5 & 15

So, backing up once again to the final weeks of 2013...

Because of the way their birthdays fall, I was able to kill two birds with one stone and schedule Kaiser's 5 year and Malone's 15 month well checkups with the pediatrician on Thursday, December 19. This was the first day of Kaiser's school break, so I was grateful to get the visit out of the way before things got busy with our trip to Charlotte, celebrating Christmas, and our Oklahoma visitors. 

We had our appointment with Miss Joy, the PA whom we had seen back in October for Porter's 3 year checkup. Our middle child loved that this time he got to lay low and play on the LeapPad while Big Bro and Lil Sis got all the attention. There was quite a crowd in the small room, as initially two nurses came in to ask me questions about both children simultaneously. Kaiser and Malone also went out to have their oh-so-important measurements taken. Here's where we're at currently:

KJB

42 pounds (61st %ile)

41 3/4 inches (27th %ile)

MMB

19 pounds 10 ounces (26th %ile)

29 inches (8th %ile)

47 cm (83rd %ile)

Our sturdy son had put on nearly 6 pounds and grown just over 2 inches since his checkup the previous year. Meanwhile, our little lady remains just that -- little. (With the exception of her noggin, of course...)

 

Clearly the pair were thrilled to be there.

We had to wait a while in between seeing the nurses and seeing Miss Joy. The boys were fairly patient and quiet. Their youngest sibling, however, was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster (par for the course for her more recent doctor visits). We managed to hold it together...barely.

Book-reading was short-lived.

"Let's just get this over with already!"

Giving up some small smiles for her brothers. 

When all else fails, we pull out the iPhone video camera...

Once Miss Joy finally came in to talk to us, Kaiser was glad to see her; Malone was pleasant enough, but not overly enthusiastic about making friends with the PA. Miss Joy chatted with/examined the eldest first, and everything checked out A-OK. Then he left to go down the hall with a medical assistant for hearing and vision tests -- both of which he passed with flying colors. Next up was Malone, whose exam was a bit rough (having things poked in your ears + nose + mouth = MAJOR trauma!). Everything looked great, except Miss Joy was concerned about Malone's lack of speech (since, when asked, I informed her that she did not yet say five words). I tried to remind myself that neither Kaiser nor Porter were talking at this age and to not be nervous when she wanted me to fill out an assessment for potential developmental delay. Our girl's scores in the other categories thankfully helped her fall into the "normal" range for now; we'll just see how her communication skills have grown at her 18 month checkup in March!

Unfortunately, a visit to the doctor doesn't seem complete without a couple of vaccinations for my kiddos. Poor Malone was already feelin' a little peeved, then we had to go and add three shots to make her step over the line into fightin' mad. Kaiser got off easy with just a flu mist and a quick blood draw (which I'm so thankful they are able to do right there!) from his finger to test his iron levels. He was told at his last appointment in Pittsburgh that he wouldn't need any more shots until he was 11, and he's definitely holding me to that!

Nearly two hours later, our crew walked out the front door of the pediatrician's office. A couple of us definitely looked and felt a bit more weary than others. 

"Please don't bring me back here for at least three months!"

I can never say enough how grateful I am for the blessing of three healthy children. I'll take a bit of well check whininess any day in exchange for knowing that my sons and daughter are indeed well!