(almost) 18-month doctor's appointment

Okay, so Sean Patrick is only 17-months but we switched his insurance to Kaiser and he was due for the second part of his H1N1 vaccine so we took him for a little check-up to meet his new doctor. This office is much more kid-friendly and SP had a great time.

Stats from this appointment: 26.5 lbs, 33 inches

Ready to see the doc, with snacks in hand.

He took his shot like a champ so we took him to the McDonald's play area afterward. Unfortunately, we didn't realize it's really meant for older kids so this is the only thing he could really climb on...

No matter, he loved it. He also loved his french fries. Like mother, like son.

9-Month Check-Up

Sean Patrick had his 9-month check-up today and it's the easiest appointment yet...no shots! SP still loved the paper on the check-up table but this time he was mobile so pretty much all over the place, he would have crawled right off the ends of the table if he could.

His stats for this appointment: 23lbs. 11oz and 29 inches. He's still above average for his age (obviously since he's wearing 18-month clothes!) but starting to norm out per the growth chart the doctor showed us. He was cleared to eat anything except eggs, milk, peanut butter and honey (we have to wait at least one year for that stuff).

Although we had no shots, Sean Patrick did get a blood test for his iron level (normal). He also had a TB test that we had to come back to the office to get evaluated by the nurse (also normal). So SP left the office with two band-aids - his first!

Busy Sean Patrick waiting for the doctor:

Here's a picture of the band-aid on his arm (TB test):

The band-aid on his finger can be seen here (iron test):

6-Month Check-Up

This morning, Sean Patrick had his 6-month check-up. The doctor was running behind so we waited about an hour just to get back to the examination room (we were there 15 minutes early per the doctor's office request...I wish they would start on time if we take the time to be there early but I digress).

When we finally got back to the exam room, the nurse took his stats: 20lbs, 13oz and 28" tall - big boy!

After she left, SP had plenty of time to play since it took the doctor a while to get to us. SP loved the paper on the exam table...maybe he loved it too much:

The doc told us he was perfect in terms of health and development. We'll be continuing one meal a day for one more month then adding a meal at month 7, working our way up to 3 meals a day at month 8. She also encouraged us to slowly try to eliminate his habit of waking up once a night...I'm all for that! We'll see her again at month 9.

By the time the nurse came in to give him his shots, SP had nursed and had fallen asleep. I woke him up and he wasn't happy with me. He took his shots like a champ, again only crying when the each shot was administered and he was smiling at the nurse a few seconds later. These are the vaccines that SP got today:

-Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis (DTaP)

-Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV)

-Hemophilus Influenza Type B (HiB)

-Pneumococcus (Prevnar)

-Hepatitis B (Hep B)

-Rotavirus (oral vaccine)

Luckly, they combined three of the vaccines into one shot so he only got poked three times plus the oral vaccine.

Here are a handful of cute pics we took while waiting, there are a lot since we waited so long :)

4-Month Check-Up

More vaccines at this appointment, a carbon copy of his 2-Month Check-Up (2/12/08). He took them really well again and slept the entire way home. Sean Patrick's stats at this appointment: 18lbs, 3 oz and 26.25" inches tall.

In the waiting room.

Right after the last shot.

Daddy makes it all better.

2-Month Check-Up

Okay, here's the appointment we've been dreading, at this appointment Sean Patrick begins his vaccinations. The little guy took them like a champ. I held him while the nurse administered the shots and although he cried pretty hard during, he was quiet almost immediately after the last shot. We are on the regular vaccination schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. We are not on a delayed schedule and we are not skipping any vaccines. Here is what SP received at this appoinment:

-Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellualr Pertussia (DTaP)

-Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV)

-Hemophilus Influenza type B (HIB)

-Pneumococcus (7-valet) (Prevnar)

-Hepatitis B (Hep B)

-Rotavirus (Rotateq)

Five shots total and one oral vaccine (Rotateq). He had three in his left thigh and two in his right thigh.

Here are Sean Patrick's stats at this appointment: 14lbs, 2oz and 23.75" tall.

3-Week Check-Up

This check-up was like the last, to make sure he's eating well and gaining weight...and, boy is he ever! We are lucky to have a great eater, he has latched really well and loves to eat in general. The current stats are: 10lbs, 8oz and 22" tall.

I went alone to this appointment since Dan had to work so no pics from the doctor's office...instead, here's a nice photo that I took this week of our little man:

1-Week Check-Up

Here are some photos of Sean Patrick's first doctor's office visit. At this appointment, they just want to make sure he has not lost too much weight. He did lose 6oz from birth, which is pretty normal, and the doctor was not concerned about the amount of weight lost. His current stats are: 9lbs, 3oz and 21.5" tall.