Doctors appointments

Ava and I both had doctors appointments today. She had her 6 month checkup with Dr VanWienen, and I had to see Dr Ritsema to have my Blue Care Network form filled out. It's called "Healthy Blue Living", and you have to make healthy choices and improve in lacking areas in order to keep enhanced benefits (20 dollar office visit copay instead of 40 for example. Prescriptions are the same way). There are 6 or 7 areas on the form. I was fine in the drinking/smoking areas, since I do neither. I had my cholesterol drawn today. That's another area which I will probably be lacking in. And then...the dreaded weight category. You have to have a BMI of 30 or less to score full points in the weight category. Um, let's just say I didn't get full points! Being that I didn't qualify for the full points, I had to commit to a diet plan, or at least, the intent to diet and exercise, to score slightly fewer points but still keep enhanced benefits. He said, "Weight Watchers is a good plan". So I said, sure, I will look into it. haha. I have all the info for Weight Watchers at home, so I guess I could do it without the meetings, but I'm not a very good self-motivator. I need to do something, I know that, but sheesh it's hard. I think about food far too often. Then he brought up his favorite topic. Sleep apnea and my CPAP machine, which I haven't used in a LONG time. I think it has even been recalled, but I haven't bothered checking the serial numbers since I don't use it. "So Sara, why don't you use it." er um...I dunno...because I hate feeling like darth vadar while I sleep? Because I don't want my husband to be scared of me? Because I just want to sleep without some stupid thing blowing air up my nose. I can't even remember what I told him. Then the guilt trip started. "You know untreated sleep apnea can take ten years off your life. And it's not just you now, it's HER too" as he points at Ava. "It's like deciding not to treat cancer." Ok ok...so then I said, "Well if I just lost weight, I wouldn't HAVE sleep apnea." His response was, "If you don't treat your sleep apnea, it's nearly impossible to lose weight. You know that there have been studies that show that sleep apnea releases an endorphin in your body that slows metabolism". Ok I give up. I told him I would look into whether my machine was recalled or not. I think Brian was right...he must get kickbacks from the CPAP machine people or something.

When I finished with Dr Ritsema I had a few minutes before Ava's appointment (same office, just a different doctor) so I got my blood drawn for cholesterol and my TSH. Then little miss Ava kept flirting with everyone in the waiting room while we waited for her to get called back. Someone would walk by and she would grin ear to ear at them. Every single person. It was too cute. One older gentleman asked her if she needed an extra grandpa. She did the same thing to everyone at the grocery store later on in the day. SOmeone would walk by the cart, she would grin at them, and they would melt. Flirty baby. Her little smile just lights up her face.

Ava's appointment went fine with Dr. VanWienen. He seems to be holding up relatively well after the sudden death of his son. So sad. I told him I had been praying for him, and will continue to, and he really seemed to appreciate that. His family has a strong faith, and a great family support system, so I hope they will continue to heal. As for Ava, I asked him about solids, and a few other things. SHe has some patchy dry skin on her back that I thought might be eczema. He agreed, but thought I could just try moisturing it constantly first before using any of the other stuff. Otherwise she's doing great! 18lbs 3oz, and supposedly 28 inches long, though I think they student nurse that did her measurement was a little generous with her tape measure. Ava was flexing her feet, and she made her mark at the toe instead of the heel, so I don't think she's QUITE that tall. She was supposed to get one less shot today, but I opted to have her get the flu shot, so she got the same amount of shots as her last two visits. Three shots, and an oral vaccine for rotavirus. Poor baby. She turned red and did the silent scream for a minute before any sound came out. But she recovered quickly, and was happy the rest of the day. We're so lucky to have such a happy, healthy baby.