Update

This morning was Garrett's 2 year check up. First off, I just want to ask, why does stepping onto a scale result in a huge ordeal for a 2 year old? I mean, nothing bad is happening, they haven't given him a shot (yet), all of his clothing is still intact, nobody is even touching him (except for me trying to force him onto the scale). I do not understand his fear of stepping up onto this small little platform. I mean, if it's the one inch height that is scaring him, then why does he regularly climb on top of the kitchen table? That's something to be afraid of. I don't think I'll ever understand what's going on inside my child's head.

We finally managed to get him on to the scale long enough to see that he weighs 26 pounds (he's always been on the thin side) and by this point I'm sweating as if I've run a marathon. And this is just the beginning. He screams when they insert the thermometer into his ear for 1 second (hey kid, the ear is much better than the alternative...), he screams when they wrap the paper measuring tape around his head to see how big his brain is, he screams when we lay him down on tissue paper and they measure him (36"=3 feet tall!!). There was a lot of screaming going on and we hadn't even made it to the examining room. Of course we waited for about 25 minutes or so before the doctor came in, and let me tell you, that 25 minutes is really 2.5 hours with a 2 year old in a small room with nothing but the toys in his diaper bag (which he's played with approximately 1 billion times) and a few books that are way too long for his attention span. So, this results in Momma making a poor choice and digging out one of those super-bouncy balls. This is very good entertainment, but not really practical in a small doctor's exam room. I could just see us becoming the reason for a sign in all rooms that reads "no balls allowed". There's already a list a mile long of things that aren't allowed in those rooms and I'm sure there's a story behind all of them. So I finally managed to get the ball back and put it away before the window was broken or the doctor walked in right in the midst of a super bounce resulting in breaking his glasses or worse. Of course this resulted in the BIG ONE (tantrum wise) and I'm sure everyone within a mile radius thought he was getting his shots, but alas, he was just throwing a fit.

Thankfully our doctor's office has seen fit to lock all of the drawers and cabinets in these rooms because Garrett checked them all multiple times just to be sure they hadn't miraculously unlocked to reveal a hidden stash of awesome toys. At one point Garrett was screaming bloody murder (because I wouldn't let him color on the walls) and I'm trying to shut him up, but my husband (oh wise man that he is) says, "No, just let him cry, maybe that will get them in here faster so they can get us out of here." Wonderful thinking. Of course that didn't work, but eventually the doctor came in. Now, let me just say, I do like my son's pediatrician. He seems very knowledgeable about a lot of kid stuff and he's always talked to Garrett and been nice, but every once in a while he says stuff that makes me feel like a total moron. After he came in he started talking to Garrett, he was asking him if he had a birthday party and what all he got, so I, being a mom, started prompting Garrett to respond. Of course the doctor gets on to me, telling me to stop it and let Garrett answer for himself. I was a little mortified, but of course Garrett didn't answer one question, except when he asked how old he was, he tried to hold up 2 fingers. But I didn't want the doctor to think that we didn't have a birthday party for him so I was trying to help and encourage Garrett to answer. This is just one of many times that he's done this. Don't ask me why we still go there, it's just too much of a pain to try to find another pediatrician, and like I said, he does know what he's talking about, he just doesn't have a very good bedside manner.

So, after this pleasant exchange we move on to discussing various issues (Garrett has excema and also holds his breath sometimes when he cries and then passes out). Then the lovely physical exam comes. The doctor looks in Garrett's mouth, throat, ears, diaper, etc, and the entire time Garrett is screaming as if he's being tortured for information (Where did you hide the remote! If you don't give up this information we will look in your ears until you crack!) Finally the moment comes (dum, dum, dum) shots time! But, thankfully, we lucked out. Garrett was supposed to get the Hepatitis A shot and a blood draw to check his lead levels. Well, there's apparently a national shortage of Hepatitis A vaccines so he didn't get one, but he still got the blood draw. That went pretty well. Though I feel sorry for the ladies who have to do it. I'm sure it isn't fun drawing blood from someone who is screaming in your ear. You definitely need a steady hand for that job.

So, we are now done with check-ups for an entire year! For those of you who have had kids somewhat recently, you know that the first 2 years consist of quite a few check ups so you get to know your pediatrician on a first name basis. But now we can go back to being nameless people in the crowded waiting room. Barring multiple illnesses over the next year, we won't be seeing him much. Though we will have to go back whenever his office gets a hold of some Hepatitis A vaccines, so that should be a fun day. With his breath holding problem, any time he gets a shot, he always holds his breath, which kind of makes the nurse panic a little and she repeats over and over "breathe, baby, breathe". I'm used to it now, so it isn't a big deal. I think he will be an Olympic swimmer some day because he can hold his breath for an eternity before he does eventually pass out. He'll have to figure that out exactly, we wouldn't want him to pass out while underwater.

So, just a lesson for those of you out there who may be exposed to my child over the course of the next few months (he's supposedly going to outgrow this by the time he hits 3, so less than 12 months to go!). Yes, he holds his breath and passes out (occasionally), but this is not uncommon and, according to our doctor, happens in approximately 20% of all children. So please don't look at me as if my child is a freak whenever you hear about his breath holding spells, or if you're one of the lucky ones who gets to actually witness one of these blessed events. He's perfectly normal, just needs a little closer watching whenever he gets worked up. Just put out an arm to catch him whenever he passes out, and then everything is back to normal (until the next episode). ;)