Day 28: ORANGE

I took Genoa for her six month well baby this morning and for the sake of her baby album and the fact that she doesn't technically have one (unless this blog counts), I should note the following statistics for the record:

Height: 26.75 inches (90th percentile)
Weight: 16 pounds, 14 ounces (70th percentile)
Head circumference: 44.5 cm (92nd percentile)

She's pretty well on track for all three measurements, whatever that means.  The only item of note is her giant Charlie Brown noggin.  Apparently, it's, um, really big.  When Dr. Chen said, "we'll just keep and eye on it to make sure it doesn't grow too fast,"  my instant response was 1) to freak out and 2) to try not to shriek when I coughed out WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN.  Apparently, if her head grows to fast it could mean encephalitis (aka BRAIN SWELLING).  So glad I asked about that one, let me tell you!

After the doctor reassured me that the chances of that are pretty much slim to none and that Genoa doesn't show any of the signs of delayed development that would indicate any swelling in the brain, I made the constructive decision to simply not. freak. out. about. it.  She's fine.  I know it.  She just has a freakishly giant head because she's extra smart!  That's our story and we're sticking to it.

I also asked the doctor about another phenomenon I've noticed and I'm sure you have too (but you were too nice to say anything because you're sweet like that).  My girl?  She is orange.

Seriously.  I've been noticing it more often lately and my gut told me it was too much beta carotene.  (The only reason I even thought of that is because my dad was friends with David Sanborn a decade ago and I remembered that he used to only eat like five foods, four of which were carrots and the man was orange.  Seriously noticeably orange.)  The doctor agreed.  Our girl looks a bit like she went overboard with the spray-on tan.  She's going to get back to me on whether or not I should worry about vitamin poisoning (!) and in the mean time, poor girl, sweet potatoes are out.

I also asked about the celiac disease thing and officially decided I should get myself tested before I give Genoa anything with gluten.  When I mentioned that my sister was just diagnosed and that my mom and I have always considered our constant diarrhea to be par for the course, she seemed to think it was a topic worth investigating.  We'll see.  I will seriously dread it if they need to draw her blood.  That would suck.

I should also note for the record that Genoa had four shots and didn't cry until the very last one.  Of course I lied and told Alex that she didn't cry at all because she was so brave.  That three year appointment is coming up here and I need all the ammo I can get.

Comments

[S.A.]

As a fellow member of the Big Ass Noggin tribe, I am delighted by Genoa's 92nd percentile head circumference. Big head=Big brain. :)

[jenB]

Charlotte is and was in a similar percentile for melon size. I blame her dad who has a HUGE head. Also, she was orange until the ate more solid foods. She loved the orangey one. I was constantly fixing her orange-ness in photoshop. shhhh don't tell.

[Bunny]

I hear you about getting ready for the 3 year appt. My son, daughter and I got our flu shots yesterday and I was really nervous, especially for Jack since he doesn't remember getting any shots. But they were both troopers and neither one cried! (neither did I, by the way)

[Jamie]

My niece had a little carrot nose too, and nothing seemed to be the cause. Eventually she just grew out of it - perhaps around 11 months?

[jaime]

I hope you don't have to worry about celiacs (though it certainly doesn't hurt to be tested), but you may have IBS. I hear ya with the constant diarrhea.

And, of course, there's no good treatment for it. However, I've been taking a supplement for a year or so that helps. I'm usually a bit squeamish about supplements, but I checked it out with a pharmacist beforehand. If you're interested, send me a note and I'll share!

[ruralfelicity]

I think you don't mean encephalitis, but hydrocephalus. Encephalitis is swelling due to a virus, and isn't something you'd wait and see on. My son has hydrocephalus due to having spina bifida, and his csf is blocked causing the swelling.

I really enjoy reading your writing and think you do a great job. Your orange girl is darling. :)

[beki]

How weird, at Ava's 6 month appointment a few weeks ago we had the same head issue, except that Ava's was OFF THE CHART!! My ped said the same thing, that she'd just watch it. I'm not worried because all my kids have had huge heads. None as big as Ava's, but big headed. It must be all that smartness going on up there ;-)

[Wendy Mac]

My daughter was also a 95th percentile-head baby. I always said it was all those brains! Now she is 8 and her head is normal (50%). She's 50th percentile in everything except her weight (just like her momma).

She was born YELLOW. Jaundice. She looked like she belonged to Homer and Marge Simpson, poor thing. It went away soon enough.

We just went in for her annual physical (she just turned 8), and I told her she wasn't due for any shots. Because she wasn't.

But the doctor's office changed their recommendations for the chicken pox vaccine, so she had to get another shot. She was SO mad at me that day.

[kalisah]

My Kid (whose baby pics resemble Alex's A LOT) always had a big head, too. Big old round bare head.

[Jamie]

My son was orange like a carrot until just a few months ago (he's 14 months now). Now he's as pasty white as my stomach that hasn't seen sun in the last decade or two. Frankly, I kind of miss the orange.

[karen]

Both my boys have the huge head syndrome. I blame it on my mother in law...because that's fun. My youngest (20 months) went for an ultrasound on his noggin at 5 months on the advice of the Doc. The Xray tech was awesome (as I was visibly trying not to freak the hell out). She said while talking to him...'well buddy, it looks like you will be having lots of BIG dreams'. I loved her for that.

Oh, and orange? My mother held up a pink shirt next to my son in Walmart to convince me that my boy was ORANGE. She was right.

[vetmommy]

My daughter loved the orange veggies - butternut squash and sweet potato, in particular. We called her the "Golden Child" - she did glow.

We took her to the ER once (for unrelated reasons) and the ER doc said, "Is that baby jaundiced?" No, we told her, just eats lots of orange veggies. The ER doc said, "You have to stop that!" Why? Just so you can tell if she's really jaundiced or not? Fortunately our regular ped said not to worry, and be glad she was eating veggies.

She still has lovely olive skin.

[kerrianne]

I love that you included "head circumference" in your measurements. : )

[Christine]

I was orange as a baby. I loved carrots and squash... still do, but now in moderation! : )

[Kris]

Aw, what a cute little pumpkin head! Seriously though, I don't think her head looks big, in the pictures. Ava had the opposite problem, a small head. That caught my attention because my former boss had a daughter with "small head syndrome," major major problems (e.g., not toilet trained at age 12, can't talk). But like you, I could see Ava developing fine so, I would not let myself freak!

[B.J.]

But she makes such an adorable little oompah loompah!

[qCHannah]

All students at the university want to reach the doctoral degree and they order the essays written about this good topic at the custom writing service, but from time to time they search for the stuff just about buy essay.

[loans]

I strictly recommend not to wait until you get enough amount of cash to order goods! You can take the personal loans or sba loan and feel fine