3.16.12 Ezra at Six Months

Ezra and I had a great time in Pennsylvania with Codi and her girls.  I'll post more about our trip this weekend.  Both of us had doctor appointments right when we got back.  Mine was pretty routine except for when they decided to draw some blood.  Apparently I have small veins, so the nurse decided to try a "butterfly" or something...I don't know exactly what it was because I have to look away when my blood is drawn.  All I know is she was messing with my hand and it really hurt.  I told her that I was starting to feel a little light headed.  That was the last thing I remember before I fainted.  When I started to come to, I realized there were several people in the exam room and I'm wondering, "When did all these people come in?"  It was then I realized I was lying on the floor with several nurses trying to lift me onto the exam table.  Ezra was safely sitting in his car seat through all of this.  One of the nurses took him out and kept him entertained.  I was somewhat embarrassed, but the nurses were very kind and it didn't take long until Ezra had them all charmed.  I don't remember fainting, but since yesterday I've noticed several sore areas where I must have hit the ground.

This morning, Ezra's appointment went much better than mine.  He's a healthy, happy, growing little boy.  So this is Ezra at 6 months...

...18 lbs 4 oz. (61st percentile)

...27 and 1/2 inches (78th percentile)

...sits up all by himself

...eats rice cereal, sweet potatoes, avocados, and bananas

...loves to shake his head as if saying "No, no no!"

...was sleeping all night until our recent vacation 

(hopefully it won't take too long to get back on schedule)

More fun in the jumper

Tomorrow morning, Ezra and I head to Pennsylvania to spend some time with Codi and her girls (thank you Jenny for the great Christmas present).  They haven't met Ezra yet and it's been too long since I've seen Iris, Willa, and Olive so I'm very excited.

I didn't want to go another week without posting something of Ezra.  This is a video I took today of him in his doorway jumper.  He's such a funny boy and tomorrow he turns 6 months old.  I'll post more photos when I get back next week, but for now enjoy the video.

I've spent the better part of the past week trying to find a new pediatrician for Ezra. Like most things in Midland, every doctor that was recommended to me was not accepting new patients.  So I finally just picked an office on Tuesday and went to fill out the paper work so I could schedule an appointment for Ezra's 6th month checkup.  He seems to be a healthy little guy who is developing on schedule, so as long he can get his immunizations I figured I shouldn't worry too much.

As I was filling out the paperwork I was thinking how lucky I was to have such a great pediatrician back in Utah.  I've been putting together a mental list of things I miss about Utah to post on this blog, and I decided I needed to put Dr. Nielsen on that list.  He was kind, knowledgeable, and always willing to take the time to address questions. I was shocked when I received an e-mail that very night from Utah Valley Pediatrics informing patients that Dr. Nielsen had unexpectedly passed away.  He was only 38 years old and had four young children.

I only interacted with Dr. Nielsen four or so times since we moved just after Ezra's four month checkup. Even with that limited interaction, I could tell that Dr. Nielsen was an exceptional person.  We once had a late appointment scheduled and didn't actually get in to the exam room until close to 6 PM.  Dr. Nielsen was still just as kind as ever, didn't act rushed, and patiently listened to my concerns.  I thanked him as we were about to leave and commented that I hoped we were his last appointment and could go home, but he still had one more patient to see after us.  I realized that day what a sacrifice good doctors make to serve complete strangers, not to mention the sacrifice their families make having them gone so much.  They have years of intense and expensive schooling and then work crazy hours once they begin working.  With United Way, I worked with the Volunteer Care Clinic where several physicians volunteer their time to serve the uninsured -- they do this after a long day of work or even when their retired when you would think they would take a well deserved break.

I could go on, but ultimately I was greatly saddened to hear about Dr. Nielsen.  I am so grateful for the knowledge that this life is not the end and that his family will be able to live together in the eternities.  It just seems that I've heard of so many premature deaths lately and it makes me realize how important it is to make every moment count while we are here.