Brain Growth, Wellness Visits, and Vaccinations

I took Anders and Kuba to their pediatrician last thursday for their annual well visit.  They are healthy growing boys.   Both are at the top of the growth curve and all is well.   We found out that 8 is a significant year in the life of a brain.  Actually it's the years 8,  9, 10, and 11, with 8 being phenomenal.  More neurological connections are made in the 8th year of life than at any other time.  Anders loved this piece of information.  The doctor made Kuba feel good about being 5 as well, as this is the year that you can put up all of your fingers on one hand.   Both boys left feeling pretty darn proud, oh, except for one thing.  They got shots.  Yup.  Both boys got two vaccines.  We are still catching up with their peers who were fully vaccinated by the age of 3.  I've eliminated some and dragged out all the others.  And still, every time I leave there after a vaccination I leave worried.   My internal self HATES vaccines.  Did I say that loudly enough?  I  H A T E  vaccines.  So this is where the anxiety kicks in.  The next morning Anders woke up complaining that his arm hurt where he got the vaccinations.  By the end of the school day he was really complaining and had a welt on his arm the size of a softball - red, hot, and so swollen.  I called the doctor and was told to give him Benadryl.  (Another issue here for me, but I'll leave that for another post)  I drew a mark around the perimeter to mark it's growth or disappearance.  The next day it was bigger yet, and my anxiety increased.  By Sunday it was finally shrinking, but then Anders developed a fever.   He had a fever each night until Tuesday, when he had a full on fever in the daytime.  I called the doctor again, my anxiety reaching a new height.  I was reassured it was most likely not connected to the vaccine, but I am not a believer.  It seemed awfully coincidental that he should catch a virus at exactly the same time.  I hate to admit this but I was having to fight off visions of Anders waking up the next day, unable to walk or talk, or any number of horrors associated with a vaccination reaction.  Thankfully after a full day of rest he was better by Wednesday.  It is now Thursday, his fever is gone, his arm is normal, and all seems fine again.   I do not know how parents  who have real problems ever survive.  I am so thankful that he is okay...and for his growing healthy brain.