4 years old and the trip to the pediatrician

So Ava turned 4 on May 21st.  I can't believe how time flies--truly.  It kind of makes me sad because she is definitely not a baby anymore, even though my she looks like she's about 2.  (Sorry honey, you got mommy's genes.) 

She is so funny.  I love listening to her and watching her.  She says and does the funniest things.  She loves to sing and dance and doesn't care who is watching.  She is obsessed with shoes, and thinks she knows everything--actually, she will tell you that she knows everything. She has also decided she wants to be on tv and has asked her dad several times "Daddy, how are you gonna get me on tv?"  Hmmm... 

Anyway, she is a mess, but she makes me laugh and smile and be silly every day.  She makes my life...I truly have no idea what I was doing before she was here!

Here she is...just being Ava...and funny poses are her new thing!

Well, now that you've seen the wonderfully silly side of Ava, let's talk about her 4 year checkup with the pediatrician.

First of all, we totally love our pediatrician, Dr. Ramirez.  He is wonderful with the kids and is so easy to talk to.  Ava adores him. 

I went into the visit knowing that shots would be in the very very near future.  They did the normal little things like weight and height, but this time it was a real little persons physical.  They checked her blood pressure and did a vision and hearing screen, and Ava's favorite part--she got to pee in a cup.  She was truly excited about that part, though I'm not completely sure why.

The doctor saw her, checked her out, talked to her and played for a while.  She is definitely petite 5% for both weight and height--28 lbs & 37 in...but she is healthy and growing, slowly but surely. 

"So, Mrs. V, you know that today she will be needing several vaccines, right? Now, you have two options 3 today and none next year, or 2 today and 1 next year?"

I opted for the "get it all out of the way" package, which he totally agreed with. 

So the doctor leaves and Ava is so excited to go because I told her we would go to Starbucks when we were finished, knowing we would need something to look forward to.

Ava:  Let's go mommy.

me:  well, Ava, you know at the end of Adam's doctor appointments something else happens

Ava:  ya, he gets shots (as she is saying this her eyes get bigger and she is now aware of what is going to happen next)

me:  Right.  Well, since you are 4 now, you have to get some shots so that you can stay healthy and not get really really sick.

Ava:  But I don't want any.

me:  I know.  Mommy will hold you and you can squeeze me tight and then we will be done and go to Starbucks. 

Ava:  (tears)

So the nurse comes in and Ava begins screaming.  The nurse talks to her and I'm holding her trying to keep her calm...no such luck.

Before the shots even happen, she wouldn't even let the nurse touch her legs, so  I had to hold her down.  It is truly amazing the strength of such a tiny little person. 

I'm laying over her holding the top part of her body down, and the nurse is holding her legs, and she is totally screaming and crying hysterically.  I just wanted to take her and say forget it, but I know that it is super important for her to get these, so I held on and tried to stay calm myself.  Nurse gets the two shots in one leg and one in the other and we are done.  At this point I am sweating and my ear is ringing from the screaming.  She was a great nurse, but this was by far the worst regular doctor visit. 

I had to hold her for about 5 minutes in the room doing deep breathing with her to calm her down.  It was really hard--for both of us! 

I carry her out and as we are leaving the nurse comes over and apologizes to her for having to give her all those nasty shots.  Ava turns to her and says with tears in her eyes, " It's okay. I'm gonna go get some coffee now." 

Whatever gets us through certain situations!