He wouldn't even let you take them w/out pay? Wow. I would have just said "By the way, I have had the planned for a long time now, and I know I have no sick days left, but I'm taking the days off w/out pay." (and maybe tack on, "Remember I emailed you about this months ago?") I definitely would have emailed him back when you planned it to let him know of your plans then. Was there any other superior above him that you could have talked to??