Today was Julia’s one year checkup. She has been pretty fussy lately and the appointment wasn’t any different. She didn’t cry the whole time, but wasn’t her usual happy girl. Julia was not interested in showing off the teeth still hiding in her gums, didn’t like having her finger held or bandaged after the finger prick, and she was simply distraught after having her two injections. And if this wasn’t enough for the Mommy to keep up with – Emily was a bit trying also. I think at one point I was speaking loudly talking to the doctor over two crying voices. We all survived the visit, but maybe next time I will take Julia when Emily is not with us.

The doctor was pleased with how Julia looked and was doing, but noted that she has had a very slight weight gain since her last well visit. Today she weighed 15 lbs 10 oz and was measured at 28 inches long. This amounts to a half a pound weight increase and 3/4 inch longer. We discussed how Julia has become very active in the last three months, teething, still nursing, and how Emily had a similar dip in weight at this age. We decided to put Julia on whole milk and keep her foods the same and see in a month if her weight picks up. It is funny what the difference a second child is to the first. When I learned of Emily’s weight loss I worried and thought a lot about it. This time, it seems like I almost expected it and had a course of action ready. There just isn’t the need to worry and this time I know it.

I took Julia for her 9 month checkup today. She is actually almost 10 months, but that is what happens with vacations and busy doctor offices. She was really good and only gave the doctor a hard time when he tried to look in her mouth. He came up with the same observation that I had – no teeth yet. As soon as I sat her back on the exam table she clapped and giggled. The giggling stopped for the flu shot, but even after that she was quick to calm down.

The doctor and I discussed allergies, given a reaction she had to either yogurt or strawberries. He said to wait on strawberries until one year and try yogurt again at any point. Other things still on the do-not-eat-yet list are nuts, egg, wheat, and chocolate. Too bad for her, those are some of my favorite foods. Her next visit will be at 12 months.

At this visit she weighed 15 lbs 3.5 oz. This is a 1 lb 7.5 oz increase since the 6 month visit. She also measured 27 1/4 inches long, an increase of an inch and a quarter. She has fallen to the 3rd percentile for weight and 25 percentile for length. The doctor said it was common for kids to have periods of faster growth followed by slower growth. In general, Julia is smaller than Emily was at this point Given the weight loss that Emily had between her 9 and 12 month visit I’m betting that Julia will catch up in compairson.

No really funny stories from this visit, but our nurse’s name was Emily which was interesting for our Emily who came for the visit. Emily not only snagged a sticker today, but a measuring tape for her doctor kit. There are perks for hanging out with your sister.

We had Julia’s 6 week checkup today. It was good and uneventful. Julia was a pretty good sport for most of the appointment. She wasn’t interested in looking at the doctor’s light when he checked her eyes. She also wasn’t interested in bending her legs when he did her hip exam. I don’t blame her for trying to foil the exam. Visiting the doctor can’t be fun when you are cold, exposed, poked, and overall uncomfortable.

Julia weighed in at 13 lbs -8 oz an increase of about a 1-1/2 lbs. Her length is 26 inches and increase of 1-3/4 inch increase. She is maintaining her 10th percentile weight and 50th percentile height. We discussed Julia’s feeding schedule and he said that based on her growth and weight gain that the feeding schedule and quantities are fine. She has cut herself back to 6, maybe, 7 feedings a day and they are not long feedings, this just didn’t seem like enough to me. But I guess she knows what she is doing. We will be starting cereal with Julia soon.

We finished off our appointment with a few shots and a lot of tears. Our next appointment is at 9 months. On our way home Emily announced to me that we should call Daddy. I asked her what we should tell Daddy. This was her review of the appointment: 1. Sister went to doctor, 2. Sister got shot, 3. Sister sad. This was pretty accurate. I guess the only thing she forgot was that the Doctor had given Emily a sticker.

Julia had her 4 month checkup. She weighed 11 lbs – 12.5 oz. and measured 24 1/4 inches long. This is an increase of 1 lb – 6 oz. and 2-1/2 inches over the last 2 months. Julia is now at the 50 percentile for height. No wonder that she no longer fits in a lot of one piece outfits she has. The doctor was pleased with her growth. We discussed the number of feedings and my approach to her feeding. I’m trying to be a little less of an engineer when it comes to feedings. I am letting her ask for food before I offer (most of the time). I just like things I can measure. Julia is pretty laid back about everything including asking for meals. We will see if she changes with my new approach.

We also discussed my ongoing struggle with Julia’s dry skin and cradle cap. He has made some suggestions and I am hoping that we can make her more comfortable. Julia received two shots and one oral vaccine to keep her current on her shots. We had a fussier than usual evening which we are blaming on the sore legs, but maybe she just wanted to milk it for extra attention.

The doctor and I had a follow-up discussion about her heart condition. I had hoped that he would have received a report from the heart doctor before our visit, but it hadn’t arrived yet. So our discussion was all based on my comments. It is hard to remember everything and the names of conditions. Our doctor admitted his concern at her last checkup was that Julia had a heart defect because what he heard just didn’t sound like the typical murmur. He was glad to hear that Julia’s condition may be the less serious PFO condition. I will see if he has any other thoughts or comments at our next visit, which is at 6 months.

Julia loves to chew on her fingers. This day she was sitting up like a big girl and chewing on her fingers. How cute!!

Julia was weighed and measured at her doctor appointment. At 3-1/2 months she weights 11 lbs 6oz and measures 24-1/4 inches long.

We took Julia to see a pediatric heart doctor today to have a heart murmur reviewed. Overall the visit went well, we liked the doctor and felt that he covered her condition well for us. Julia was a good sport for all of the poking.

She has an ‘innocent’ heart murmur. This just means that it is not a significant murmur. I will be generic in the description to try to keep from being boring. There are two aspects of her heart that are not functioning normally. One problem is the vessel that takes blood from her heart to her lungs has not grown enough to handle the volume of blood. He said that this condition is common in little ones and should fix itself in the next six months.

The second problem is referred to as a PFO, which is an incomplete closure of a valve between the left and right atria. This valve is open during the fetal development to direct blood away from the non-functioning lungs. After birth, this valve closes and redirects the blood to the now functioning lungs. In 20 percent of the population this valve is not completely closed. The bottom line for Julia is that it is not going to cause any problems now and we will have her looked at again at age 3. At that point they will be able to see better how her heart is growing and how this closure has developed. It can close, it can grow to a point where the pressure of blood in her heart holds it closed, or it can be a hole between the sections of the heart. It sounds like the long term effects to Julia will be a concern for blood clots.

We will pray that in three years when she is examined again that she will be given a clean bill of health!