6 Month Check-Up

Elise had an appointment today for her check up and another round of shots.  While we were sitting in the waiting room, a dad was in there with his little girl who was about 5 or so.  They were playing with a mermaid doll and a pony.  The dad was playing the roll of the mermaid.  Then the little girl said "wanna play a game with me?"  He responded "sure."  Then she said "Let's play Who's Miserable."  I had to look away so he wouldn't see me laughing....  Ohh what I have to look forward to. 

Elise's pediatrician was out of town so we saw the fill in.  Elise weighs 15 lbs. 5 oz. and is 25 1/2 in. long.  She is still tracking nicely in the 50th percentiles for weight, height, and head circumference.  The doctor checked her ears, nose, mouth, hips, reflexes, eyes, etc and said she looks great and answered all my questions.  She got an oral vaccine and 3 injections.  I was so proud of her!  She took the shots like a champ.  Of course she cried (Momma didn't this time), but I picked her up and she calmed down.  Then she gave the nurse one of these...

Because I have a genetic B12 deficiency the doctor wanted me to have Elise's blood drawn to check her for it.  We went to the hospital lab to have her blood checked for a CBC, B12 deficiency, and a reticulocyte count (Google it).  It's related to anemia.  Elise did really well considering the circumstances.  We were called back by a guy who looked like he was 13 and hadn't reached puberty yet... so I was a little skeptical about his experience.  He put the tourniquet on each of her arms, and the left arm twice to try to find a vein while I held her.  He thought he had found one so he had me lay her down on the table and stuck her.  And missed.  She screamed and turned beet red.  He pulled the needle out and said he'd have to get someone else and left.  I was holding Elise to calm her down and wiping up the blood running down her little arm.  A lady came in and looked for a vein on her opposite arm.  She found it and let me hold Elise this time while she stuck her.  Of course Elise screamed and cried, but she was still enough to let her get some blood before her vein started to blow (you could see it starting to).  They ran the blood to the tech to make sure it wasn't clotted or clumpy.  It was fine and we should have the results tomorrow.  Now my baby looks like she's been through a war zone.

She got a shot of grape Tylenol and is napping in her swing, now.  Hopefully she'll feel up to trying some new food tonight!  Maybe bananas or apples!