a poke

In our family we had a saying that would be the ending/punchline of pretty much any story.

I think my parents said it to scare us into behaving like good children. It went a little something like this:

"Kathryn, you better eat those vegetables, otherwise you'll be malnourished. If that happens, then you'll be be very sick. When you're sick like that, we have to take you do the doctor, and you know what happens, right? You get a poke. You don't want that, do you?"

or

"Kathryn, stop playing in that tree! If you fall, you'll break a bone, and then we have to take you to the hospital, and you will get a poke."

As a child we were terrified of going to the doctor and getting shots! What kid actually liked it?? So, if we were told we were going to get a poke, we shaped up real fast.

Now it's become a family joke. If we don't want someone to do something, it always ends in them going to the hospital and getting a poke.

Well today, I went to the doctor and got 2 pokes! They took my blood (to make sure I'm doin alright) and gave me a shot for allergies!!!

I have been miserable this year with allergies. Nothing works. Seriously, nothing. I went to the doctor and he gave me a shot that will last about 3 months, and I won't have any allergies! He said my face and body will probably get puffy (because it's a steroid) and because the shot was given in my buttocks I might get a little dent where the shot was administered! HA! Doc told me that goes away in like 2 years. OH, it's worth it though.

If you see me these next 3 months.... I'll be puffy, but smiling big because I won't have allergies!

No more sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, stuffy nose, coughing and green mucus! All thanks to a poke.