OK I blogged about you. :)
This picture of Von warms my heart. His color looks good and I too just want to hug him, and snuggle up and read a good book. One of these days, maybe. We miss you all here in Mexico and love each update. Thanks for taking time to let us have a peek into the good times as well as the hard ones. We are all pulling for you in prayer.Love OMA
Your blog is NSFW (not safe for work) unless a guy wants to walk around the office looking like he's just been crying.
Thanks for all the updates.
I pray for you all daily, and think of you often.
Bless his cheetos munchin' mug... you're such a great daddy Jason!
I've never heard of poop being used as a motivator before. Even in the 'Stine circles. You've reached a new level of creativity.
Your blog makes me laugh and cry. We're praying for Von.
What a smart kid. And does he know when Dad takes a photo it's going to end up on your blog?
The fake dog poo is genius.
It's it crazy that while there is so much pain, you can always find laughter? Laughter ... is it the best medicine anyway??
I pray your house will be filled with laughter.
Love & Prayers!!
Tanya Miller
VON! You are my new hero buddy. I hope I can meet you someday just like the real Iron Man! You are so cool!!!!
I suppose you can't literally mix the medicine with the sugar?
Praying that God would throttle this sickness and toss it aside…
I don't know what type of medicine your son is having to take, but before our daughter had kidney surgery, she had an awful medicine, Cipro, and the winning solution was to bury it in a bite of ice cream. You have to smooth it out on a spoon, make a little dip in the center, put the med in there, do another piece on top, so the med is completely enclosed.
The ice cream slips right down and was a miracle solution for us. Pudding and anything else, it sticks on the tongue and they still taste the med.
You all are in my prayers!
Paige Dooly
Fake doo-doo! Too funny!! What a nice boy to share his cheeto's with Dad!
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