One Year Check-up
The one year well baby visit was an interesting one with a few surprises along the way…
We checked in and were immediately sent to the lab, of which, we didn’t know they had one and weren’t expecting to get blood taken. In retrospect, we should have known or expected it based on what happens when we get physicals. Jacob wanted nothing to do with being held while we were waiting because there was so much new stuff to check out, buttons on the computer, desk chair and all of the other gadgets. We played “chase” down the hallway a bit just to appease him. Finally, the phlebotomist came in and started the procedure. To our surprise, Jacob was a real trooper and watched everything and I do mean everything that was going on. He watched the “poker” break his skin and his blood get squeezed into the bottle. This was fine for a while, but then he was tired of his finger being held. Jacob wasn’t too sure about the fish bandage, but he did like the fact that he could chew on it and forgot about it when he was crawling around. Then it was off to the waiting and waiting room.
The waiting room was not without entertainment on this trip. The phlebotomist’s next victim was waiting in the hallway to get his finger poked. It wasn’t long after he entered the room that we heard, “You are not going to take me alive”. With this Amy and I and the two other parents busted out laughing. Where in the world did he get that line… Some “discussion” by his mother and bringing up the little boy, Jacob, and how he didn’t even cry, he was finally settled down and his blood was taken. After the ordeal, you could hear the relief and bounce in his voice when he said, “That wasn’t that bad at all”.
So, FINALLY, after a 45 minute plus wait, we were summoned to an examination room. It was the “Fish Room”. Jacob paid no attention to this as he was ready to get out of this place. He was definitely hungry and just wanted his bigger toys at home. We were able to appease him a little bit with some Cheerios and wagon wheels as well as pushing the doctor’s stool around.
Before the doctor arrived, the assistant came in and measured Jacob. He is now 29-1/2” long (just under 50th percentile) and 21 pounds, 3 ounces (25th percentile). Doctor noted that the drop in weight is normal as he is now more active and nothing to worry about. Of course, it doesn’t help that he hasn’t been eating the norm because he hasn’t been feeling 100%.
Jacob was definitely now becoming “squirmy”, but the arrival of his favorite doctor calmed him right down as he started smiling at her and giggling. She checked Jacob out and found that he has some fluid in his right ear, but nothing to be concerned about as there is no infection. His skin was brought up once again, so we were given a steroid cream to apply this time. We have tried prescription cortisone already, which helped, but not enough, so we are trying something new. Unfortunately for Jacob, we will need to grease him up even more than we do now. The doctor noted that he is probably just a kid that even though his skin looks good, he still needs his skin lubricated. We discussed Jacob’s verbal skills of which are no concern yet. He is mildly delayed in his speech as he doesn’t say any words. We discussed his hearing, etc. and he seems to be fine as he can hear music on the tv when it is way low and hears his toys when they are across the room, etc., but we are going to pay attention more that we do now.
After discussions with the doctor, it was time for some more needles. Jacob received three of his regular shots (two in one leg and one in the other) which were followed up with a flu shot in his arm. He was less than excited about this, but quickly settled down.
So, we made an appointment to go back in a month to get the second flu shot, have his ears checked for fluid and status on verbal skills as well as a quick check of his skin.
We checked in and were immediately sent to the lab, of which, we didn’t know they had one and weren’t expecting to get blood taken. In retrospect, we should have known or expected it based on what happens when we get physicals. Jacob wanted nothing to do with being held while we were waiting because there was so much new stuff to check out, buttons on the computer, desk chair and all of the other gadgets. We played “chase” down the hallway a bit just to appease him. Finally, the phlebotomist came in and started the procedure. To our surprise, Jacob was a real trooper and watched everything and I do mean everything that was going on. He watched the “poker” break his skin and his blood get squeezed into the bottle. This was fine for a while, but then he was tired of his finger being held. Jacob wasn’t too sure about the fish bandage, but he did like the fact that he could chew on it and forgot about it when he was crawling around. Then it was off to the waiting and waiting room.
The waiting room was not without entertainment on this trip. The phlebotomist’s next victim was waiting in the hallway to get his finger poked. It wasn’t long after he entered the room that we heard, “You are not going to take me alive”. With this Amy and I and the two other parents busted out laughing. Where in the world did he get that line… Some “discussion” by his mother and bringing up the little boy, Jacob, and how he didn’t even cry, he was finally settled down and his blood was taken. After the ordeal, you could hear the relief and bounce in his voice when he said, “That wasn’t that bad at all”.
So, FINALLY, after a 45 minute plus wait, we were summoned to an examination room. It was the “Fish Room”. Jacob paid no attention to this as he was ready to get out of this place. He was definitely hungry and just wanted his bigger toys at home. We were able to appease him a little bit with some Cheerios and wagon wheels as well as pushing the doctor’s stool around.
Before the doctor arrived, the assistant came in and measured Jacob. He is now 29-1/2” long (just under 50th percentile) and 21 pounds, 3 ounces (25th percentile). Doctor noted that the drop in weight is normal as he is now more active and nothing to worry about. Of course, it doesn’t help that he hasn’t been eating the norm because he hasn’t been feeling 100%.
Jacob was definitely now becoming “squirmy”, but the arrival of his favorite doctor calmed him right down as he started smiling at her and giggling. She checked Jacob out and found that he has some fluid in his right ear, but nothing to be concerned about as there is no infection. His skin was brought up once again, so we were given a steroid cream to apply this time. We have tried prescription cortisone already, which helped, but not enough, so we are trying something new. Unfortunately for Jacob, we will need to grease him up even more than we do now. The doctor noted that he is probably just a kid that even though his skin looks good, he still needs his skin lubricated. We discussed Jacob’s verbal skills of which are no concern yet. He is mildly delayed in his speech as he doesn’t say any words. We discussed his hearing, etc. and he seems to be fine as he can hear music on the tv when it is way low and hears his toys when they are across the room, etc., but we are going to pay attention more that we do now.
After discussions with the doctor, it was time for some more needles. Jacob received three of his regular shots (two in one leg and one in the other) which were followed up with a flu shot in his arm. He was less than excited about this, but quickly settled down.
So, we made an appointment to go back in a month to get the second flu shot, have his ears checked for fluid and status on verbal skills as well as a quick check of his skin.
On the way to the party, we (Amy, Anyssa and I) were wondering what Jacob would think of the big mouse. We waited until after the singing was done and things settle down a bit so that we could attempt for Jacob to meet him/her. As expected, Jacob was a little mouse shy, but didn't turn and run away or cry (as if he could because his mother had quite the grasp on the little guy).
