Monday, March 3, 2008

Happy mustache March

My husband has tried to convince me that he needs to grow a mustache for the month of March.  Something about building morale at work, blah, blah, blah.  I told him that for his *wife's* morale he really better not.  He just does not look right with a mustache to me!!  :)

Mdx had her 6 month check up today.  I actually procrastinated and didn't even call for an appointment until this morning, and they had multiple appts available today.  That itself was surprising since I've heard so many people moan and complain about the clinics here at Langley and how they can never get in when they need to.  We haven't had any issues- so far!

Marshall got to come home from work so that he could come to the appointment with us.  I know that in the AF the mission always comes first, but it really feels that family life is important to them as well.  Sure, there could always be an A-hole Sgt. that would be a ass and never let the Airmen leave for things like that.  We've been lucky I guess.

We got to the clinic, and checked in.  They did the routine weights and measurements.  Mdx is 15 lbs, 7 oz  which seems huge to me!  She still has not doubled her birthweight, but she's gaining more than a pound a month, so we'll be there soon.  She measured 25 1/2 inches, the same as her 4 month appt.  I didn't think anything of it.

Then the doctor came in and was looking at her growth curve.  First of all, his "bedside manner" left a little to be desired.  It was obvious to me that he was a family practice physician, and not a pediatrician.  He just didn't interact with Mdx the way a doctor should act with a baby.  For instance, she was sitting up on the paper-covered exam table.  She lost her balance when he was trying to look in her ears, and he just let her fall backwards onto the table, which of course upset her.  Hello???  If she was going to fall off the table would you just let her hit the floor??  Sheesh!  She calmed down and tried to be tolerant but she didn't seem to like him much.

Then he asked about her growth since her last appointment.  Trust me, the child eats and eats and get's mad when the food is gone.  He showed us the dots on her growth curve and said she was obviously "skinny" at her 4 month appt, but now her weight looks good.  Then he said it didn't make much sense for her to not grow in length at all.  He looked at us and just waited.  So I said "okay?".  He said and I QUOTE: "So, either your child has a serious illness, or her measurements were wrong at her last appointment." and looked at us and waited some more.  So I said "Well, I guess her measurements were off then!".  (Which doesn't make much sense, I watched them measure her at 4 months and I watched them measure her at 6 months- no difference.)

But my child is so OBVIOUSLY not "seriously ill".  Come freakin on.  She's gaining weight nicely, outgrowing some of her clothes, meeting her developmental milestones, babbling, etc.  What did he expect us to say?  Yes,Doctor, we actually manipulated the data last time so she'd look longer.  Or, Yes, Doctor, she has a major medical problem that we're not telling you.  Uh- no.

He insisted on measuring her again (which pretty much insulted the nurse that had measured her) and could only squeeze another half inch out of the bottom of her foot that miraculously appeared, which "significantly changed her growth curve" according to him.  You may roll your eyes now.  Okay, whatever.  Maddox is not fat, she's not skinny, she's not short, she's not tall.  She's just fine, and that's all she is.

Two nurses came in to give her the vaccinations, and I noticed that they didn't have the Rotavirus vaccine.  So I asked if she was getting it this time, and the guy said "Is she supposed to?  Did she have it at her 2 mo. and 4 mo. appointments?"  Um gosh- don't you have her chart right there?  Yes, I said....and she is supposed to have it this time as well.  So he went and got it.  Thank goodness I was paying attention.  But still, what the heck?  These people are going to make me one of those neurotic mothers that questions everything.....you know the type.  I really don't want to be "that Mom".

I leave you with a picture of my sweet girl wreaking havoc on the paper cover to the table.

3 comments:

Angela said...

well, she's still just precious. And really, the measurements of a squirming baby mean nothing - we had 4 checks in a row where Beca's head was too big and the doctor finally figured out that it wasn't really anything. You squirming, babbling kiddo is just fine! Wait until next check and hopefully you get an actual pediatrician!
hugs!

Emily Cole said...

Way to be a good mom! You know there's nothing wrong with her - she's just fine - absolutely adorable I would say! And I have to say "no" to the mustache as well!!!! Mike isn't allowed to have one either, been there - done that... Yuck!

Rocketgirl said...

What a cutie!! I'm so mad at American docs right now - I have a friend who has a newborn and is going crazy right now because her doctors are freaking out about how many times she's eating, pooping, etc. I kept freaking out as a new mom, and the Brasilian docs kept looking at her and saying "well, she looks healthy, so, forget about it." She's gorgeous, she's happy and she's healthy - well, as long as you keep her away from doctors that let her fall over!
You're listening to yourself, and you are the best mommy for Mdx, booyah!