One Year Appointment...

Eli & Emerson had their one year check-up yesterday and the pediatrician was really pleased with their progress. She's so affirming of all that we've done this last year with them, she was always aware and mindful of their prematurity at each appointment when we had concerns about things they were doing or not doing, she put up with our paranoia when we would bring the babies in at any sign of potential illness (we did that 3 or 4 times and each time it was nothing) oops, but she was very kind about it. She was an advocate for us when we were told the babies missed the Synagis deadline by 6 hours. Marcus and I both love her and we're really going to miss having her as the babies doctor when we move.

So many sad things about leaving our current life here. *sigh* oh well, such is life.  Now for some stats:

Eli
Weight: 19lbs 11oz 10%
Length: 28 in. 10%
Head: 50% (I'm so glad he's finally growing into his head)

Emerson
Weight: 19lbs 9oz 25%
Length: 27 in. 10%
Head: 3%

What's interesting is that Emerson has just about caught Eli weight wise. This is attributed to several things. 1). she finally learned to eat from her bottle after about 10 months of fighting with her to eat something clicked and she just got it. 2.) she loves eating solids and 3.) She's not nearly as mobile as Eli. She's only been crawling for a week.  So she currently eats more and moves less.

Couple those factors with Eli who hasn't stopped moving in months and refuses to eat any solids it results in a change in weight. In the last three months Eli has only gained a few ounces while Emerson has gained over a pound. It's so interesting how those things work.

Waiting for the doctor.

They also got their first MMR shot yesterday. They were suppose to get their chicken pox and pneumococcal conjugate too, but I've heard that the MMR is just a much more painful shot and I didn't feel comfortable letting them get all three. So we're going back in a few weeks to get the other two. (I think the pedi. thought I was concerned about Autism and MMR) she kept assuring me the research says there's no link. I've done my own research and I've assured her I'm very pro-vaccines I just didn't want to subject them to the MMR and the other two in the same day. That's all end of story. I forgot to tell Marcus this so when I requested separate days for the shots he kept looking at me with a confused look. (I think I worried him with my request).  

Then the babies had their blood drawn to check for lead. Drawing blood from babies is one of the saddest things ever. The couldn't find Eli's vein and had to poke him several times and he screamed so loud. Emerson actually did a little better because she was mostly curious about the new setting and what was going on. It wasn't until the needle was in her arm for a second that she started to cry. The saddest part for me, for some reason was their little tiny Band-Aids on their arms coupled with their tear streaked faces. 

Emerson had a little pink one.

And Eli had a little blue Band-Aid. 

(Marcus and I got a kick out of the fact that they gendered the Band-Aids). 

Poor kids, it wasn't the most fun they've ever had. We do however continue to be lucky in that they seem to bounce back from shots pretty quickly. In fact they usually sleep better after shots (and they both slept through the night last night).

Yay! For growing, healthy, babies. I am so relieved we made it through this first year with just one ear infection and nothing else.