Doctor visit yesterday, Social Security office today
Gwen went to the Doctor yesterday. Thankfully, she didn't remember her last visit there and she was super cheerful and happy -- at least for a little while.We wanted our Doctor to look at her legs. She seems a big bow-legged to us and that could be a sign of rickets which are not uncommon to Chinese adopted children. Usually a good diet with plenty of vitamin D is all that's needed to correct the problem. Well, Gwen doesn't really have that problem it just seemed to us as if she did because she is a little bit pigeon-toed. The Doctor called it "in-toeing". He said it's just a mild case and she may or may not outgrow it but it shouldn't pose a problem. He also reassured us that her frequent (but not constant) toe walking isn't anything to worry about either since there's no sign of neurological damage and she's on track in all other ways.
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Next, we talked about poop. Specifically super smelly poop and (potential) parasites. I've been somewhat worried since talking to friends who casually commented that they could sleep with their Diaper Genie right next to their bed. We can't even have our Diaper Genie in the same house with us! So just before her nap, I had the more-grim-than-anticipated task of spooning doo-doo out of her diaper into little containers.
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Lastly, we talked about her immunizations. Last time we visited the Dr, we tried to draw blood and after too many minutes of baby torture consisting of multiple stabs and jabs and digs from two different lab tech's (while mommy and daddy used all our strength to try to get her to hold still), we gave up. It just wasn't worth it. So, we're repeating all of her shots. She got four yesterday: DTaP, IPV, MMR and PCV7. It was all over in less than 30 seconds and she screamed her heart out but immediately recovered as soon as the nurse produced a Sponge Bob Square Pants sticker. All in all, it was MUCH easier on her (and me!) than trying to draw blood again. She has more to go but I'm not dreading it like I was the blood drawing. Besides, there was every chance that she'd need to repeat the shots anyway since another family who adopted from her SWI had bloodwork that confirmed that the shots their baby got there were no good.
Gwen is exactly 19 months old today. She weighs 24 pounds and is 31.5 inches tall.
We went to the Social Security Office and applied for her SS#. For anyone who's curious, here are the documents we needed: Her Chinese passport, our passports, our adoption certificate, the notarized translations of her Chinese birth certificate and adoption certificate and her Citizenship certificate. Only one parent needs to be there (Andrew is in Los Angeles giving a talk at UCLA today). All in all, it was pretty painless! We'll have her SS# in two weeks.
posted by Donna at 1/25/2006 12:21:00 PM
9 Comments:
My daughter is a little pigeoned toed too. And trust me, it doesn't slow her down in the least--she's 7 or 8 months older than Gwen. It has improved some with age, but it is still noticeable. When I took her in, the pediatrician comforted me by telling me both Michael Jordan and the Olympic Gold Medalist in sprinting both walk with their toes turned in. It can be a sign of athleticism, according to my research. Trust me, there is no two year old faster than mine. (Her preschool teachers can attest to it!)
So, you only fear speed with in-toeing...nothing more.
Poor Gwen, all those shots! Gracie had Giardia when she came home and we had to do the "parasite test" seeral times-yuck! If she does have it, ask for Alinia- NOT Flagyl. It is so much easier to get it down them, the flagyl is just slimy and disgusting, good luck!
Lisa
Donna, I enjoy your blog so much! Gwen is precious. Do you know if we have to re-adopt in California? I'm just starting the process, and I've read about re-adoption but I'm under the impression that it varies state to state. Thanks!
Joannah, I don't think you *have* to readopt but it's a good idea since you'll get a California birth certificate and that will be so much easier for your child to use throughout her life than the translated Chinese one.
Amanda, we got the DVD's in Guangzhou. Our agency arranged a trip to the place where you can get them. It was a huge mall with gazillions of them! Most of them do work just fine. Maybe 5% don't. I don't know that they're actually in Mandarin. They do have Chinese subtitles but the audio is in English.
Donna
owie owie! Gwen is such a trooper, and you and Andrew are lovely with her. Keeping good thoughts for the test results!
- kristin
Poop, double-bagged, into the outside trash bin. Life, much easier. Ahhhh.
Our SS office was...uhhh, not very cooperative until I showed up with the precious citizenship doc. That trumped all the excuses they were starting up with me.
Poor kiddo, shots do suck.
Poor baby. Why is it that they always find the biggest bandaid to put on such a small baby? OUCH
Our SSN experience was painless, too... and it came in about a week. Between that and the speed in which we received her COC, I've been shocked by the efficiency of the government for once! I guess it makes up for our delayed consulate appointment. :) Happy 19 months!
Poor baby! I hope she's done with evil doctor visits, and hope you're done with the evil poop!
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