Six Month Doc

On Friday, March 27 we scooted to Lucy's six month well-visit.

Length was 26.24 inches - 60th percentile. Head was 17.3 inches - 75th percentile.

At 15 lbs., 10 oz., she is at the 50th percentile for weight. (Not included in this shot - her peeing on the scale. Smooth move, Lu.)

And, she never stops moving.

The hambone spent most of the appointment attempting to roll off the exam table, ripping the paper cover and hollering. Doc Kendall's comment, "You gonna have ta watch dis one."

  

What's happening with her besides movement? Well, that's about it. She wants to GO.

Boing, boing, boing...

If she's not bouncing, rolling or rocking in the pre-crawl position, she trying to balance on two legs. 

Frightening.

Maizey is starting to really "love" her little sis. 

Much to Lucy's chagrin.

This little peanut is amazing.

And exhausting. And her own little person.

Next up, trying to get her to eat solid food. She has no interest in purees but squawks indignantly when we eat in front of her, grabbing at everything in sight. Though a somewhat undesirable approach from an "oh my gosh, is she choking or chewing" standpoint, we think we may move toward the baby-led weaning approach. Don't be surprised if you see a shot of Lucy with a baby back rib. 

Also on the horizon, a move to her own room. Now that she has one.

Big bugs and a big brain

It's been a rough month over at Casa Spurgeon. Three Fridays in a row we shuffled into Providence Pediatrics and I-Never-Seek-Healthcare-Will became a Minute Clinic client. Since nobody who reads this blog really cares about Will's illness (his unvaccinated self contracted "Flu B"), we'll just focus on the ladies. First, Maizey was struck with a serious respiratory bug which required a doc visit. Then, Lucy was in for her four month well-visit (which resulted in needing to schedule a big-head-ultrasound) and a serious respiratory bug - thanks, Big Sis - (which resulted in a vaccine reschedule).

Lucy's four month stats?

Date: 1-31-14

Length: 25" - 75th percentile

Weight: 13.3 lbs - 25th percentile

Head: 16.5" - 90th percentile

Though she was meeting (and exceeding - see rolling videos) many milestones, at her two month visit, her melon was in the 75th percentile. Jumping to the 90th required an additional check. Macrocephalus. Sounds scary. I should have given up Google. It was a stressful week. (So stressful that I accidentally deleted all the photos of the first two visits. Blog sacrilege.) 

Anyhow, for the third Friday in a row (but this time accompanied by Grandma Betty) we motored 30 miles to Novi. 

Cutting to the chase - Lucy is fine. Better than fine. She's awesome.
Grandma Betty still has trouble keeping her eyes open for pics.

I cannot believe that in four days she will celebrate her five month birthday. Time has gone so fast. And she has been brought such joy to this house (and the Milford house). It could almost make me want another baby. Almost. But not really.

P.S. Thanks for being patient with my blogcation/sick leave. Here's to good health for the rest of this snowy snowy winter.

The stats: Two month well-visit

Joint doctor visit on December 9. Maizey for an eczema check and a flu shot. Lucy for her two-month well-visit (two weeks belated) and first round of vaccines. (Obviously yes, we are pro-vaccine.) 

Proud weights...

 31.5 lbs. for M.

And, for L,

~12 lbs.

While Lucy was measured 

and stats were collected, Maizey and Dad (!)

 perused some quality reading material.

 Then it was Lucy's turn to chill while she waited for the doc.

A pose she's quite good at.

Not too long a rest though. 

Doctor Kendall appeared and demanded performance.

But, then more resting while big sis got checked out.

Errr, I mean, showed off her reindeer tattoo.

Then, a little QT on the examination table while waiting for the shot delivery.

Sisterly love.

Shots provoked tears but a boob (for Lucy, not Will) and promises of ice cream and a Scooby Doo band-aid, quieted the storm.

And the results?

Lucy is 23.5 inches long which puts her in the 75th percentile for height. Her bald melon is 15.5 inches, also a 75th percentile stat. At 11 lbs., 15.6 oz., she's right in the middle for weight - 50th percentile. She has awesome neck and trunk strength and super head control, but favors her right side so is at risk for torticollis. We were sent home with some physical therapy exercises and at the recommendation of pal Linda, I've started night nursing so she faces left. Seems to be working.

Sadly, she does appear to be dairy sensitive. Not lactose intolerant or dairy allergic. Just sensitive. When I eat milk or anything containing dairy, she isn't hurt - just fussy, gassy and not so great to be around. So, to make my life easier (and harder), I've eliminated nearly all dairy. BTW - seemingly everything processed (read fast, easy and caloric) contains dairy. Wheat bread, cereal, dill pickle potato chips... Needless to say there has been a lot of hummus in my life.

The good? Lucy is an awesomely happy, chill baby girl. Bald, but happy as a clam. Not to mention a super sleeper. And I've lost all my baby weight, plus some. (The visual state of the bod is a different story, but it's winter, so who the hell cares.) The bad? I'm hungry a lot. The sight of cheese pizza and eggnog shakes brings tears to my eyes. And I spend time thinking about food and label reading - not ideal leisure activities. 

The good outweighs the bad.

Really, Lucy is great.

On a side note, things around here have been a bit cuckoo. We are two weeks into renovations and calling Ann Arbor our temporary home. I returned to work this week and Will continues to log hellacious hours at the office. Maizey is not loving this and isn't afraid to tell us. And, did I mention it's the holidays?

More on the above later. Tomorrow we're Escanaba-bound so I need to get packin'.

One Month Doc

On Tuesday, Miss Lucy and I headed to her one month check up with Dr. Kendall. Being that the one-month-er is not a shot visit, I gave Will a pass and flew solo.

She was undisturbed by the activity of a crazy busy office.

 And attracted a lot of ooo's and ahhhh's.

Head and height measurements went smoothly. 

Results?

21.5 inches long = 55th percentile.
(1.5 inches of growth in a month)

14.5 inch head circumference = 50th percentile. 

 Weight measurement was a titch more traumatizing.

She's gained 2 pounds since birth.

9.6 pounds = 74th percentile.

My theory? She's modest.

Once the diaper was back on, she was happy as a clam.

No tears even for the cold stethoscope.

Fingers crossed next month's check-up goes just as smoothly. Despite the shots. 

Doctor! Doctor!

On Wednesday, September 25, Lucy went for her first check-up.

Hellllooooo Doctor!

 Grandma accompanied. (And did the heavy lifting.)

As you can see, Lucy had some serious nerves. 

She got to meet her pediatrician, Dr. Kendall.

And this guy, from Beaumont, got to meet Lucy.

Her weight was good - down 3 ounces from her birth weight - which is a reasonable loss. (Though she wasn't too happy about it.)

Good thing we were around for consoling...

Like Maizey, she had high bilirubin levels and was sent to the lab for a heel poke, and a follow-up was scheduled.

Two days later, on Friday, Lucy and I returned to Providence Park,
this time with Dad in tow. 

 He was handy to have around for holding purposes.

Though bili levels were still high, and we had to make an appointment for Tuesday,

she was back at her birth weight. Something to celebrate. 

Which we did by lunching...

And shopping...

And sun-lounging upon returning home.

Good days.

p.s. I am happy to report that as of Tuesday's follow-up (our third trip to the pediatrician in 9 days of life), Lucy's bilirubin is at an acceptable level. No need to return until her one month appointment.