Health Check

Yesterday was Clara's 6 year annual checkup. For me, taking Clara in for her well visits has always been stress-free. From day 1, she has been right on target with her weight and height. This time is no different. She weighed in at 49 pounds 2 ounces (72nd %ile) and is 47 inches tall (79th %ile). In fact, the only thing that had ever alerted the doctor to be concerned was when she still wasn't talking at all (zero words) by 18 months. The doctor had given me a number to call to have her evaluated if she still wasn't talking by her 2nd birthday. I remember being so grateful when she started talking a few words here and there about one month before her 2nd birthday. Not that we haven't had our fair share of illnesses with Clara... mostly ear infections (and of course that scare when we found out that she is allergic to amoxycillin), but never anything that needed a referal or a follow-up... until now. She has been referred to an opthamologist for her eyesight! I am so sad for her... the idea of needing glasses so young (I've been there and kids can be very cruel). And how have we not noticed?? Her eyesight in her left eye is so bad that all she could see on the chart was the giant E! I never expected her to have perfect vision her whole life... just look at her nearsighted parents, but already at age 6? Also... when I took her in for her annual checkup last year, her vision tested fine. Could it really have degraded so far so fast?? I guess we'll have to see how this appointment with the opthamologist on March 4 goes and just take it from there.

Of course at Clara's checkup, I had the boys also. Lucas' behavior was very acceptable (he really is a good boy). Eli, however, cried and whined the entire time we were there. I knew that he wasn't feeling good, he has the same cold that Lucas had about two weeks ago (same symptoms: runny nose, cough, goopy and swollen eye). The doctor took one look at Eli's eye and immediately wanted to give me a prescription for eye drops. I told her that I wasn't concerned since Lucas had just had the same thing... to which she responded that I should have brought Lucas in to have his eye looked at! Lesson learned! Then she asked if she could check his ears... an infection in both ears!! So now he is all medicated... drops for his eyes and antibiotics for his ears... both of which are nearly impossible to give him. He just screams and twists. He even knows the eye drop bottle... he sees me coming and he'll cover his eyes with his hands then bury his face wherever he can (couch, daddy's lap, etc.). I have to say though... I just started the drops last night and already his eyes are much improved. Oh and by the way... they did weigh Eli as part of his non-appointment... 25.2 pounds.