We finally got the girls in for their annual well-child check-ups. The stats are not going to be ideal for comparison since I used to be better about getting them in right close to their birthdays, but if I don’t record them here, I won’t ever remember at all. Dr. Vallance was happy to NOT find anything requiring surgery for any of our kiddos this year! Susie’s eardrum is still bonded to her bone, so all looks good there. There is a little concern that Susie’s height keeps dropping off (if she just stayed consistently petite, we wouldn’t be worried, but she keeps dropping down percentiles for height, which means there might be something more than Italian genes at play), so we’re going to come in for a six-month height check to make sure she’s growing enough. Even though she’s only sixth percentile for weight, she has been down there for a while, so it seems that “that’s just how God wants her to be!” as Dr. Vallance says, and we don’t need to worry about protein shakes or anything. Our pediatrician hits the perfect balance of caution (exhibited by the cholesteotoma discovery of last year) and reassurance (we don’t throw antibiotics at things or go to specialists unless there’s a true concern, and I never leave visits worried). I am feeling more peace and confidence about the little girls’ nutrition, almost as if God was preparing me for a foster child with more extensive food issues. But more on that another day…
Elizabeth at 9 years:
Weight: 68 lbs (59%) (Tommy was 67 lbs)
Height: 52.75 inches (51%) (Tommy was 53.25 in)
Susanna at 7 years:
Weight: 41 lbs (6%) (Elizabeth was 56 lbs, Tommy was 57 lbs)
Height: 45.75 inches (12%) (48.5 in, Tommy was 49 1/8 in)
Janie at 5 years:
Weight: 35 lbs (10%) (Susanna was 35 lbs, Elizabeth was 43.6 lbs, Tommy was 47.8 lbs)
Height: 42.5 in (34%) (Susanna was 41.75 in, Elizabeth was 43.5 in, Tommy was 44.5 in)