No cavities!

Just a little (reversible) gum disease. He needs to brush a bit better!

 

Thankfully, no tears this time. Just discomfort.

 

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Summer appointments

I always schedule James' dentist and eye doctor appointments in the summer. The eye doctor doesn't insist that you come every year but as long as our insurance covers it, why not?

We actually had a dentist appointment earlier in the spring but they recommended we go to an orthodontist consultation due to overcrowding.

The X-rays are fascinating. You can see all the teeth waiting to come in but you can also see how there are just too many for his small jaw.

 

Well, they said to come back next year and we'll keep monitoring the situation.

 

The eye doctor appointment went well. Some astigmatism and some trouble seeing at a distance but nothing that needs correction, yet?

 

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Finishing up April

I took James to his swim class in late April was fortunate enough to see his new skill- side breath!

He really just dives in and tries his best!

 

 

 

Here's the side breath.

 

Side breath.

A race to finish!

 

 

 

And there was a dentist appointment. No cavities! But silent tears. He really doesn't like fingers and instruments in his mouth. Oh, and they are referring us to the orthodontist...!

 

And work related for me- I went on a behind the scenes tour of the Target Stadium! I was supposed to help chaperone this fieldtrip but I had so much fun with my friend Jessica (a HUGE Twins fan) that it didn't seem like work (: Too bad it was rainy and we couldn't get on the field.

 

On to May 2014...!

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Big Spender

James saved a total of $125 from his allowances, family "donations", and loose change. His timing was excellent. He reached his goal at the same time the Nintendo 2DS system was released!

We were at Target on the release date. Surprisingly, no lines ;)

And James spots the systems!

 

Yes, this is a happy kid!

 

Thank you to Mom and Dad for contributing the extra few dollars and then tax. Oh, and for purchasing a pricey game so that he can play something on his new system.

 

James and his Dad set up the system.

 

And total happiness at last!

 

Goal reached!

I'm still very amazed that James was able to save that much money. It took a lot of self-discipline to not be distracted by Pokemon cards, Angry Birds, and other toys.

 

James took a small break from his 2DS to visit the dentist. No cavities! We're keeping an eye on one tooth but so far, so good!

 

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Doctors are Nice

James really hasn't had any issues this summer. He's had very few accidents, but as I told the doctor it's probably because I AM ON HIM. I see the very beginnings of a potty dance and it is, "James. Bathroom. Now." And he goes.

We went back to our regular doctor to report our progress. She did still refer us to the gastroenterologist in Minneapolis. So we went!

Here is James hiding from the new doctor. Playfully.

 

The gastroenterologist didn't say much. He listened to our progress report (very few accidents, a few cleanses, nighttime wetting, BM habits, etc.) And then James needed to poop, right in the middle of that appointment. We excused ourselves and James did his business.

Seriously, that boy loves his public poop.

The gastroenterologist is now referring us to a urologist. We have an appointment in September, the earliest possible appointment. He did also refer us back to our regular clinic for a follow up x-ray, to compare to our last one. He said the urologist won't see us until we can rule out any obstructions or constipation.

 

James handled all of his appointments very well. We are making a lot of progress at home, and just waiting patiently until September. We've almost cancelled his specialist appointments a few times because he seems fine, but they keep wanting to see us. We just might as well continue.

 

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Yearly Eye Exam

No glasses needed!

 

James has a bit of astigmatisms (like Mom) and a bit of farsightedness but no need for glasses. He sees 20/20 or better with both eyes.

This was his first dilation so he was excited to get these shades. We went right home and he didn't notice a thing.

 

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TMI

I hope James doesn't object to this post when he is like 13 or whatever. You know, when teenage surly stuff goes on. But at the end of April James was having some issues. He was having many accidents at school and home. We took him to the doctor.

So the first thing they ask at the doctor is for James to pee in a cup. I braced myself for this experience. James found it highly amusing and could not stop giggling that he was going to pee in a cup. This gave me the giggles too and we got through it just fine. And then, "Mom, I have to poop!" Of course. Public place. James loves to poop any time we are out and about.

But I noticed that his poop was very, very large. Just a little mental note that came in handy ten minutes later.

During the exam with Dr. Keis she asked a lot of questions about his habits, diet, and behavior. And then she asked if he poops every day. I let James answer that question because honestly I hadn't been keeping track. It turns out NO! And I mentioned his large poop just minutes before. Sounds like constipation. Maybe a severe back up.

Xray ordered.

 

 

Yup. Poop issues. The doctor said that all the fuzzy stuff behind his pelvis is poop.

 

So we spent a weekend close to home so we could give James three doses of Miralax a day. It went well. We saw lots of activity. Ahem. And then it got really messy on Sunday night so we did decide to keep James home an additional day, and miss school, to get him back on a regular once a day schedule.

I can't say that everything is back to normal yet, because we are thinking of doing another cleanse this weekend after some random accidents at school. But we are hopeful that this will sort itself out, very soon!

 

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Annual check-up

Healthy as can be! No problems, no big questions for the doctor.

 

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Accident

Jim received a frantic call from the school last week that James had a playground accident was bleeding quite a bit. I volunteered to leave my work to get James. I promised to call/message Jim with immediate details. We were worried about him needing stitches, that a tooth was knocked loose, and also just whether he was frantic or not.

He was fine! The nurse said she didn't think he needed stitches. Also, the tooth that is loose is a baby tooth. It is quite possible that the tooth was already loose.

James fell on the playground equipment as he was climbing. I think that he bit down on his lip, causing the bleeding. He had a big scab for about a week.

I called the dentist and they confirmed that it is a baby tooth and really, there isn't much to be done.

James healed nicely and the scab has already fallen off. He is back to his usual very, very dry lips. Chapstick should be his BFF.

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Dentist Part 2

James had to go back to the dentist to get his 6 year molars sealed. There was a lot of awkward tooth pillows inserted into his mouth and he kinda freaked. I almost think it was near anxiety attack! We had to take a break midway through, to let him breathe. He also gasped once and sucked down one of the little tooth guards/pillows. I thought he was going to choke!

 

I didn't make a big deal of it. Just told him that most dental visits wouldn't be like that. I hope he won't be afraid to go to the dentist in the future...

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December 16- Sneaky & Sickness in the house

We had a 5th year wellness check scheduled for Thursday afternoon.  This is after a 1am wake-up of James crying that "my ear hurts".  He gulped some Advil and went back to bed.

At the doctor-
42 inches and 42 lbs!

Do you think Dr. Keis will find me?  He wasn't hiding because he was scared (yet) but because he was silly.

While we waited James completed a simple test with Dad.  Questions about colors, logic, etc.  Your chonies are showing, James!

Dr. Keis discovers James' love of toejam.  What a great sport :)

Sure enough James had a raging ear infection.  Poor guy.  He also had to endure THREE shots in his thighs. He screamed like I haven't seen in a long, long time.  Torture.  For him.  And us.

The next morning James found that Sneaky was also sick!!

Luckily all of our boys heal quickly.  Both James and Sneaky are better!

Poor James

One day last week I picked up James from daycare and he complained right away that his ear hurt. The teachers didn't know anything about it. We went home and I made a doctor's appointment for the next morning. Ten minutes later he was sobbing on my lap that it hurts it hurts it hurts!!!

We went to Urgent Care. Sad faces.

Yup, ear infection. Antibiotics. Almost instantly better.

Actually, a pretty normal little boy after a good night's sleep.

I hope this is the last ear infection, though we've already had TWO this fall.

Another doctor?

But my eyes are fine, said James!

We needed to take James to ANOTHER doctor (taking care of all of our business in the last week) because at his preschool training they mentioned he needed a more thorough eye exam. I guess they didn't think he had 20/20 vision. That still might be true but this doctor didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

When I showed James this picture later he said this looked like a batman mask. He's right :)

Jim and I sat quietly during the entire exam but I was a little worried because James wasn't identifying the letters correctly, well maybe 40% the time. I thought maybe he just didn't know some of the alphabet letters on the spot.

So everything was fine. We did our parental duty and took James to a follow-up eye exam. We can report to the school district that our child is normal and fine.

James handled himself well, again. He seemed like he was going to put up a fuss at the beginning but he walked back with the doctor and sat in the big chair.

We went to happy hour/dinner after the appointment. One of our favorite restaurants is right across the street from the eye doctor. Yay.

Superhero table toys.