With my first baby, I was very emotional the night before I was induced. I remember laying in bed, crying softly - thinking about how my life was going to change drastically in the next hours. I was anxious, nervous, excited, scared, worried, all of the above. This time around, I was dealing with another set of emotions. I am in love with my first born. I couldn't imagine bringing someone else into our perfect little family unit. I was full og guilt for disrupting his life, especially because he didn't really understand what was going to happen. I was sad because I would have to be away from him for 2 nights. I had not been away from him since he was born. On the other hand, I was so uncomfortable and this rash that I had developed was kicking my butt. I just wanted him out. The doctors had estimated that he was about 7 and 1/2 pounds but he felt more like 50 pounds on my small frame.
When the wee hours of dawn finally arrived, I hitched a ride to the hospital with my dad. My husband was going to bring our 2 year old to his parents for the day and would meet us at the hospital. The initial hospital experience was identical to my first time around. I checked in, had some blood taken, had my IVs hooked up. I was feeling no pain. My husband and mother arrived and I just settled into the hospital bed for the process to start.
At one point, my bladder felt full and I asked to go to the bathroom. I had to get all of my IV lines gathered up and wheeled my IV holder into the bathroom with me. I went but not a lot. I got back into bed and a short while later I felt like I had to go again. I trekked back into the bathroom and went a little more. Got back into bed. Not 5 minutes later, I felt myself leaking. I told the nurse that I was either wetting the bed (not outside the realm of possibility) or my water had broken. She checked and sure enough, my bag of waters had ruptured. I felt almost proud. They hadn't even started the pitocin and the doctor was scheduled to come break my water in an hour or so. But I had done it my own.
At this point, it was a continuous leaking of fluid so I stayed in bed. I remembered from last time that the contractions started not too long after my water was broken. So I waited for that happen. I had the mindset that I was not going to get an epidural this time. I had one with my first and I was pushing within an hour. I figured if labor was going to be that quick, I would be able to handle the pain, especially because I knew the end was in sight.
My contractions started hard and fast. They were really intense and were lasting about a minute. I had about 4 minutes in between so I had a little break. Soon they were even more painful - probably about a 10 on a scale of 1-10. And now they were about a minute apart, still a minute long. I breathed in and out. I focused on an object. Nothing was working. I cannot even believe how much pain I was in. I was shaking and trying to will myself to have an out of body experience so I could escape. But I couldn't get out of my own body and I felt hopeless. At this point I wasn't getting any kind of break in between contractions. They were almost continuous. I could feel them peak and then taper off like a wave but then they would peak again almost immediately.
By now I am crying. My husband and parents were just staring at my because my reaction was so different from the first time. Then I had been stoic, handling the pain. Now I was a mess. I was suffering in silence as tears rolled down my face. There was no screaming like you see on TV. I somehow indicated to my mother that I needed the epidural NOW. She was able to relay my message to the nurse because I couldn't physically speak at the time.
Had I been in my right mind, I would have remembered that they need to get a bag of fluids into my IV before they can give the epidural. This process can take 15-20 minutes which meant that I was going to have 15-20 more contractions before I was able to get some relief.
After an excrutiating quarter of an hour, my IV had been administered. And of course, now the anesthesiologist was no where to be found. Actually he was in with a C section patient which was also very important but I was running out of patience. Another 1 /2 hour passed before the anesthesiologist came in and I was never so happy to see someone that would be sticking a foot long needle in my back. Well, I should have known that it wasn't going to be that easy. He had an intern tagging along that was learning how to give an epidural. That was fine, I had no problem with someone learning. But he had to explain everything in detail to her. Again, no problem with the learning process but I just wanted my damn pain meds. He finally got me into position and had put the iodine on my back. I was ready but I just kept having contractions. Involuntary shaking had taken over my body about 3 separate times as he was preparing to insert the needle. He waited each time. After that 3rd time, he said he wasn't waiting anymore and I that I had to make sure that I stayed still or we would have a proble. Well, excuse me. Somehow I made it through and he was able to do his thing without incident. I was told that it would take another 15 minutes before I would be feeling relief. So 15 minutes came and went and I was still feeling the contractions. The edge was taken off but they were still so painful.
When the doctor came in, she realized that I was still having to breathe through the contractions, even after the epidural. She decided to check me and said, "Well, it is time to push." I was so frustrated! Yet again I had the epidural and I could have made it without if I could just have waited 15 more minutes. It didn't even really give me much relief. But I was glad to get the show on the road. I was hoping that very soon I would have a new little baby boy in my arms.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wow! It's been a long time...
Well it has been forever since I have posted anything. I guess that is what having two kids does to you. So my oldest is now 2 years, 8 months old and my baby is 9 months old. Time flies!
Remembering back about 10 months ago, my life was so very different. I was pregnant and ready to pop. With my first pregnancy, I had gestational diabetes and had to be extremely careful about what I ate. This pregnancy I was lucky enough to escape the diabetes but I was enormous. I am not a very big person to begin with and having a very large baby was no picnic. At 6 months pregnant, I was as big as I was full term with my first.
Because the baby was measuring large, the doctors wanted to induce me a week early. They thought that I probably did have diabetes but had (barely) passed my 3 hour sugar test so I wasn't "treating" it like I had with my first. I was scheduled to go in on Tuesday 9/8/09. On the Thursday before, I broke out in a rash on the back of my thighs. It wasn't a big deal and I assumed it was because of the hormones. By that evening, the rash had become itchy. Very itchy. By the next morning, it had spread to pretty much the entire lower half of my body. I scratched to relieve the itch but I could tell it was getting worse. By the next day, I had it all over my stomach in a spider web like pattern. I was so itchy that I would wake up from sound sleep just scratching. My skin was raw from all of the scratching, yet I couldn't help myself. The rash had grown together so it was like I had a second, raised, outer layer of skin. Nothing would take the itch away.
I researched online because all online information is so very accurate, especially medical information (NOT!). But that is what I did. I self-diagnosed a PUPPPs rash. Everything that I read said that it goes away soon after the birth. I was praying that was true because I couldn't take it anymore. I was huge and uncomfortable and now I had to deal with this. AHHHH!!!! I just needed this baby out!
Remembering back about 10 months ago, my life was so very different. I was pregnant and ready to pop. With my first pregnancy, I had gestational diabetes and had to be extremely careful about what I ate. This pregnancy I was lucky enough to escape the diabetes but I was enormous. I am not a very big person to begin with and having a very large baby was no picnic. At 6 months pregnant, I was as big as I was full term with my first.
Because the baby was measuring large, the doctors wanted to induce me a week early. They thought that I probably did have diabetes but had (barely) passed my 3 hour sugar test so I wasn't "treating" it like I had with my first. I was scheduled to go in on Tuesday 9/8/09. On the Thursday before, I broke out in a rash on the back of my thighs. It wasn't a big deal and I assumed it was because of the hormones. By that evening, the rash had become itchy. Very itchy. By the next morning, it had spread to pretty much the entire lower half of my body. I scratched to relieve the itch but I could tell it was getting worse. By the next day, I had it all over my stomach in a spider web like pattern. I was so itchy that I would wake up from sound sleep just scratching. My skin was raw from all of the scratching, yet I couldn't help myself. The rash had grown together so it was like I had a second, raised, outer layer of skin. Nothing would take the itch away.
I researched online because all online information is so very accurate, especially medical information (NOT!). But that is what I did. I self-diagnosed a PUPPPs rash. Everything that I read said that it goes away soon after the birth. I was praying that was true because I couldn't take it anymore. I was huge and uncomfortable and now I had to deal with this. AHHHH!!!! I just needed this baby out!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Follow-Up Appointment...
The day of my appointment had finally arrived. My husband, son and I arrived at the office. A very busy office I might add. I had asked for directions when I had made the appointment because they had 2 locations. I had to sign in at the front desk and take a seat. About a 1/2 hour later, 15 minutes past my appointment time, they called me to the desk and informed me that my appointment was at the other location. I assured them that it was not because I had specifically made sure that it was here. They didn't have availability for me at that office. I told them there was no way I was leaving that office without my sonogram. Were they trying to give me an ulcer? They asked me wait a minute and then let me know that someone would be able to see me but I might have to wait a while. I was prepared to set up a sleeping bag and spend the night if I had to. I wasn't leaving.
About an hour and one hungry toddler later, I was called into the office. The three of us trekked in with the nurse and I undressed from the waist down, ready to hear my the fate of the baby I hadn't even known I wanted.
The way the table was set up didn't allow me to see the screen. These sonograms are done for high risk pregnancies so I didn't know if that was done intentionally or not. But it was maddening. My husband stood over her shoulder as she did the sonogram and neither of them would look at me. I was afraid to say anything so I waited, searching their faces for some sign of what they were seeing. After an eternity my husband looked at me and gave me a thumbs up. There was a heartbeat. Then he got this shocked look on his face and said that there were 2 heartbeats. Luckily he was only kidding. Turns out the heartbeat was nice and strong and I was measuring about 7 weeks at that time. My cycle had been off and I hadn't really been as far along as I thought initially.
Relief filled my body and now I could finally let myself be happy about the new arrival.
About an hour and one hungry toddler later, I was called into the office. The three of us trekked in with the nurse and I undressed from the waist down, ready to hear my the fate of the baby I hadn't even known I wanted.
The way the table was set up didn't allow me to see the screen. These sonograms are done for high risk pregnancies so I didn't know if that was done intentionally or not. But it was maddening. My husband stood over her shoulder as she did the sonogram and neither of them would look at me. I was afraid to say anything so I waited, searching their faces for some sign of what they were seeing. After an eternity my husband looked at me and gave me a thumbs up. There was a heartbeat. Then he got this shocked look on his face and said that there were 2 heartbeats. Luckily he was only kidding. Turns out the heartbeat was nice and strong and I was measuring about 7 weeks at that time. My cycle had been off and I hadn't really been as far along as I thought initially.
Relief filled my body and now I could finally let myself be happy about the new arrival.
First doctor's appointment...
I still wasn't feeling much better about finding out I was pregnant. I had started to sink in and I was starting to accept it but I felt like I still had a long way to go. I called the doctor to make an appointment. Maybe I was still wrong. There are false positive tests, right?
From my calculation I was about 8 weeks along when I went to the doctor. They agreed. They did a urine test and it came out positive. I guess I wasn't too surprised. Then they decided to do a sonogram. Nothing special, just one of the antequated machines that was in the office. I watched the screen as the familiar fuzzy screen came up. The doctor immediately located the yolk sac. Then I waited and watched. She searched around for what seemed like an eternity. And then there was nothing. No heartbeat. I think my heart may have stopped as well. She told me that my uterus didn't really feel like I was 8 weeks and that the measurements were indicating that I was just over 5 weeks. Still too early to see a heartbeat. She asked me to make an appointment with another office in a couple of weeks just to make sure everything was ok. She said she wasn't concerned.
I walked out of the office devastated. I didn't even think I wanted this pregnancy and now that I was faced with not having a living being in my womb I was unprepared for the sadness and sense of loss that I felt. And there was nothing I could do but wait. Hard to not think about something like that. It consumed my free thoughts all the time, at work, at home, in bed when I was trying to fall asleep. I didn't show my emotion to my husband because I didn't want him to worry about me. I just kept it all inside.
My mother and I went to see Marley & Me at the movie theater after that appointment. I thought it would be good to get out of the house. I had read the book and knew it would be a tearjerker but I just wanted to get my mind off of the situation. Bad choice of movie for that. In one scene, the character played by Jennifer Aniston found out she was pregnant. They were so happy. Then at 10 weeks they had a sonogram and there was no heartbeat. She had lost the baby. It was almost unbearable to sit there. I think I went through a whole box of tissues in that dark theater, hoping that wouldn't be me in a couple of weeks.
My husband and mother were very reassuring but I knew that if the calculations were indicating that I was 8 weeks and I was measuring 3 weeks behind, the fetus could have just stopped growing and died at 5 weeks and I was still carrying the remains of the pregnancy. Why couldn't a time machine just take me into the future so I could just know for sure? But I waited.
From my calculation I was about 8 weeks along when I went to the doctor. They agreed. They did a urine test and it came out positive. I guess I wasn't too surprised. Then they decided to do a sonogram. Nothing special, just one of the antequated machines that was in the office. I watched the screen as the familiar fuzzy screen came up. The doctor immediately located the yolk sac. Then I waited and watched. She searched around for what seemed like an eternity. And then there was nothing. No heartbeat. I think my heart may have stopped as well. She told me that my uterus didn't really feel like I was 8 weeks and that the measurements were indicating that I was just over 5 weeks. Still too early to see a heartbeat. She asked me to make an appointment with another office in a couple of weeks just to make sure everything was ok. She said she wasn't concerned.
I walked out of the office devastated. I didn't even think I wanted this pregnancy and now that I was faced with not having a living being in my womb I was unprepared for the sadness and sense of loss that I felt. And there was nothing I could do but wait. Hard to not think about something like that. It consumed my free thoughts all the time, at work, at home, in bed when I was trying to fall asleep. I didn't show my emotion to my husband because I didn't want him to worry about me. I just kept it all inside.
My mother and I went to see Marley & Me at the movie theater after that appointment. I thought it would be good to get out of the house. I had read the book and knew it would be a tearjerker but I just wanted to get my mind off of the situation. Bad choice of movie for that. In one scene, the character played by Jennifer Aniston found out she was pregnant. They were so happy. Then at 10 weeks they had a sonogram and there was no heartbeat. She had lost the baby. It was almost unbearable to sit there. I think I went through a whole box of tissues in that dark theater, hoping that wouldn't be me in a couple of weeks.
My husband and mother were very reassuring but I knew that if the calculations were indicating that I was 8 weeks and I was measuring 3 weeks behind, the fetus could have just stopped growing and died at 5 weeks and I was still carrying the remains of the pregnancy. Why couldn't a time machine just take me into the future so I could just know for sure? But I waited.
It's been a while...
It's been quite a while since I have updated this page. So much has happened since my last post that I don't even know where to start.
The holidays were great. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas with family. My cousins and I had babies within a few weeks of each other so all three babies were a year old and very interested in each other and in the wrapping paper. Hectic yes, but memorable.
The biggest news I have is that we are expecting baby number two. Yes, that's right. Another baby is going to make an entrance in September. Needless to say, it was shocker. My husband and I had been talking about when the right time would be to try for another. I am an only child and no way wanted my son to be an only. I had a wonderful childhood but remember making my father pretend he was my brother. I had a cousin who was going to come live with us when I was really young. I remember fantasizing about when he would arrive and I would have a real "brother". He never ended up moving in with us and I was devastated. I didn't my little one to grow up lonely.
I wasn't ready to be pregnant again. But my husband really wanted them to be close in age. I understand that but it is my body. I agree that I wanted to get the diapers and bottles out of the way now instead of waiting a few years to do it all over again. I also thought that it would be nice if they could grow up relatively close in age. They could look out for each other. On the other hand, I have known siblings who are close in age that end up hating each other. I didn't know the right answer. My husband said it is now or never and I told him that I wanted to wait.
Well, nature and modern medicine had other plans for me. We weren't trying and I was taking preventative measures. It failed. And I was in shock. I knew it really early on. When I took the test, I was hoping that I was wrong. I wasn't. It was official, I was pregnant.
Once the shock wore off, I thought I would be happy. But another emotion found its way into my body and soul. Guilt. How could I take my attention away from my very young son? He had been my life up until now. How could I introduce competition into his world? How could I possibly love a new baby like I love him? Would I over compensate and neglect the new baby in favor of my son? All of these questions swirled through my brain and I wondered if postpartum depression could occur prepartum.
I wasn't ready to surrender my body to another being. I guess I didn't have a choice.
The holidays were great. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas with family. My cousins and I had babies within a few weeks of each other so all three babies were a year old and very interested in each other and in the wrapping paper. Hectic yes, but memorable.
The biggest news I have is that we are expecting baby number two. Yes, that's right. Another baby is going to make an entrance in September. Needless to say, it was shocker. My husband and I had been talking about when the right time would be to try for another. I am an only child and no way wanted my son to be an only. I had a wonderful childhood but remember making my father pretend he was my brother. I had a cousin who was going to come live with us when I was really young. I remember fantasizing about when he would arrive and I would have a real "brother". He never ended up moving in with us and I was devastated. I didn't my little one to grow up lonely.
I wasn't ready to be pregnant again. But my husband really wanted them to be close in age. I understand that but it is my body. I agree that I wanted to get the diapers and bottles out of the way now instead of waiting a few years to do it all over again. I also thought that it would be nice if they could grow up relatively close in age. They could look out for each other. On the other hand, I have known siblings who are close in age that end up hating each other. I didn't know the right answer. My husband said it is now or never and I told him that I wanted to wait.
Well, nature and modern medicine had other plans for me. We weren't trying and I was taking preventative measures. It failed. And I was in shock. I knew it really early on. When I took the test, I was hoping that I was wrong. I wasn't. It was official, I was pregnant.
Once the shock wore off, I thought I would be happy. But another emotion found its way into my body and soul. Guilt. How could I take my attention away from my very young son? He had been my life up until now. How could I introduce competition into his world? How could I possibly love a new baby like I love him? Would I over compensate and neglect the new baby in favor of my son? All of these questions swirled through my brain and I wondered if postpartum depression could occur prepartum.
I wasn't ready to surrender my body to another being. I guess I didn't have a choice.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Thanksgiving...
I was on vacation for 2 weeks and what a wonderful 2 weeks it was. I was able to spend loads of time with my son. In fact, I haven't been able to spend that much time with him since I was on maternity leave. I loved every moment of it. This is such a great age. He loves to play with his toys and read his books. He walks/runs all over the place. He is also fiercely independent and can spend a good 1/2 hour playing on his own. But then he runs over to me and I scoop him up and give him big hugs.
Thanksgiving took place during my time off. We went to my parents house. Every year we get together with my aunt, uncle, cousins and their kids. My two cousins and I all had babies within a couple weeks of each other but last year they were just newborns around the holidays. This was really the first opportunity for them to interact with each other. Unfortunately one of my cousins and her 2 kids couldn't make it. But my other cousin made up for that. She has 2 girls, one is 6 and the other is just a year like my little man. At first they were wary of each other which is ok. But after they were in the same room for a little while, they started to play. And when I say play, I mean running. They ran around the hall, through the living room, around the dinner table and back down the hall. The little ones were chasing each other while screaming and laughing at the top of their lungs. The 6 year old would go the opposite direction and scare them as they turned the corner which prompted more giggles and laughter. They were having a ball. I loved it. I was so happy that they got along and I hope this will be the start of a very close friendship with his cousins.
As for the food, everything was delicious. Thanksgiving dinner is something I look forward to all year. Mostly for the time with family but for the food as well. My son was eating the pre-dinner goodies like cheese and
Thanksgiving took place during my time off. We went to my parents house. Every year we get together with my aunt, uncle, cousins and their kids. My two cousins and I all had babies within a couple weeks of each other but last year they were just newborns around the holidays. This was really the first opportunity for them to interact with each other. Unfortunately one of my cousins and her 2 kids couldn't make it. But my other cousin made up for that. She has 2 girls, one is 6 and the other is just a year like my little man. At first they were wary of each other which is ok. But after they were in the same room for a little while, they started to play. And when I say play, I mean running. They ran around the hall, through the living room, around the dinner table and back down the hall. The little ones were chasing each other while screaming and laughing at the top of their lungs. The 6 year old would go the opposite direction and scare them as they turned the corner which prompted more giggles and laughter. They were having a ball. I loved it. I was so happy that they got along and I hope this will be the start of a very close friendship with his cousins.
As for the food, everything was delicious. Thanksgiving dinner is something I look forward to all year. Mostly for the time with family but for the food as well. My son was eating the pre-dinner goodies like cheese and
Monday, November 3, 2008
Baby's first Halloween...
So my son's first real Halloween (he was only a day old last Halloween) started with his doctor's appointment. I had been planning to pass out candy with him in his costume. But I wasn't so sure since so much had happened at the doctor that day. When we got home from the doctor, he slept for 3 hours which is highly unusal for him. I thought I would play it by ear and turn on the porch lights if he seemed up to it.
By the time the kids started going door to door, he was still sleepy so I kept the lights off. As the night wore on, he seemed to get his spunk back but it seemed a little late to start passing out candy. My street was pretty much deserted anyway so I decided to load him into the car and go to grandma's house so at least she could see him all dressed up.
When we got there, he was so excited to see her, my father and their two dogs. He was just shrieking in delight. It was so funny and adorable. I had dressed him in flesh colored sweatpants because it was essential for his costume. I pulled it out the bag and proceeded to dress him. It was a Donald Duck costume. My best friend is a huge Disney fan and she bought it for him. The body is big and puffy and his legs stick out, hence the sweatpants. I didn't want him to be just bare-legged though it probably would have been even funnier that way. And the head was like a hat where his face was open but Donald's head sat on top of his head. I can't even begin to describe how funny it is. I laugh, not just a giggle, but a huge belly laugh every time I see it.
And it made him off balance. He waddles just because that is how he walks normally but it was even more pronounced and the perfect compliment to the outfit. We passed out candy at my mom's house with him as Donald Duck and me as his proud mommy. We stayed for about an hour and then I got him home, thinking he would sleep well. It was a big day.
When we got home, he was all wound up and it was a good hour before he settled down for the night. I watched him as he slept, wondering where the year went and fully understanding when people say that they grow up so fast.
By the time the kids started going door to door, he was still sleepy so I kept the lights off. As the night wore on, he seemed to get his spunk back but it seemed a little late to start passing out candy. My street was pretty much deserted anyway so I decided to load him into the car and go to grandma's house so at least she could see him all dressed up.
When we got there, he was so excited to see her, my father and their two dogs. He was just shrieking in delight. It was so funny and adorable. I had dressed him in flesh colored sweatpants because it was essential for his costume. I pulled it out the bag and proceeded to dress him. It was a Donald Duck costume. My best friend is a huge Disney fan and she bought it for him. The body is big and puffy and his legs stick out, hence the sweatpants. I didn't want him to be just bare-legged though it probably would have been even funnier that way. And the head was like a hat where his face was open but Donald's head sat on top of his head. I can't even begin to describe how funny it is. I laugh, not just a giggle, but a huge belly laugh every time I see it.
And it made him off balance. He waddles just because that is how he walks normally but it was even more pronounced and the perfect compliment to the outfit. We passed out candy at my mom's house with him as Donald Duck and me as his proud mommy. We stayed for about an hour and then I got him home, thinking he would sleep well. It was a big day.
When we got home, he was all wound up and it was a good hour before he settled down for the night. I watched him as he slept, wondering where the year went and fully understanding when people say that they grow up so fast.
1 Year Doctor appt...
I had heard horror stories from my good friend about baby's 1 year doctor well-check. She had her son 3 months before me so I always use her as a gauge for what will be happening in our lives. She said that they gave him his shots and also took blood. She was sent to the diagnostic labs and they took blood from him just like an adult, with the rubber tournequet and needle with vials. Now my little one will not sit still for anything, let alone having a needle put in his arm. So I was terrified. I figured that I would go for our appointment and have my husband come with me to the lab for his bloodwork.
He has always been such a good boy for our doctor visits, sitting nicely, smiling at the doctor, and only crying when he gets his shots. This time was a whole different story. He is just so active now that he has mastered walking that sitting in the waiting room was torture. He wanted to climb up in everything and was constantly trying to wiggle out of my arms when I held him. When we were finally called, I undressed him for his weigh-in. He was fine for that but when I tried to get his diaper back on, he practically jumped off of the scale. He wouldn't lay still for the nurse to check his length. Eventually he let me put his diaper on and the nurse took that opportunity to see how long he was. He gained about a pound since his 9 month visit and is now off the chart for weight. He was in the 5th percentile but not anymore. They said they aren't concerned yet. He is just tiny. He is in the 25th percentile for length where he has been all along. So he is long and skinny at this point.
The nurse walked us to the patient's room and said she was going to take his blood. I couldn't believe it was going to happen right then and there. She said they do a finger prick. I held him in my lap and she pricked his finger. He didn't even flinch and I didn't even know when it had happened. Then she had to squeeze his little finger until 1/2 a vial was filled. The tests should take a couple of days and if they see anything, they may send him for more bloodwork. They check levels of lead and things like that.
Then I had to wait in the patient room and he was all over the place again. He didn't want to be held. There was so many new things to look at that he couldn't bear to be in one spot. When the doctor came in, I had to hold him and pace otherwise he would squirm and cry out. She said that he is doing this because he is gets frustrated with his physical limitations and can't express himself verbally yet. This happens to early walkers. They can move around but can't do all of the things they want and they can't say what they want yet.
I have switched to cow's milk now and things seem to be going well. He loves his milk and hasn't had any digestive issues. The doctor told me to keep feeding him full fat foods and just offer a healthy variety of foods because he has become picky all of a sudden. She said that is normal. She also said that they at around this age their big growth spurts aren't as frequent so I may see a drop in his appetite.
I had been worried about the heart murmur that she had heard at his 6 month check-up. She didn't hear it at his 9 month and didn't hear it again at this visit. So now I feel better. When she was done checking him over, she left and sent the nurse back in. He had to get 4 shots this time - MMR, Chicken Pox and something else I can't remember now. He also got his flu shot. He screamed and cried for a few seconds and then was fine. By the time I got him out of there and into the car, he was asleep. He slept for 3 hours when we got home which was fine. He probably needed it. Then he was absolutely fine when he woke up, no fever or ill effects from the shots. I have to take him back in 4 weeks for his second flu shot. Then back again in 3 months. Hopefully he will grow a little more so they don't have reason to be concerned.
He has always been such a good boy for our doctor visits, sitting nicely, smiling at the doctor, and only crying when he gets his shots. This time was a whole different story. He is just so active now that he has mastered walking that sitting in the waiting room was torture. He wanted to climb up in everything and was constantly trying to wiggle out of my arms when I held him. When we were finally called, I undressed him for his weigh-in. He was fine for that but when I tried to get his diaper back on, he practically jumped off of the scale. He wouldn't lay still for the nurse to check his length. Eventually he let me put his diaper on and the nurse took that opportunity to see how long he was. He gained about a pound since his 9 month visit and is now off the chart for weight. He was in the 5th percentile but not anymore. They said they aren't concerned yet. He is just tiny. He is in the 25th percentile for length where he has been all along. So he is long and skinny at this point.
The nurse walked us to the patient's room and said she was going to take his blood. I couldn't believe it was going to happen right then and there. She said they do a finger prick. I held him in my lap and she pricked his finger. He didn't even flinch and I didn't even know when it had happened. Then she had to squeeze his little finger until 1/2 a vial was filled. The tests should take a couple of days and if they see anything, they may send him for more bloodwork. They check levels of lead and things like that.
Then I had to wait in the patient room and he was all over the place again. He didn't want to be held. There was so many new things to look at that he couldn't bear to be in one spot. When the doctor came in, I had to hold him and pace otherwise he would squirm and cry out. She said that he is doing this because he is gets frustrated with his physical limitations and can't express himself verbally yet. This happens to early walkers. They can move around but can't do all of the things they want and they can't say what they want yet.
I have switched to cow's milk now and things seem to be going well. He loves his milk and hasn't had any digestive issues. The doctor told me to keep feeding him full fat foods and just offer a healthy variety of foods because he has become picky all of a sudden. She said that is normal. She also said that they at around this age their big growth spurts aren't as frequent so I may see a drop in his appetite.
I had been worried about the heart murmur that she had heard at his 6 month check-up. She didn't hear it at his 9 month and didn't hear it again at this visit. So now I feel better. When she was done checking him over, she left and sent the nurse back in. He had to get 4 shots this time - MMR, Chicken Pox and something else I can't remember now. He also got his flu shot. He screamed and cried for a few seconds and then was fine. By the time I got him out of there and into the car, he was asleep. He slept for 3 hours when we got home which was fine. He probably needed it. Then he was absolutely fine when he woke up, no fever or ill effects from the shots. I have to take him back in 4 weeks for his second flu shot. Then back again in 3 months. Hopefully he will grow a little more so they don't have reason to be concerned.
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