Doctor Visit: Ava at 4 years / Liam at 22 months

Poor Ava! Yesterday she had FOUR shots during the course of one visit to the doctor. Liam squeaked away with only one shot. Ava went for her four-year appointment. Liam went for his 18 month (turned 22 month?) appointment. Honestly, they've been so healthy recently (aside from a cold here or there), we luckily haven't had to visit the doctor.

Ava is around the 50th percentile for height and weight for her age. She is 34 lbs. It seems she will be our dainty and petite little princess, with her "little big brother" to protect her. ;-)

Liam is in the 95th percentile for height (that's what the doc told me, but looking at the chart, it appears that he is off the chart?) and 90th percentile for weight. He is 31 lbs. I looked back at his growth over the past few months. He has grown 6 1/2 inches in the last 8 months!

Ava had her first (big girl) eye and hearing test at the appointment, as well. She had to tell the nurse what shapes she saw on the eye chart. One looked like a coffee cup. Ava told the nurse "teacup". It was cute to see what names she gave the shapes. She was allowed to get two shapes wrong before they would get concerned, but didn't get any wrong. She had a hearing test, as well. It was cute to watch her try to figure out in which side / ear the sound occurred while she wore headphones. She passed.

Liam was first to get his immunization shot. He was squirrely by shot-time. (We wonder if he got a short nap yesterday). So as soon as he received his one shot, Doug took him out to the waiting room.

Ava, the poor girl... I had to hold her while she got two shots in one leg, followed by two shots in the other leg. Not fun. Doug said he thought they might've been able to hear her outside of the doctor's office, in the shopping plaza. That loud. I can't blame her. I felt so bad, like she was expecting me to protect her, but shot after relentless shot, I just held her. I don't normally have an issue with this, because shots are over so quickly and big hugs soon follow, but FOUR shots. Oy vay. We stopped by Chik Fil-A on the way home and let the kids split a small strawberry shake. That somehow seemed to make it better.

On the way home, I told Ava about polio and how she got a shot to prevent it from happening, that one shot that hurts for a minute is much better than not walking forever. Hard to explain long-term benefits to a four year-old. Fortunately she won't need any more shots (aside from flu shots) until she is 11.

As soon as we got home, both kids were playing outside in the cul-de-sac with the neighbor kids, with no mention of the shots. Ava fell a few times and scraped her knees while playing. Thankfully, I think those boo-boos are the ones that are more memorable today.

Peace, love and lots of Band-aids,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam