Micah's PPD is placed. . .

. . .I had to take my big girl pill to get Micah's Mantoux test placed. It involves taking 0.1 cc of tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) and injecting it subdermally in the forearm, raising a little bleb. The babysitter dropped him off and I recruited one of the medical assistants and one of the front desk staff to do holding down part, and I agreed to do the deed. Every one loves the little stinker, so no one wants to be the mean person wielding the needle.

Unfortunately the MA was taking care of patients, so Earla and Mike, the husband of our assistant office manager who was at the office to finish painting, got roped into the job, Mike holding Micah on his lap and Earla holding Micah's forearm.

I actually stuck a needle into my little boy's flesh. I could have never done it to Thea (though now that I've done it to Micah, I could probably place hers.) Micah didn't cry but he had this sad, crestfallen look of "but Mommy, why?" a la Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The quivering lip just about did me in. Then he had another roll of Smartees from the medical assistants' snack stash and he promptly got over it. Ah, the curative powers of simple sugar with artificial colorings and flavorings.

And as of Wednesday morning, nothing's happening at the injection site. No redness, no induration, nada. 24 hours more before it can be read.