1 Month and a Few Days Late

Little Mister had his 15 month check up...in June.

He surprised us with fits of crying and screaming the moment we arrived at the peds. office. It was a surprise because up until now he loved going. He always "hammed it up" and ate up every little bit of attention from the nurses and Miss Melinda, our fantastic nurse practitioner.

However, at this particular visit, everything set him off...rolling in the stroller to the cheerful exam room, watching a familiar nurse come into the room, weighing and measuring on the scale, being examined by Miss Melinda (whom he loves), the shots (of course), leaving the office, etc...

When it was time for the little guy to get his shots, big sister asked to leave the room. Nate the Great stayed and sent me out with The Pip. I tend to go mushy during these moments and become incredibly empathetic, which as Nate the Great says, produces "bad energy."

*Short Story from the Past*
Once, when it was time for both kiddos to get their shots, we again sat in the exam room waiting. Miss Melinda walked in and immediately the oh-so-most-generous Pip said, "He can go first." It is true, that in this one time as brother and sister, The Pip let her brother go first.

So very unhappy

Shredding the paper on the exam table helps to pass the time

Breaking out the animal crackers

The Pip, happy that the appointment is not for her

I have been told by many people that Little Mister is a big boy or "solid" which is a polite way of stating that he is above average. Don't worry. It makes me laugh. I believe it is his head, an inherited family gene, that throws them all off. If you don't believe me, just look at the stats.

15 Month Stats

Weight: 24lbs. 13oz.
50th percentile

Height: 30 3/4"
35th percentile

Head Circumference: 49cm
90th percentile :)
(More for me to smooch)

The story continues and I wish I could say it had a happy ending...

After the appointment, we took him to the diagnostic office for a blood test in the main floor of the same building. Since our home was built before the 70's, we needed to have his blood tested for lead.

Any little shred of hope for pulling it together went swiftly down the drain. Nate the Great took Little Mister back while The Pip and I hung out together in the waiting room. Either the nurse did not have the experience to do the job or she was having an off day. Whatever the reason, she was not able to draw the blood. She was in his arm for about a minute wiggling the needle around. When that attempt failed, she went after his heel for yet another failed attempt. Finally, accepting her defeat, she got another nurse who managed to take blood from his toe. Meanwhile, Little Mister was screaming in a huge meltdown to which the nurse replied, "The crying helps the blood flow." Really? That is the best she could come up with? Needless to say, we will not be going back to that office.

The sad little toe