Faith's 18 month checkup

Today was Faith's 18 month checkup although she was a little overdue for it - about 3 weeks overdue.

 It was the first time she got to stand on the big girl scale.  She wasn't impressed.

 She sat quietly and colored on paper while we waited for her doctor.

 Faith really likes to color now.  She may be an artist in the making.

 And she's such a sweet little girl.

But Faith has her dark side, too.  This is her "mean girl face."  You say "mean girl" and this is the look she gives.

Her doctor visit went great.  She does have an ear infection and she did get 3 booster shots which she did not enjoy.  She weighs 24 pounds (45th percentile) and is 34 inches tall (85th percentile).  Still looking tall and skinny.  Her next appointment is when she turns 2.

Faith pulled a chair over and scared me to death

It's not unusual for Faith to climb on a chair like this for a snack.

Today, however, she managed to pull that chair on top of her.

And immediately I noticed a large bruised knot on the side of her foot where the chair landed.

It's hard to tell from this picture but that bruise and knot really scared me.  I thought it was broken.

So I took her to the Urgent Care and had it xrayed.  Fortunately, it was just a bruise.  I did learn something helpful, though.  Apparently, children are smarter than adults and won't walk on a broken foot or leg.  That's a tidbit of information that make be useful in the future.  Hopefully, my kids won't scare me like this again.

Grace's 4 year checkup

Today Grace went to her 4 year checkup.

She is really growing into a beautiful little girl.  She's still tall and skinny.  Grace weighs 39 pounds (50%) and is 42 inches tall (90%).  She's also a very brave little girl.  I opted for her to receive her booster vaccinations so she received 4 shots today.  The nurse told her to lay on the table and told me to hold her down.  Those shots really looked like they hurt but Grace didn't cry or move a bit.  She winced as she got the last one and only said, "That really hurts.  I don't like shots!"  I can't blame her.  I don't like them either.  But she got a lollipop and we went out for ice cream afterwards.  And now Grace doesn't need any more shots until she's 10.

Faith's 1 year checkup

Today was Faith's 1 year checkup and she was not happy about it!

In fact, Faith cried even before she got any shots.   The nurse was really nice and tried to cajole Faith into a better mood, but Faith wouldn't give in.  She was unhappy and wanted everyone to know it!

 As soon as we got to our room, I put her on the floor and she stopped crying immediately.

There were books to explore, after all!  And then the doctor came in and gave her 4 more shots and her screaming started all over again.  At least until we got to the car.  Thankfully, we don't have another appointment for 3 more months.  Whew!  Hopefully, Faith will be in a better mood for that visit.

Faith weighed 20 pounds 2 ounces and was 31 inches long.  That puts her in the 90th percentile for her height and 40th percentile for her weight.

Faith's 9 month checkup

Today Faith had her 9 month checkup.

 She weighed 18 pounds and 12 ounces.  She's in the 45 percentile for her weight.

 And Faith is 29 1/2 inches long.  That puts her in the 95 percentile for her height.

 They said Faith is long and skinny.  But she still has all those baby rolls that I love so much!

And Faith was as happy as she could be since she didn't get any shots this week. 

Hurray for good checkups!

Doctors, and medicines, and appointments...oh, my!

Two weeks ago I took both girls in to see the pediatrician because both girls were sick with yucky green runny noses, slight fevers, and horrible wheezy sounding breathing.  Since our pediatrician wasn't in the office, we saw her partner.  Both girls were diagnosed with "colds" but Grace also had a double ear infection.  I can't believe that Grace had ear infections in both ears and never complained that they hurt.  When asked if they hurt she just looked at me like I was silly and said, "No.  My ee-rrs dun hurt, Momma.  My tummy hurts!"  (No.  My ears don't hurt, Momma.  My tummy hurts!)  So Grace was given a prescription for antibiotics and Faith got nothing...  As a side note, I like our regular pediatrican much better...

So anyway, I took Grace back in for a followup visit and Faith in for her 6 month checkup yesterday.  Grace had been acting much better after finishing her round of antibiotics.  She has no snotty nose, cough, or complaints.  Faith, however, still has the same runny nose, same wheezing, and a horrible diaper rash to boot that just won't go away. 

We began our visit with a nurse weighing Grace (34 1/2 pounds - 45th percentile) and measuring her height (39 1/2 inches - 85th percentile) and then doing the same for Faith (15 pounds 8 ounces - 50th percentile, 27 1/2 inches - 95th percentile).  And then we waited for our pediatrician.  She checked Grace out first and said that Grace still has an ear infection in her left ear.  So Grace gets to start a second round of stronger antibiotics.  And she needs a follow up visit in 2 more weeks.  And maybe another visit to the Ear, Nose, Throat specialist...

Next, Faith was diagnosed with the beginnings of sinuitis so she also is starting antibiotics.  And Faith's diaper rash isn't a diaper rash after all.  It's a yeast infection.  So we now have prescription diaper cream for that.  And another prescription for a yeast infection in her mouth.  Which means I also have to use a prescription cream since I'm still nursing Faith so I won't get her infection.  And I'm still on antibiotics, too.

Luckily though, Faith no longer has a fever so she was able to get her immunizations (rotavirus, DTap, Hib, PCV).  And her first flu shot.  She has a follow up visit in 4 weeks for her second flu shot.  And her next well visit is scheduled in 12 weeks for her nine month checkup.

So in summary, we have a lot of doctor's appointments in the near future.  And it seems like anytime one of us goes to the doctor, we walk away with at least five prescriptions...

Faith's 4 month checkup

Today Faith had her 4 month checkup.

She weighed 13 pounds 2 ounces. 

Once again she is in the 90th percentile for her height and 50th percentile for her weight.

She also received 2 shots.  Grace tried to prepare her.

Grace kept telling Faith it was going to be okay.  I'm glad Faith doesn't understand her yet.  Otherwise she might not be so happy while at the doctor's office.  Her next checkup is in 2 months.

Our girls go to the pediatrician

Today Faith had her 2 month checkup.

She weighed 10 pounds 14 ounces putting her in the 75 percentile for her weight.

Grace had her 3 year checkup at the same time.  She did not want to get on that scale.  The nurse had to pick her up and set her on it.  I can't blame Grace though, I hate getting on the scales, too.

Grace weighed 32 pounds which puts her in the 60 percentile for her weight.

And Grace is 38 1/2 inches tall!  I can't believe my baby is over 3 feet tall already!  She's taller than 80 percent of the other little girls her age.

Faith is 23 3/4 inches long.  She's longer than 90 percent of the other baby girls her age.

Grace got her head measured, too.

And her blood pressure checked for the first time.  Her bp was 82 over 54.  I thought that was really low but the nurse said it was great for her age.

I was surprised that Grace was so calm getting her blood pressure monitored.

Here's our little family all together for the girls' checkups.

When it was time for Faith's exam, Grace wanted to stand on her Daddy's lap to watch.

As always, Faith was excellent.  No fussing at all.  She's such a happy baby girl.

Then it was Grace's turn to be examined.  Grace really liked her reflex exam.  I can just see her now running all over the house trying to knock me in my kneecap so my leg will jump... 

Mammee was so sweet to feed Faith while I took pictures of Grace's big girl exam.

Then it was time for Grace's flu vaccination.  We told her to "smell the flowers" and she sniffed really well.

She didn't like it at all though.  And she didn't buy the flowers scam a bit when it came to squirting it up her other nostril.  But she got a good dose of it anyway.

Then Faith had to get her shots.  Poor baby.  She had 3 of them today.  But soon it was over and we were able to leave.  Grace has a followup visit next month for a second dose of the flu flowers.  Faith has her 4 month checkup in November.

1 month checkup

Today Faith had her 1 month checkup.

She weighed 9 pounds 2 ounces.  That puts her in the 75 percentile for her weight.

And she grew an entire inch in the last 2 weeks.  She's now 22 1/2 inches long!  That puts her in the 95 percentile for her height. 

She's a growing baby!  Her pediatrician said that she looks great and is growing well.  She was supposed to get her 2nd Hepatitis B shot, but wasn't able to get it since it hadn't been a full 30 days since she was born.  So she'll get that shot at her 2 month checkup. 

While Faith was getting her checkup, Grace played "High 5" with her Daddy.

And she got another lollipop after Faith's visit.  Needless to say, Grace is ready to take Faith back to the doctor!  We like Faith's pediatrician so much that we've decided to let her see Grace as well.  Grace has her 3 year checkup and Faith has her 2 month checkup next month on September 21.  I'm glad that the pediatrician can see them both at the same time!

Faith's 2 week checkup

Today we took Faith back to her pediatrician for her two week checkup.

She weighs 8 pounds 5 ounces putting her in the 75 percentile for her weight.  Faith grew another 1/4 inch this week.  She is now 21 1/2 inches long.  That puts her in the 90 percentile for her height.  And her head is 35 1/2 centimeters which is in the 50 percentile.

I asked the pediatrician if we should be concerned about Faith's little boobies because they are pretty puffy.  She told me that while they are larger than most, it's nothing to be concerned about.  She just has a lot of breast tissue because of all the estrogen she's getting from my milk.  And we might even notice them leaking milk!  But not to worry it's normal and will eventually go away...

Then the pediatrician left and the nurse came back in to prick Faith's heel for her second round of state screenings.  Poor thing yelled and yelled while the nurse squeezed and squeezed her heel to get the blood needed for the tests.  Grace stood beside me while I tried to comfort Faith and said, "It's not working, Momma!"  And she was right.  Nothing I did made Faith stop crying until the nurse was done.  The nurse was very nice though.  After she was finished she told Grace that she was such a big girl and a big helper.  Then she offered Grace a Splenda lollipop.

After Grace selected one lollipop the nurse told her to get another one because she was such a good girl.  Then she told her to get one for Momma and another one for Daddy.  Needless to say Grace was very excited about all the treats.  After we got in the car Grace said, "We go to duh doc-tur mah-row too, Momma?"  (Can we go to the doctor tomorrow, too, Momma?)  Thankfully, no. 

We go back for Faith's 1 month checkup on August 17.

Faith's first visit to the doctor

Today Faith had her first visit to her pediatrician.

The nurse weighed her.  I was shocked to see that she weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces.

When she came home from the hospital on Thursday she weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces.  But my milk came in strongly that same day and Faith has been nursing ever since.

Then the nurse measured Faith's height.  She's grown 1/4 of an inch and is now 21 1/4 inches long.

They also measured her head circumference.

And listened to her heartbeat.

Faith's pediatrician told us that Faith is doing extremely well.  There is no hint of jaundice and she's growing exceptionally well.  She also told us that most breastfed babies are at their lowest weight around 1 week old.  I think she was pretty surprised to see Faith gain so much weight in such a short amount of time and I think we shocked her when we told her that I was producing an extra 30 ounces of milk each day.  I'm sure my milk production will eventually level off (at least I hope so but in the meantime I'm enjoying burning all those extra calories!) 

Faith goes back next week on Tuesday August 3 for her 2 week checkup.