Thursday, August 27, 2009

Bubba is growing

When Bubba was a year old the doctor was concerned because he had basically stopped growing. On the growth charts he was dropping percentiles and this made the doctor a little worried. At his 18 month check up the doctor was telling me that Bubba was now considered in the catagory of "Thriving to Survive" . That made me feel like the worse mother ever. I thought that I was doing everything that I could for my child and yet it just wasn't good enough. The doctor suggested that I take Bubba in too see an endocrinologist. I took him in and it was basically useless. The doctor there complained that too many kids were coming in when it could be a problem with allergies or intestines. She did some blood test and sent me to see a nutrionist. The nutrionist looked at what Bubba was eating and said that everything seemed to be just fine. She asked me to add more fat to his diet and come back in 6 weeks. We did as she asked and went back. She weighed and measured him again and said that he was gaining the right amount of weight for how old he was. That was the end of those appointments.
At his 2 year old well child check-up the doctor said that he was moving up in the chart and that he could be considered "small stature" instead of "thriving to survive". I was so happy. I felt that I had done something right and Bubba was on his way to being "big".
This last March I took Bubba in for his 3 year old well child check-up and once again he had dropped on the charts. The doctor again got after me saying that I need to have him looked at and that there must be something wrong with him. He also was trying to tell me that it looks like I am starving my son because his head circumference was different from his weight and height. I again left the office feeling like a horrible mother. I knew I wasn't starving Bubba but what if I was doing something wrong. Once again I made the phone call and got him an appointment. This time we were blessed to find out that the doctor he saw the first time didn't work there anymore and that he would be seen by someone else.
The new doctor we saw was great he explained a lot more than the last doctor had. They also had a better way to measure and weigh him. It turns out that Bubba was still really low on the charts but not nearly as low as the hometown doctor was saying. They also looked at how much he had weighed at 18 months and said that he was gaining in the 50th percentile for his age. This was good news. They had me take him in and do all the blood test again. They also had Bubba get his hand x-rayed.
With the x-ray of his hand they can see how old his bones are. Sometimes the bone age can be different than his birth age. If his bone age is still younger than he will still catch up to other kids it will just take a little bit longer.
About 2 months went by when the doctor called and told me that all the blood test came back normal. That was great news except now we weren't sure why he was still small. This last week I took Bubba back in and we met with the best doctor ever. He measured Bubba 3 time just to make sure he was getting the right measurements. Then he looked at the hand x-ray and said that his bones are measuring at the age of a 2 year old. He also said that in the last 6 months Bubba has gained 2 and half pounds and grown 2 inches. This to me is such a miracle. I have prayed and fasted for so long to know why Bubba was so small and why he just wasn't growing. I now have an answer. He is now growing in the 95th percentile and he should catch up to the other kids his age. The doctor said they don't know why some kids stop growing but sometimes they just do. It feels so great to know that it wasn't anything I did or didn't do but it is just something that happens. We will still have to see this doctor in another 6 months just to make sure all is going good, but for now I am just going to enjoy my growing boy.

3 comments:

nickndest said...

Thats great! I love finding those caring/understanding doctors.

Julie Barnes said...

What an incredible trial. Sounds like you have finally found a great doctor who is willing to help and is understanding. YEAH for Paker!

Jason and Amanda said...

Glad Parker is doing okay. I think all kids are different and some Dr's just aren't nice....anyways--its a good feeling to finally know some answers!