100,000 Mile Check Up at the Pediatrician's Office

I have been dreading this appointment for probably over a year for AJ--the 5 year-old, ready-for-school, check up.  This isn't your annual height and weight measurements with plotting on a graph to see how your little one compares to others their same age.  Our hour and a half trip to the pediatricians office was much more than that.

The entire ride from school to the office, I contemplated if I should tell AJ she would be receiving shots at this appointment. She is one of those who is able to comprehend things better if she is told in advance what will be happening. This is a method we have been using with her since she was little and works very well.  So I calmly explained that she would probably have to get a shot at the appointment today, and when I looked in the rear view mirror, I saw tears rolling down her cheeks.  Oh no!  After explaining it would be OK and promising lots of special treats she calmed down, just in time as I pulled into the pediatrician's parking lot.

The trip started with the typical measurements of height and weight. This girl has only gained one pound since February and grew 3 inches in 1 year!  She weighs just under 43 pounds and is 45.8 inches tall.  The child's height predictor predicts she will be 5 feet 10 inches tall!  Perfect for a volleyball player :).  Next a child's blood pressure cuff was wrapped around her arm for her first ever blood pressure-98/56.  After a failed attempt at leaving a urine sample, we were escorted to the exam room.

The nurse then rattled off everything that would be happening during the visit--eye exam, finger stick for lead value and CBC, four vaccinations; oh and would you like a flu shot to go with that?  I quickly glanced at AJ to see how much of that conversation she heard, (which was of course all of it), and her eyes were huge.  I quickly explained to the nurse that I would NOT be giving her all the vaccinations today.  She still has 10 months before she will be enrolled in school-plenty of time to catch up with vaccinations, (possibly another plus about a Fall birthday).

Testing vision in a five year old can be sort of tricky-how do you know they aren't peeking around the hand that is covering one of their eyes?  Instead of using the typical Snellen Chart with the big E at the top, a chart with shapes is used instead.  She passed with flying colors with 20/20 vision.

The lab tech came in next, trying to make small talk with AJ, before putting a hole in her right index figure.   I wanted to yell "stop the chit chat and get it over with!"  I tried to make a joke by reminding her about when Buddy the Elf got his finger poked and how he ate the cotton ball. She wasn't too amused but did like her Hello Kitty band aid.

I was then a little surprised when the nurse put a paper gown on the table and asked AJ to undress and put it on. AJ thought it was ridiculous and froze her little tush off while waiting for the provider.  After eons of waiting, the PA student came in first to do her assessment.  Luckily, AJ is a patient patient and didn't mind having to go through the entire exam twice, with checking her reflexes as her favorite part.

Finally, the tough part had come. As a mother, you have to be an advocate for your children.  In my opinion, 4 shots for a five year old is traumatizing.  Heck, 4 shots for an adult would be horrible!  I did ask AJ if she wanted to go ahead and get all 4 shots out of the way today so she wouldn't have to come back, but she agreed to just two, plus the flu mist.  Although this will require an extra trip to the pediatrician's office, I feel it's worth it.  Plus, she would be receiving 3 live vaccines if she received everything today, and I like to spread those out.

AJ was so calm and took the flu mist like a champ.  As I lifted her onto the table and she saw the syringes, she became a little frantic. It is horrible holding down your infant child as needles are stuck in their legs, but I think it is even more difficult restraining your five year old, who is well aware of what is going on.  It makes me nauseous thinking I will have to do this again later next year and again with the twins.  She did really well though and calmed down quickly when she saw the office had Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle stickers.

She left the office with extra cookies because it was her 5 year check up, and an empty specimen cup in my purse.  Guess I'll be making another trip back to the office soon.