Baby Jake: 6 month checkup
My poor little man. 
(( He had his 6 mo WBV today and I asked the doc to check out the persistent rash he has on his chest/back. Turns out it’s mostly eczema , but she was also concerned because there are these red pinprick spots that are not a rash, but little red pigment spots that apparently can be a sign of yucky things, like low platelets The can also be just benign red pin pricks, brought on my pressure (like being on his tummy a lot, which he does sleep that way now that he can control the matter). So she sent us immediately to the lab to make sure it isn’t a platelet problem.
A blood culture on a 6 month old is no joy. The lab techs did not look too excited when we walked in. By some mercy, they got his vein on the first try and I had to restrain him tightly while it took them forever to get all the blood they needed through that tiny needle. OMG. I have NEVER seen him that upset. I was so sad. The techs were sad. Please please please let the results come back normal. I never want to do that again.
On top of that, he has gained less than a pound since his last visit a month ago. Since he’s so active, she said that’s the obvious issue. She wants me to ramp up the solids as a supplement to the BF. She isn’t particularly worried about him and didn’t give me hassle. I told her I will of course continue to feed him solids, but he’s always going to be skinny, so don’t be surprised if he never chunks up. His brother, his father and his grandfather were all the same. Why should this Bailey boy be any different?? She laughed and said, yeah, some babies are just this way. I’m glad she’s not being ridiculous about it.
His head circumference is remaining on curve, as is his length (he’s 50th percentile for height and less than 3rd percentile for weight (and dropping). I’d be SO worried about him if he didn’t take after those other long, lanky Bailey’s (see above). Andrew was also a long, skinny babe apparently, and he’s quite normally filled out now.
Still, I DO worry. In fact, I think this little guy is giving me more stress about his health in six months than I EVER had with any of the three girls over the whole past 12 years! Crazy.
Mom to 4 kids and 2 stepkids, I work at home in the heart of the chaos. Founder and executive editor of SheKnows.com and various other sites. Homeschooling. Knitter. Family chef. Gadget geek. Wordphreak. LAZY BLOGGER. 
I know how you feel. Wishing the best for little Jake — I'm sure he'll be fine. They all grow at their own pace, and all the "percentiles" seem to stress us as parents out! for example, my daughter is at the 90th percentile for height and at the 10th percentile for head circumference. What does this mean? Will she be a giant with at tiny head??? LOL… He'll be fine. You're a good mommy for worrying.xoxoxox
Starlight
15 Feb 08 at 8:46 pm
You KNOW I sympathize; remember W. had to have blood tests every 4 months while I was taking anti-thyroid meds? He'd get so ANGRY. I blew out tiny capillaries in his arms, once, he was so mad. They get over the trauma quicker than we do, though. (On average, it took him about 3.2 seconds to get over it. Even that time it took three lab techs and me to hold him down – I think he was nine months old at the time.) Look at those pictures – what a sweet boy. Don't worry; he looks just fun, and as you have posted since, the labs all came back "normal."
Holly
17 Feb 08 at 1:04 pm
You KNOW I sympathize; remember W. had to have blood tests every 4 months while I was taking anti-thyroid meds? He'd get so ANGRY. I blew out tiny capillaries in his arms, once, he was so mad. They get over the trauma quicker than we do, though. (On average, it took him about 3.2 seconds to get over it. Even that time it took three lab techs and me to hold him down – I think he was nine months old at the time.) Look at those pictures – what a sweet boy. Don't worry; he looks just fun, and as you have posted since, the labs all came back "normal."
Holly
17 Feb 08 at 1:07 pm
Another web site determined to make me look stupid.
Gotta love the double-posts… sorry about that!
Holly
17 Feb 08 at 1:08 pm