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I have to start by saying that yesterday was nothing compared to today. I made a call to the lab this morning to ask them if they had someone that specializes in drawing blood from kids. They assured me that it wouldn’t be a problem.

We checked in to the lab just before noon and were called in to the lab room a little after 12. The main phlebotomist looked and looked around at Derek’s arm for quite some time, all the while shaking his head. I told him that’s what the two nurses had done yesterday. So after a few minutes, he final went for it. I was holding Derek’s pacifier in his mouth and holding his arms and talking to him. There was a guy holding his arm really tight…I’m not sure who was holding his legs. After what seemed like hours, they finally gave up on that arm.

I talked them into calling the NICU, so eventually two nurses came down to help out. I again focused on talking to Derek and keeping his pacifier in his mouth. I did not pay any attention to anything else that was going on. Which was probably a good thing, because when I finally looked down all I saw was his poor foot covered in blood. That’s was about the time I had to leave the room for awhile. That’s when Kevin took over.

I left the room for about 15 minutes, but it was even harder just listening to him scream. I’d much rather be holding his hand. I eventually went back in the room and Kevin and I said enough was enough right after they asked us if they could try the vein in his head. By this time it was almost 2 o’clock and Derek had been through way too much. In total they got 3 ml of the 6 they were after.

That was the hardest thing we’ve ever had to do. I’m not sure what we’re going to do if they tell us they need the other 3 ml. Hopefully we won’t have to make that decision.

Derek is the strongest baby ever. We brought him home, fed him a bottle and he slept all afternoon. Tonight he’s just been flashing his smiles and cooing like nothing ever happened. Kevin and I are still really shaken up and would like to never ever have to do that ever again!!