Tattoos hurt, but it's the aftercare that'll kill you...

I vaguely remember the pain of getting the tattoo, because I'm so focused on the aftercare...keeping it out of the sun, keeping the dog away from it, Linus wants to get up close and personal with it. We must keep it out of dirt, so there's no weeding of the garden. It can't be soaked, so no swimming. No itching, scratching, picking, scrubbing. Last night my leg had an itch and I absentmindedly scratched it then let out a yelp because I was touching my tattoo.
I think I've healed up fairly well, unless there's more to come. The only area that has scabbed up are the eyes of each kid, and the middle of Emily/bottom of Sally. Kerry's on the otherhand is red, swollen in at least a 4 1/2 inch square around the tattoo, and scabby. Our skin types are different, and with his being on his inner arm, it's harder for him to keep it out of harm's way.

So if you are thinking about getting a tattoo, my advice is to think about what you do with that area beforehand, Kerry can't let his arm touch his side, can't sleep very well, lean on a table, put his arms behind his head. I can sleep on my side, stomach, or back, I can don't put my legs behind my head, and nothing really touches my leg, so I think this has really helped in the healing. So glad I didn't get one on my inner arm. Kerry says his next one will be done in colder months too. I could go any time. The sooner the better.