Sarah is five months today. We went in for her four month well baby check and shots today. She’s a month behind schedule due to her surgery.
She is now fourteen pounds and seven ounces. She’s been gaining about a pound every two weeks! She was almost twenty six inches long. And, following her brothers, she also has a big head – sixteen and three quarters. Her pediatrician was pleased to see how well she is growing and developing.
Unfortunately, she had an elevated blood pressure and pulse. Since Dr. A. was unable to diagnose the heart defect until she was two and half months old, she is now SUPER vigilant about Sarah’s health. She immediately scheduled an echocardiogram at the hospital and after consulting with the cardiologist in Anchorage, she ordered a chest x-ray and blood draw (CBC). It was another long day at the doctor’s for Sarah – four shots, one heel stick, and a medieval looking contraption that held her arms up in the air and kept her immobilized in an upright position for the x-ray. Poor thing!
The blood work came back normal. The chest x-ray showed that there was still increased blood flow on one side – something that the cardiologist (Dr. B.) saw at her one month post surgery check. Dr. A. reported this to Dr. B. He decided that the echo could wait until mid-December when he comes back up for the cardiology clinic. Dr. A., I think, still wanted us to go and have it done, but she left it up to me. Since Dr. B, thought it could wait I decided to wait. I did schedule another check-up for her though in two weeks. They’ll recheck her blood pressure, pulse, and weight.
I’m not sure what to think. I actually told Brian on Saturday that I was worried about Sarah. She started gagging and spitting up a little about 15 minutes after she eats, which is what she did pre-surgery. It could just be reflux and a need for solid foods since she’s entering that phase of her diet. I can’t decide if I’m experiencing intuition or paranoia. Maybe a little of both. I think Dr. A. is feeling the same!
One other thing I thought today – Sarah has met her deductible AND out-of-pocket for insurance this year (after about $180K in medical bills!). When appointments and procedures continue after January we have to meet those two things again. Bummer!!
