9 month appointment

Today was Neil's 9 month appointment. He is doing well, prasie God. Today morning he had one egg and 2 ounces of squash sweet poato mix. He was quite happy and we set off to the doctor's office. We got there and the receptionist said: "You still don't have insurance, right?" I told her that we always had insurance and all the information is in their system. She then pulled up our records and said she was sorry and that she had it on file blah blah and our copayment is $10. I was surprised because so far all the copayments had been close to $70. She had pulled up our old insurance. This scenario happens every time. I love our pediatrician, but the staff is really incompetent. Finally she managed to pull up the information and we ended up not having to pay anything as it was a well visit.

I was waiting in the room for the doctor when suddenly without warning, Neil threw up all over then blanket covering him. He has GER and I thought it was the perfect way to show the doctor this is how it was most days for us. Anyway, the doctor came in and we were talking at that time, Neil again vomited all over the table, on me, and himself. He started crying loudly at would not lie down for us to clean him up or change his diaper. He was sobbing for so long and would not be comforted even after I picked him up. The doctor hurriedly examined him and he was yelling throughout. It really upset me too. He is a happy baby and tolerates pain very well and so I knew that something was bothering him a lot. He was also very sleepy by that point. So I fed him a little and he then he threw that up as well. Finally, he went to sleep and I had thought by this point that we would go back and come another day for his shots. I figured since the shots were part of his well visit, I wouldn't have to pay anything to have it administered. I confirmed with the head nurse and she said we can come back and get it next Tuesday free of charge. So I was making my one year appointment, and that nurse said I can come back and get it, but we will have to pay out of pocket for that.

He had completely calmed down by then and was in my arms half asleep. With all that was going on, I was getting irritated at this point, and told her that I will go ahead and get him the shots then. I know my son and I knew that at this point he would be okay with it. We are going to India in a couple of months and we were behind on the shots, plus we had to make another nurse visit to catch up before his 1year well visit. I thought about all this and decided to go ahead. The head nurse sighed colossaly as if I was a big troublemaker and a horible mommy to boot for giving him his shots when he was upset. Anyway, as I had thought, he cried for 2 seconds when the needle went in and when I picked him up, he turned around and went back to sleep. We got home around 11:45 without incident and he has been sleeping since.

I am not giving him any more solids today, but am just going to give him milk and see how he does. I am drained by the morning happenings. Not just the vomiting, but also the nurses' attitude. I think he is waking up now and is making happy sounds. My sweet baby. It has been hard with his reflux problems. And it is harder as a mom to see your child suffering and being unable to comfort or Do much to ease it. Also, it is really hard to see other people making judgements on informed decisions we make for our baby.