2 Month Checkup

Yesterday was Parker's two month birthday.  Time has FLOWN by.  I think that may be what lack of sleep and my cow like abilities have done to me.

Today we went to see her doctor.  It was our first appointment since signing up for the vaccine trial.  Essentially the trial has an option of getting one less shot than normal for her vaccines.  There is some extra paperwork to do to see how she responds to the vaccines for 5 days after the shots and a few blood draws.  Other than that, we get priority appointment times, have our pediatrician's pager (who has a pager, it's 2012) number and each appointment we get a $35 Target gift card.  Now, i'm not sacrificing my daughter for Target gift cards, it's just an added perk.  To be honest, I don't know why we are doing the study.  I suppose to make life better for children down the line.  Who knows.  There weren't any drawbacks and we like to help people.

So, today, Ms. Parker had a blood draw.  Normally they prick her heel and squeeze the ever loving life from her leg to get little drops of blood.  Today, they put a little tourniquet on her little arm and found a vein for drawing the blood.  I don't know if it was the pain from the needle or having her arm restricted that caused the most damage.  There were tears. From her, not me.  It was incredibly heart wrenching to see her so upset.  The study nurse had asked if we were ready when she walked in.  I figured "sure, what's there to be ready for."  I figured it out...

She then had to get three shots.  She was randomized and ended up getting the three instead of two.  Normally kids get three, so this wasn't anything out of the ordinary.  So with her cotton ball taped to her right arm, she has two round band-aids on her left thigh and one on her right thigh.  Poor thing went through the ringer.  She is sleeping soundly, all snuggled up on our bed.

The good news of the day is our little nugget is growing and growing fast!  She weighs 9lbs 10oz & has grown another two inches making her 21 in. long now.  Dr. Nauert, the pediatrician, said that she will be in the lower percentiles because she is a tiny little kid.  Some babies are born at 9lbs.

She's slowly growing out of her newborn clothes.  The pants are now capri's and the onesies accentuate her round little belly and are difficult to get over her noggin.  She's also finally grown out of her newborn diapers.

The last few days she's started smiling much more.  She's cooing and much more alert.  She can ride in the car without falling asleep (sometimes).

She hates being bored and stagnant.  If she is tired, she wants to be walked around and bounced.  It's my workout for the day. 

Watching her grow is fascinating.  It will be more fascinating when I have proper sleep in, oh, 17 years and 10 months...