4-year well check

Cora went to her 4-year well check Thursday afternoon, and overall it went better than I had expected. I had been nervous because Cora knows about shots now, but when I told her about the appointment - on the way there - she wasn't upset.

She is 32 pounds - 25th percentile - and 38.5 inches, also 25th percentile.

Cora cooperated through the blood pressure check, and her blood pressure is good.

Cora also liked the hearing test, likening it to a game.

The cooperation came to a screeching halt when she was asked to raise the eye cover up and "read" the pictures on the eye chart. For whatever reason, she did not want to do this. Stace, the nurse and I all tried to convince her, persuade her, push her into doing it. Stace and I both took turns reading the chart holding the shield up over our eyes. I gave her a big hug (she asks for these when she is in trouble/not wanting to do what she's told).

Finally, she agreed to cooperate, and then would tell us the symbols in a voice barely over a whisper. It was pretty aggravating. (Excuse the blurry photo, but Stace has Violet in his arms and was already quite annoyed at this point in the visit.)
Dr. Brockett knows Cora well, of course. She calls her "feisty," and that is a great word for Cora. As she kept talking to Cora throughout the visit, Cora warmed up to her, and cooperated later with the physical examination.

Cora got just one shot, the MMR, and with me holding her arms firmly down, we survived. It would have been a lot worse had she needed a second or third jab, as the first one kind of took her by surprise and she wasn't in full freak-out mode when the nurse came in with the needle.

We had discussed vaccines in the morning, so she understands the "why," but obviously they still sting!

We went out to dinner after the doctor's, and here Cora is playing doctor by listening to Daddy's heartbeat with her chopstick.

As another post-doctor treat, we went to Target so Cora could pick out something fun with the gift card from Aunt Patty and Uncle Bill. She looked over just about every single toy in the store before deciding upon the Play-Doh cake-making station. Fitting, since she always makes cupcakes with Aunt Patty. We got it out today and Cora really loved it.

As a final treat, Cora got an icee as we left, for her bessert. Hence the red mouth/pink teeth in the photo! I'm hoping that next year, when it comes time for her checkup (and shots), Cora remembers the fun we had afterward!