Kaeley's First Physical

Today was Kaeley's first ever physical. In the state of California if you're homeschooling you must either keep records yourself or you must join an umbrella school. We've joined South Bay Faith Academy, which requires a complete physical for new members. Hence the physical. She was not looking forward to it. I don't know why she doesn't like doctors. She's visited the office several times with Nathan and Alynna being sick and nothing bad happened to the siblings, but she always freaks out if there's any talk of her personally seeing the doctor. I warned her over the weekend that this is what we would be doing. With Kaeley, as long as you do your best to explain the details of a new experience to her she does pretty well. After explaining to the best of my ability what goes on in a physical Kaeley accepted her fate.

This morning there were no tears even though I was expecting some. All three children went, so that was a bit exciting. Whew. So, they called her name, weighed her, took her height, her blood pressure, temperature, and asked her milestone questions, like if she knew her phone number, address, could she draw people, etc. She enjoyed the interview a lot. She was all bubbly when describing what shapes she liked to draw. Then the nurse told me that Kaeley could take off her clothes and put on the gown so the doctor could examine her. That's when things began to go a bit down hill.

The poor little girl watched me with apprehension as I approached her to help with buttons on her shirt. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry over this bit of news about her being practically naked. She kind of squinted up her face and said, "Isn't that gonna be kind a weird?" She wouldn't let me take a picture of her in her gown. I didn't want to embarrass her, but I did want a picture of her first physical. No such luck. She was not in the mood.

Our pediatrician is my favorite doctor of all time! He came in, did his calculations about weight and what not. He asked me about her eating habits. He asked if she was a good eater. I told him the truth... it depends on the day. She eats like a bird on most days. She's getting a bit better, but I don't know what else to say. The little bird is in the 10% of both height and weight! That was the last he said about it, so I guess he wasn't concerned as long as there was a growth. Hmm... maybe we'll switch to whole milk and more cheese or something. My little peanut.

Kaeley began to loosen up again as he interviewed her a bit more and had her jump up and down and what not.

Then he ordered a TB test and a blood test to test for anemia. I consented to both. I think Kaeley was a bit angry with me for having her put through the trauma of a needle. She cried and wailed through both pricks. I had to be sympathetic, because I very well remember screaming my head off once when my mom took me to get shots. I entertained her crying until I knew both pin pricks weren't gushing blood and no arms or fingers were falling off. Then I encouraged her to pick herself up by the heel straps and look forward to ice cream. I wanted to take her picture, but again she fought with the idea. The best picture I got was of her feet behind the curtain and some fingers on a door knob as she hid behind the door and the wall. Stinker.

She did very well, all things considered. I was very proud. Other than being a teeny weeny girl she is in good health with perfect hearing and perfect eye sight.

As it turns out our doctor homeschools and actually attends SBFA as well! That was a pleasant surprise! I love that man... in a doctor/patient sort of way, of course.

After her traumatic experience with the stabbing we went to Baskin-Robbins for some ice cream. Nathan was a mess. Wanna talk about traumatic!

The last stop of the day was the library. Kaeley brought her own library card, and she was so cute taking her books up to the counter all by herself. She later told me she felt like a big kid. I said, "But you are a big kid!" She said she felt an even bigger kid... like ten years old! I remember those days when ten year olds seem adultish. So sweet.