Pediatrician Appointment for Banshee

Today saw another appointment at the pediatrician for Banshee. In my opinion, it was a GREAT appointment. First of all, the drive there and back was uneventful. It was rainy, but no ice and no snow AND I got front row parking. Second of all, I got myself OUT of the Little Tikes Playhouse (in the waiting room of the ped's office) with little (ish) trouble. Banshee begged me to come in with her - and how could I deny that request? I'm sure I looked like a sloth as I dragged my swollen knee and sore tailbone out of there, but I DID it! The best part of the trip? Her cortisol levels were nearly normal, which means that her adrenal issues are resolving themselves (which also means that they WERE caused by medication - and that was the 'best case scenario'). The other good part is that the meds they switched her to (to get her off the offending drugs) are doing a FANTASTIC job . . . we feel as though we've got her asthma under control - YAY!! We still have a ways to go to figure out all things Banshee, but I'm feeling as though things are starting to go in the right direction. Her nosebleeds are a tad concerning, so they did some bloodwork to rule out any clotting disorders (specifically something called von willebrand disease). Oddly enough, after googling von willebrand (google is generally NOT my friend with medical things), it kinda sorta would make sense. And . . . would explain A LOT with *ME*. I've always had bruising issues (bruise VERY easily and get ginormous bruises from seemingly little things); I required blood transfusions after the deliveries of all 3 children and 2 knee surgeries; had horribly heavy periods when I was younger (although I think I'm entering menopause at this point and they aren't so bad at this point); I bleed and bleed from the simplest and smallest cuts; I take FOREVER to heal from things; and the nosebleeds . . . I STILL get nosebleeds. Von willebrand is a hereditary thing, and Banshee has many of the same issues that I do. While I hope this isn't the case - because lord knows she doesn't need anything else going on - it WOULD explain a lot. A WHOLE lot.

The doctor ordered a heap of bloodwork. TEN vials to be exact. From a 6 year old kid. For real. Anyway, we didn't have any magic patches (EMLA), but Banshee decided that she could do it without.

And indeed she did.

Cost of parking at the lab: $4

Cost of Littlest Pet Shop toys and a can of 7-up $8.13

Watching your 6yo daughter humiliate a grown man in the blood lab without even trying: Priceless.

This kid plopped herself on the chair, pulled up her sleeve and watched as the nurse poked her, and changed and filled each vial. She didn't cry, she didn't flinch, she didn't anything. The man? A grown man - probably 5-10 years older than me - he had been pulling his arm away and kept holding his head saying "I can't do this". Without saying anything to him, Banshee hopped off the chair - to the applause and back-pats of the lab techs - and looked right at him. Although she never said ONE single word, her body language screamed out one single word to him: PANSY!!

Poor guy! Shown up by a 6 yo girl - who probably looks more like a 4 yo.