Well children

Took the boys to the doctor yesterday for their well child checkups.  When we pulled into the parking lot Alex said from the carseat "I'm sick?" and I said, "no, why do you think you're sick?" and he replies "Because I go to the doctor"

When we went into the office, Alex ran into the waiting room (to the toys of course) and when he saw it was full of people, he says in a cheerful voice "GOOD MORNING PEOPLE!"

This was the first well child checkup of Alex's that he was measured and weighed and had his blood pressure taken like a kid.  As in, not a baby.  I don't know why it took me by surprise, but he just seemed so...big.  The nurse was giving him instructions "sit here, stand there, hold this, sit real still..." etc instead of telling me to put him here, hold him that way... The only problem we had with Alex was he refused to get undressed.  He's going through a shy/scared phase and he screamed like we were trying to kill him when we tried to get his shirt and pants off, so, we didn't.  He let Mitzi listen to his chest and back under his shirt and he just plain screamed when she had to pull down his pants and PullUp.  She didn't really get too good of a look down there, so I'm hoping everything's developing on schedule. Looks normal to me anyway.

His weight is now 31 pounds (41%  He's never been out of the twenties since he was Max's age, though he was wearing all of his clothes, which could account for at least a pound or two) and 37 inches tall (only 40% on height, which is odd for him, he's usually in the 60-70% for height).  She declared him healthy and perfect. 

His eczema contines to be a problem, though I seem to have found a way to at least keep it moderately under control by slathering him with lotion three times a day.  Sure, he's a little slimy, but quite a bit less itchy. I'm concerned about his Elidel creme he's used for the last three years as there is some evidence linking that particular drug to some skin cancers and lymphoma, so I've really scaled back my use and only apply it when he's got a real bad flare up.  Weighing the very real risks of infection against the sorta/maybe risks of this drug.  His thumb and wrist are always a problem because of his thumb sucking, but even that looked fine to the doctor at the moment.

He got a flu shot* and though he screamed and screamed and it took THREE of us to hold him down and poke him, he survived it and immediately began thinking of what he wanted to get at the store for his "brave boy" reward.  He was a little concerned about Max getting his shot, yelling "BE NICE TO BABY BROTHER!" at us when Max was getting his immunizations. 

Max continues to amaze the doctor with his extreme cuteness and amazing health.  The official report on his EEG was in (we'd only gotten the preliminary report two months ago) and he was declared perfectly normal and he doesn't need any more followup visits unless we notice anything strange, which we haven't.

He weighs a whopping 15.65 pounds putting him in the 64% and he's 26.38 inches and a shocking 91%! (in comparason, Alex at his 4 month well child visit was 14.2 lbs - 22% and an even 26 inches - 77%).

One funny little note to mention, when they were asking the regular questions like does he go to daycare?  Does anyone in the home smoke? etc. When they got to Does he (as in Alex) still sit in a carseat? I answered yes, then they asked Does he wear a helmet?  And I immediately panicked thinking there was some kind of law saying that not only do kids have to be in a carseat, but they also need to wear helmets while riding in the car.  I responded "NO!  Is he supposed to be wearing a helmet?  I didn't know!  What about the baby, does he have to wear a helmet too?"  To which the nurse cocked her head to the side and gave me a puzzled look. 
"The baby rides a bike?" she asked. 
"A bike?  What?" I reply. 
"The baby is too young to be on a bike, you need to wait until he can sit up on his own otherwise it's too dangerous" she tells me seriously.
"I'm confused.  No, the baby is not riding on a bike. Why are we talking about this? I'm wondering if I need to get the boys helmets for the car."
"Why would you need to get helmets for the car?"
"You just asked me if Alex wears a helmet in the car."
"In the car?"
"Yes. He has a carseat, not a booster, but he doesn't wear a helmet."
"A helmet while riding a BIKE.  Not in the car."
"Oh." 

We both had a good laugh about that one.

I continue to feel very, VERY lucky to have my two healthy perfect little boys.  And believe me, I know EXACTLY how lucky and blessed we are.  I take nothing for granted.  To even have them at all is a miracle.  The fact that they are also healthy is just the icing on the cake.  The fact that they are crazy cute is the cherry on top.

*and yes, I talked to her about the thimerosal in flu shots and was satisfied with her answer.  Vaccinations, even flu shots for kids, are a touchy subject. I've asked the questions,did the research, weighted the risks and still choose to vaccinate my kids. That's my decision.  You don't criticize me, I won't criticize you ok?