4/18/05 - We waited until now to take Rebekah in for her 12-month checkup because she's had a runny nose since her birthday. Over the weekend, it turned thick and green, which is a classic sign of infection. The night before, she was up until 1:30 AM crying. So, although we had planned a Monday morning well-visit, it quickly became a sick visit. She weighed in at 21 pounds, 2 ounces and was 30.5 inches long. The doctor said she was in the 95th percentile for height (good growth!) with little change in weight (which is fine). Since I was so concerned about the infection and other questions, I didn't write down her percentile for weight or her head circumference, but will try to get that next week. The doctor liked that Rebekah now walks across entire rooms (so do we), wondered if she knew any words besides "mama" (nope), noted her eight teeth (four on top and four on bottom) and decided to hold off on vaccines until next week. Instead, she got a prescription for ten days of antibiotics.

4/27/05 - I took Rebekah in for her follow-up doctor's visit today. It was raining, so I didn't bring in the stroller, but I wish I had because Rebekah was walking all over the place and hard to reel in. It took a long time to be seen and to get through our appointment. Rebekah was cranky and started crying once they got started. They weighed and measured her again (30 inches, 21 pounds/10 ounces, head 45 cm), then did a finger prick blood test to check her iron. She cried with vengeance for at least twenty minutes, during which time the doctor came in to look her over. She was all better from the infection; but he was concerned about her low iron level. Her last few iron tests in previous months were low, too, but i figured it was because she was sick each of those times. I was told to put her on iron drops for six weeks and then retest. We will also try iron fortified foods. This is in addition to the higher fiber diet we were advised to begin with her. After the doctor left the room, we were faced with at least another 15 minute wait, during which time Rebekah finally stopped crying and fell asleep in my arms. It was about five minutes later that the nurse arrived to deliver three jabs into her legs for her vaccinations. That was so uncool.