four year checkup

leah's four year checkup went off without a hitch. we love our pediatrician. she truly goes above and beyond to help us find the services and things we need. and if she doesn't know the answer, she finds it for us. last year, my list of to-do items after her checkup was such a laundry list that she typed it all up with referrals and phone numbers and addresses and urls and additional info and mailed it to me. yah, we like her. 

this year there was a little less to do. leah's growing, growing, growing...but only up, not out. she's still just shy of 30lbs putting her in the 5th percentile for weight and is 39 inches tall, the 30th percentile, i think. 

the nurse wasn't sure what to do for the hearing and vision test when she learned that leah could neither speak nor use her hands. you should have seen the look on her face. and i again wondered, "is it too much to ask that a note be put at the top of my daughter's file, perhaps in big, red lettering, mentioning a few key facts to make the appointment go smoother?" i digress. 

leah's health is looking good. and she has rett syndrome. other than that, we're good to go. but we couldn't leave without first getting some of her four year immunizations. we played dress ups while we waited. 

i opted for her thigh as it would be easier to hold still. leah was giggling like crazy until mr. nurse jammed a needle in her. she didn't cry, she just looked shocked. i wish i had a picture. #2 needle. even more shocked. #3 needle in the other leg, still more shock. as he finished, i scooped her up and told her how proud i was of her! no crying at all! as we climbed into the car, i again praised her for being so amazing and strong when her lip quivered and a tear rolled down her cheek. my little leah is incredible. 

that was the only tear she shed. i gave her a big cuddle and she relaxed into her seat for the drive home. really, truly amazing. it's a good thing she's so strong. she has had - and i assume will have - more than her fair share of pain in her life and her strength sure gets me through.