6 Month Pediatrician Update!

So, today was our 6 month Pediatrician visit with Dr. Jeanie. Now typically, this would mean a big round of shots and some pretty upset children. What we ended up with was no shots and some pretty upset children anyway...

The stats: Molly is now 17 pounds on the nose. Head circumference is 43cm and height is 25 inches.

McKenzie is 14 pounds 4 ounces. Head circumference is 42.5cm and height is 25 inches.

This puts Molly in the 75th percentile for weight, McKenzie in the 25th. They're both in the 25th percentile for height and the head circumference is in the 50th percentile.

No wonder carrying those car seats is starting to hurt!

Now, the fun stuff. I've decided that Lindsey is no longer allowed to go to the doctor with us. Every simple "issue" that she thinks that the girls are having resulted in a prescription (or 3!) and some sort of new treatment, therapy, equipment, etc.

Seriously, Molly came out of the appointment with a breathing treatment machine (like an actual piece of equipment that has it's own motor and bag and stuff) and a prescription for breathing treatments 4 times a day. All because of a little wheeze probably from the cold she's had for the last 10 days. Now it's bronchio-something-or-other and we have to do breathing treatments.

McKenzie got 2 prescriptions for medicine to help her skin. Plus an over-the-counter medicine that apparently costs $25 for a tiny little tube. We're supposed to coat her with this stuff and hope whatever is going on with her skin goes away really soon.

Gah...if it isn't one thing it's another...for real.

Oh, and the kicker...the doctor's office was out of one of the shots the girls were supposed to get so we put off all the shots until a week or 2 from now. Even though they didn't get stuck, they still had pretty darn foul attitudes. Molly got super hungry and was trying to drink a bottle and get a breathing treatment all at the same time. Not fun...she was screaming like we'd stuck her with needles anyway.

Oops...almost forgot another "problem" for the girls. They both have low iron. So, that's yet another medicine that we have to give them every day to help boost their iron levels. Apparently, it tastes awful. I have no intention of trying it but maybe Lindsey will since she's sampled all the other baby food we've given them.

Ok, so enough of that nonsense. Here's a video from this past weekend. John and Sue came down on Saturday to visit. I was out most of the day showing homes to an out of town couple but apparently the girls were still able to have bath time without me.

So, that's it for now. Enjoy your week...

Firsts for Both Girls

So, Monday had a few firsts for both girls. For McKenzie, it was time for her first pediatrician visit with Dr. Jeanie! We've known Dr. Jeanie for a few years now through Camp Horizon. She has been extremely generous and has provided horses, ducks, chickens, dogs, sheep, etc for the kids who come to camp to experience. Horseback riding has long been one of the most popular activities at camp and Dr. Jeanie is the one who makes it happen!

So, on to the visit. McKenzie is gaining her weight back. She was up to 5 pounds 5 ounces. She fed while we were there and gained 3 whole ounces! Dr. Jeanie called her an "efficient eater". I assume that is a good thing. Here's a picture of Dr. Jeanie examining McKenzie. The mirror makes it more fun.

Here is McKenzie before we left the house all bundled up and ready to go in her car seat. That thing swallows her whole.

For Molly, Monday was time for her first bath. Lindsey and I were lucky enough to be around to give it to her. She fussed a little bit but seemed to tolerate the process fairly well. Here's a picture of mommy cleaning her face and head.

And here's one of Molly getting her first styling. Yes, that's a toothbrush. High class in the NICU I tell ya.

Molly had some additional testing done yesterday for a possible irregular heartbeat. She had an EKG and an echo done to check out her heart. Structurally, everything looks perfect. All the valves and such are working perfectly. A lot of stuff we've read seems to indicate that between 3% and 60% of all newborns experience irregular heartbeats until they are 12 weeks old.

Our theory is that we just happen to be hooked up to the monitors to where the doctors can actually see all this stuff and that it really isn't a big deal. Still, they decided to do a 24 hour holter monitor test on her to check her heart rhythms. That will be done by later Tuesday afternoon. She also should be done with her antibiotics this afternoon. 

Lindsey and I are on our way to the hospital now to see Molly. We hope that we can pin the doctor down and get a firm "release date" for Molly. Guess we'll see!