Three Year Check Up

My plan was I'd take Roo to her 3yr check-up and then to the toy store to spend the gift card she got for her birthday and pick out birthday presents. So many September birthdays. She was happy enough to go to the doctor when I reminded her there was a possible lollipop when she was done. Dr. J says she's on the small side of average at 28.5lbs and 36in. It had been a whole year since we'd been in, woo-hoo. Happy and healthy. She got her lollipop. She choose a pink bubble gum flavored treat.

Thanks partially to her lollipop she sat calmly in cart for our whole trip though the toy store. She choose a Tangled dress up dress and a Tangled doll for herself. She even got a free Tangled musical jewelry box. With birthday presents procured we decided to pick up grandma for a play date. Maybe it was timing? Or a lollipop so early in the day? Maybe not enough sleep lat night? In general 3 has been difficult. She seems much more manic these days. Melt Down.

Poor grandma was subjected to screaming the whole ride to our house and then Roo had to go straight to bed. I wrestled her to the potty and bed, promising her lunch would be waiting when she got up. I had to pull the car over and take her new doll away it was so bad. It's difficult because everything is the end of the world to her just now. I'm thinking we weren't quite caught up on sleep from our overstimulating weekend.

Mom and I looked at party pictures and ran to Target while she slept. I fantasized about not going home until after dinner. Poor Mike, did his best to feed and entertain her, but it's very hard to fix computer code without the ability to concentrate. I hurried home after the SOS text. She seemed better for a bit and even got her new doll back, but it didn't last. Her fits got violent and she was in bed by 7pm. Reset!

Three feels like a glimpse into what she'll be like as a teenager...gulp.

2yr Check-up

How things have changed. I remember taking Riley to Dr. J the very first time and wondering how do you leave the house with one of these new people? Not only have they seen Riley grow up, but they have seen me in various states of mobility (in pain, post-op, etc). Today, I took her to Boo's and then picked her up to go to the appointment. She said "Bye-bye. Go visit doc-er J." She even wished her friends farewell using their first and last names, so cute.

On the way there we talked about birthdays and our plan for the rest of the week. It's so nice to have a fully articulated conversation in the car. I do not miss they days of wondering if the silence meant she was okay or sleeping or in trouble or what? I made the mistake of reminding her what reward awaits good little girls at the doctor's office. She walked in the door asking for "lollipop! pee-sah". I can't even remember how many time I told her "we're not done yet."

She is a whole 23.5lbs and 33 and 3/4ins. My daughter made it on the growth chart. She was skeptical, but tolerant of all the poking and prodding. The doc wanted to know if she was still using a bottle, which made me laugh both because it's been so long and she used one all of 6 or 7 times probably. I told him we've been practicing with regular cups.

He also asked about sleeping and I reported that she's been in a big girl bed since March. When he asked if she stays in it and I answered she only gets up to go to the bathroom he was a little surprised. I reported her potty training along with use of full sentences and recognition of her name and a few letters (brag, brag, brag).

When he asked if I had any questions I reported her unnatural attachment to this muffin toy. It came up in the last 2wks, but it's a serious thing when she can't find or reach the silly think. My guess was that with Mommy getting busy and going out a few nights left her feeling a little anxiety. The doc said two years often do have attachment objects and any time independence increases separation anxiety can re-surface.

Someday, I'll tell her about her muffin and she probably won't believe me. I guess I shouldn't laugh, I still have my blankie. I'm so lucky to have such a sweet, healthy, smart little girl.

All in a Day's Work for the Amazing Miss Roo

Riley had her 15mo check up today, oddly enough the day she turned 16mo. It's so strange to see the pediatrician at 12mo and then at 15/16mo. She was only rarely experimenting with walking last time we saw him. This time she was running all over the room. As an added bonus she'd also pulled down her skirt and was stepping out of it when the doctor came in.

I had my back to the door and was filling out some paperwork they gave us at the front when I heard "Why, hello Riley you've got no pants." Sure enough I looked down to see her smiling up at me in all her diapery glory. Good first impression I'm the mom who had all the surgeries wheeling in with Riley in my lap. It would be nice to at least look like I had things together.

Toddlers are great for keeping you modest. Dr. J was pleased with her growth. Her weight has apparently "tapered off." She's down to 18lbs 9oz below average for her age, but her height was exactly average at 33in. I guess it's her destiny to be tall and thin, my little ballerina.

He claims her infamous bump is stable, but I don't know how he can tell under all that hair. I know I should thank my lucky stars for such a healthy girl, but I miss life before hemangiomas. I only had about a week or so with Riley before those bumps appeared and it's likely they will never cause a problem and be gone by kindergarten, but Mike loves to do Internet research (especially when I ask him not to) and I'll be more comfortable when they're gone.

Today's poke was the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella). I'm so glad this was the second to last of the 'shots every visit' appointments. I had some passing anxiety about shots without nursing during and after. It was the second time in a week I really missed "the magic boob." What could I console her with? It worked out that I was reading her a book in my lap (No, No Yes, Yes by: Leslie Patricelli)when he returned ready to do the deed. I continued reading and gently restrained her while he gave the poke. She started to cry so I shut the book so I could hold her. Isn't that amazing about toddlers? Even when you're the one who held them still while they got a shot or whacked their head pitting them in the car they still reach for you to be comforted. I know that won't last.

Through her tears Riley insisted, by opening the book right back up and pointing, that I continue. She had a valid point we hadn't finished the book. After we were done reading the book we made our way into the hallway where sobs had been replaced by inconsistent whimpers.

Dr. J's staff were kind enough to walk me out to the car which was such a help because I wanted nothing more than to get this tired (Thanks daddy for rescheduling this appointment during her nap time) cranky baby home fast. The wheelchair was folded and loaded, the baby was buckled and we were on our way in less than 5mins from arriving at the car (that's great time for hobble-along mommy).

As we pulled out I looked in my "child view" mirror and saw my pretty girl smiling in her big girl carseat and pretending to drink a cup of tea. The resilience of childhood should be harnessed!

One Year Check Up

Riley went for her one year check up today. She read books in the waiting room and watched the big kids come and go, so grown up! She weighs 18lbs (10th percentile). Her pediatrician says she's just doing her own thing with her weight. She's 27in long (5oth percentile). We're supposed to watch her runny nose a few more days, but otherwise she's healthy. She on track for milestones, he didn't even ask about walking. He gave us the green light to give her cow's milk. As far as advice on weening I supposed no matter how educated a man is he's still a man because all he said was "just refuse her." We went to play with Riley's friend after the appointment and she had a great time. She had some shots and an insufficient naps so we hit cranky time full force. She slept from 3-7:30 and then woke up and played. We gave her cow's milk to try, but she kept drinking it and spitting it out. I think partially because it was 2%, babies and mommies growing bones need whole milk. She slept in our bed again because she was feverish and I was too tired to insist on the crib. It doesn't seem like we've made much progress getting her to sleep in her own bed if any. I really need her to sleep on her own so I can catch up on sleep and so I won't worry as much while I'm in the hospital. One year, it went by fast...

Diaper Rashes and Guilt

Riley had a rash that wouldn't go away. It started around the time her first two teeth made their appearance. We thought it was just from all the swallowed drool that comes with teeth. I remember wishing Riley could run around diaperless like the little African baby form the Babies movie so we'd never have to deal with diaper rashes. Time wore on an the rash got worse and she was uncharacteristically fussy especially in the car.

Finally, I decided it was time to call the dr (or more accurately instead of deciding to call the dr and then thinking "it looks like it's getting better" or completely forgetting until after 5 I actually did it). They had us come in and I kept thinking why didn't I ask him to look at it at her last check up? Woulda, coulda, shoulda... I worry about being an over reacting new mom, but at this point I knew something was wrong.

Turns out it was a yeast infection! Poor baby. All the screaming in the car was because it was getting sweaty was irritating it, the weird diaper grab and bounce was because it itched and the middle of the night freak outs were because it was hurting. I felt so awful. How could I have not figured this out sooner?

It's also further proof of what an amazing baby Riley is because aside from the uncharacteristic meltdowns she was still her calm, sweet little self. Also, she just doesn't make a fuss for no reason. Every time I think "what fuss over nothing" I come to find out she's hurt or has exploded poop out of her diaper up her back and all over her clothes or you know has had a yeast infection for over a month.

So, on top of my guilt over the infection the dr says use the prescription cream 3x a day and our regular diaper cream the rest of the time. We ran out of her Dr. Smith's cream so Mike was using powder on her. I come to find out that the pure cornstarch powder was feeding the infection! I felt horrible now I knew what was wrong and I was making it worse. I'm a horrible person, but when I tearfully confessed this to Mike he laughed.

It's true babies get yeast infections in the summer because it's hot. I'd never seen one on a baby before and now I know what to look for now. We didn't use copious amounts of powder for an extended period of time and again now I know. I think Mike had the right idea a sense of humor is important.

It just hurts to know your baby's hurting and it's frustrating not to be able to communicate better with your little one. I guess if major surgery isn't a good excuse to get distracted I don't know what is.

4month Checkup

First of all I had no idea that babies get shots at every appointment until 18mos. I'm kind of glad I didn't dread these shots for two months. Ironically, she wore her "Super Happy Girl" onesie to the appointment.

She weighs 12lbs 4oz which 50th percentile and is 24in long which is 56th percentile. Not bad for a 5lb premie on breast milk alone.

She was very excited by the scope he used to check her eyes and thought he was funny in general. She didn't even flinch at the first shot and was done crying about the second one by the time we got to the parking lot. Smiley Riley, what a trooper.

He also gave us (his words) "the yellow light" (as in proceed with caution) on solids. Deep breath mamma, baby is growing up. He even said we don't have to start with baby cereal which is a relief because she only gets one bottle a day and I don't want to mix her one bottle with that tasteless sludge. I think we'll start with a couple spoon fulls of bananas in the evening and see how it goes.

Also, the mysterious bump on the back of her head is another hemangioma between her skull and her scalp. It's apparently as harmless as the one on her belly and should break down around the same time. Sounds pretty icky to me, but it's very common and harmless. I know it's shallow, but I'm glad it's not on her pretty face.