Mixed Messages at the Dr

So today Paige and I headed into the Dr.'s office for her nine month check up. I admit I may be a bit gun shy about Pediatricians after the "barbarian" incident, but I always get a bit of anxiety before going to these appointments. Yes, the new pediatrician is a bazillion times better than the first, but every time I go I leave more confused than ever. Maybe I'm the only one this happens to, but I totally feel like all Dr.'s have a handbook - probably a prerequesite before graduating - that explains how to be elusive and vague with patients, yet self-assured enough to make you (the patient/parent) feel like a complete moron. Who's with me on this one?! SERIOUSLY! Here's what happened today... Paige is a chunky monkey - not a secret : ) She weighed in today at 24 lbs and measured almost 30 inches. So the Dr comes in with their fancy schmancy growth chart and shows me that Paige's stats are "off the chart". Ok. Not a suprise there. But they said I should make sure I'm not overfeeding her. Then, She directly followed that statement with a disclaimer, making sure to tell me not to withhold food from her or try to get her to lose weight... Interesting. I jokingly said, "Oh, So you think I should unsubscribe her from the Jillian Michaels and Weight Watchers emails?!" The Dr didn't find it as amusing as Paige and I did : ) Anywho!! So then they ask what her feeding schedule is each day. I give them the run down of about 3-4 4-6oz bottles, plus 2 meals. I start to go into what kinds of foods she's eating - you know, all organics since I am super mom and all...), when the doctor cuts me off mid sentence. "She's only having 20 oz of formula on average a day?!?!?!" I did some quick calculations in my head before answering "Correct. About 20 oz each day. Plus two meals. And about 8 oz of water via sippy cup." Come to find out
she "should" be having 24-28oz per day, plus THREE meals! WHAT?! Didn't you just get done telling me that she is a baby sumo wrestler? And now you want me to feed her MORE? I obviously
couldn't really wrap my mind around this concept. I never withhold food from her - and she stops eating when she's full. There is no way I could fit in another 1 or 2 bottles AND a meal. So I basically said that, and the doctor said to try and "sneak" in the formula. Ok... Sure : ) I'll add it to her bath water and hope it absorbs through her pores : ). So then we finish up the exam. I got dinged because Paige wasn't waving "bye bye" yet and laughs when I say "no", but I totally think I got those "parenting points" back when Paige looked at me and said "Mooooooooom." I chimed in that she also says "Daaaddddddy", which she promptly noted on her clipboard. And as the Dr is leaving she says this exact statement: "Paige is absolutely perfect! Keep doing what you are doing and don't change a thing!" Then the door closes, and I'm left totally confused. Didn't we just spend the last 15 minutes reviewing everything I was doing wrong? Ay-yi-yi!! So basically I will spend the next week doubting, worrying and stressing over every little thing. And just when I think things are going smoothly, it will be time for another Dr visit. Fun times!!

FINALLY We're Better PLUS Carter's Sweepstakes Winner

After about 2+ weeks, we are FINALLY all better! WOO HOO! Yes, we all have a few last sniffles and sneezes in us - but my-oh-my, this virus was sin serious! We still have no idea where it came from or how it took out our entire family (even Lenni LuLu was feeling under the weather!) but I can tell you this: Virus, you are not welcome here!!!

In other news, the winner of the Carter's $50 gift card sweepstakes is......

LORRAINE ROBINSON from Hamtramck, MI

YAY!!! Congrats!

Publish Post

You Know It's Bad When I Refuse French Fries...

The last few times Paige has been sick, I've managed to avoid catching it. This go round, I wasn't so lucky. The stinkin' virus swarmed our house like bedbugs in a NYC hotel. And it's been going on for over a week now! It all started when Daniel came home from a weekend away with a sore throat. Then, on Tuesday night, Paige woke up with a 103 degree fever. When I brought her to the doctor on Wednesday, they tested her for strep (which thank goodness she didn't have!) and then diagnosed her with a bad sore throat virus. BOO! She was pretty miserable for two days, and seemed to bypass the stuffy nose the doctor warned me about. And just when I thought we were in the clear, it happened... I GOT SICK! NOOOOOOOOOOO! I'm the caregiver, not the receiver! All day Sunday I was completely useless - I couldn't even get out of bed. Monday was a bit better, but was in no shape to be a mommy... luckily my mother-in-law was able to come over to watch Paige while I slept off the fever and achiness. Daniel surprised me later that afternoon with my favorite Chic-Fil-A french fries. I was SO excited since I hadn't eaten anything in 48 hours. I shoved about 4 into my mouth at the same time and just as I was savoring their crisp, saltiness, they hit the back of my throat. OH. MY. GOSH!!!! The Pain!!!!! Sadly I handed the french fries back to Daniel, which is when I think it finally hit him just how sick I was. The 103 degree fever didn't show him. The moaning and groaning didn't show him. It was only when I refused the french fries that he realized : ) Go figure! So the only silver lining to this pile of poop week we've had in the Billups' household is that this morning I stepped on the scale and I have lost 5 lbs! Woo hoo!! I know, I know - it's because I have eaten in 3 days. But I'm going to savor it for a bit and put on my skinny jeans - even if I am just schlepping around the house in them, wiping Paige's runny nose and wiping sweat off my brow as I fight off this fever. The joys of mommyhood : )