We had a dr’s appt today simply to check her weight. She’s gaining weight slower than the charts suggest and the Dr’s a bit concerned. I’m not overly concerned because Jamayia’s still playful and happy and progressing nicely, and her height’s fine. She just isn’t all that interested in solid foods still, but she’s slowly making progress. Turns out that she’s just under 18 lbs. The Dr. wanted to send her for blood work to check her iron levels because we haven’t given her any meat yet. Can’t you find iron in something other than meat?? We’re also not big meat eaters to begin with, so it’s not something that I readily have on hand at home, nor is it something that I personally feel she needs to be eating at a young age. If she’s not big into the simple things like fruit & veggies and pasta, then why harass her tummy with meat just yet? The Dr. did say that at this point, she can eat whatever she wants. I believe the exact words were “I’m okay with her having some yogurt or ice cream everyday. She just need the calories right now.” Wouldn’t you just love that kind of diet?
After a quick trip out and back in, we were off to the lab. I had the ugly task of pinning her down. The (what I assume is) student phlebotomist ushered me into a tiny room, where there’s no room for the stroller. Then she says that she’ll just stick it outside the room, but within eyeshot (hey—if you can say earshot, then eyeshot should be legit too). She explains that for Peds cases, you need 2 people in the room. Then the more experienced phlebotomist came in and the student shut the door. Um, hmm, how am I supposed to see the stroller now?? I was too annoyed to say anything outloud. It would’ve just come across as rude. No need to be rude before they’re about to stick a needle in my baby’s arm. We get set up. I was told to pin down Jamayia; the student was holding her arm straight and the other lady did the actual blood draw. Well, have I mentioned that my baby doesn’t like to be pinned down?? Yes, that was the screaming you heard—we had to hold her down. The actual needle stick seemed like child’s play after the pinning down.
But of course, no day of mine would be complete without more drama, right?? So, they find the vein and start. Of course baby’s Ms. Squirmy Wormy. Then the blood practically stopped flowing. And with her silly manipulations, the lady managed to let the needle slipped out the vein, and then the arm. Then she has the nerve to say to me that she told me to hold Jamayia. Praise God for His restraint because He spared her from a few degrees lesser than this momma’s wrath. Yes, I managed to keep my tongue silent and said nothing. Nothing! I knew I hadn’t let go of Jamayia’s legs & body and that what went on in her arm area was not my responsibility. No need to waste breath in self defense for something that I didn’t cause. I just let that water roll right off my back.
So, they proceeded to the other arm. It worked. But here’s another senseless thing. They collected such a small sample for all the tests they needed to run, that she was unsure of the amount she collected. Yes, she pulled out the needle, and went to check with a lab tech if the amount collected was enough. Um, hello?? If you pull out the needle, how are you gonna collect more? Am I the only one having issues with this lady here?????? Thankfully, my babe’s quite the trooper, and survived this all. Hopefully without any long lasting scars.
Her next appointment is November 15. LOL. Never did I think I’d be praying for someone to actually gain weight.