Well Child Checkups

Today I took the kids to the doctor for a checkup.  Brandt needed to get some immunization boosters as he is entering seventh grade, and it had been a couple of years since they had both had a routine annual physical.  Brandt also needed a physical to go to scout camp, so we were killing all sorts of birds in one visit.  I warned Brandt that this would be a serious, turn-your-head-and-cough physical, just so that he wasn't surprised by anything.

I love getting an update of the children's growth.  Each time we go we get a chart.  At almost twelve, Brandt weighs 101.63 lbs (75%tile), he's 60.25 inches (73%tile), and his BMI is 19.68 (76%tile).  Dr. Lauret was pleased with his growth, which is steady and consistent.  He is a bit concerned that Brandt's left leg is slightly shorter than his right and said we'll have to keep an eye on that.

At ten, Blythe has shown a significant growth spurt. She weights 74.52 lbs (55%tile), is 57 inches (85%tile), and has a BMI of 16.07 (36%tile).  All of these are a spike from her last checkup, indicating that she has begun puberty.  I was surprised that she has and Brandt hasn't, but Dr. Lauret said that girls are always faster than boys.  He talked to her about having an emergency first-aid kit, and that while he would continue to be her doctor for most everything, when it came to "women stuff," she needed to see an OB-GYN.  When we were leaving, Blythe asked why she needed a first-aid kit.  I explained that Dr. Lauret meant she should have a little bag of supplies for when her period came, and that she should just keep that in her backpack.  That, of course, brought up lots more questions about what you do when you have your period during school and how you handle that when you're in class and left us both bemoaning the whole "women stuff" we must deal with.

Both children need to work on their flexibility as neither of them could touch their toes.  We need to do some yoga stretching every day.  Dr. Lauret also told them they should get 9 hours of sleep, eat 5 servings of fruit AND vegetables each day, limit screen time to no more than 2 hours a day, get 1 hour of exercise, and have 0 sugary drinks.  Generally speaking, I think we do pretty well on most of that, and I was delighted to have Dr. Lauret back us up on the 2 hours of screen time a day.

Brandt got shots and we took his immunization sheet to Centennial on our way home.  The only evidence I have that we were at the doctor is a picture of Brandt with a band-aid on his arm.  Kent and I were both delighted that the children are doing well and growing as they should.  May it continue to be so!