Elina's Health & Development

Growth Chart

Elina continues to be above the 95^th percentile for both height and weight.

Just for a reference for those who use metric: 1 centimeter equals .4 inches, 16 ounces in a pound / 1 pound = .45 Kilograms

Second Half of the Flu Shot

Posted: January 11, 2005

Elina's took the flu shot this year - mainly because she's a daycare baby - the needle was given over a one month+ time and she did not flinch when she got the needle. So far, the association apart from the cool ped. doctor's office (it looks like an aquarium) is that she'll get a needle when she's there!!

Eye Update

Posted: January 5, 2005

There had been some concern that Elina's left eye sometimes acted a little lazy (sorry if its not the correct term), so I talked with it to my ped. and she referred us to an eye specialist who confirmed the following:

• Elina's eye appears like so because of a larger fold of skin (palprebral fissures) that Aboriginal people have - this covers the white of her eye on the occasional photo
• Her optic nerve is intact
• Elina doesn't need glasses

Aside from the drops they put in her eyes, and the pin-down hold to inspect her eyes, she's completely fine!

1St Year vaccinations

Today Elina went for her Year 1 checkup and vaccinations, after much research and opinions of various people, I got Elina vaccinated against Chickenpox. She also got her Measles, Mumps and Rubella. I'm to lookout for symptoms of all illnesses within a week, a minor side-effect of the vaccination! She was also weighed and measured! - See below!

Allergies

It appears she's not allergic to our cats! It was a little sad to think we may have to let them (our cats) to live somewhere else, we love them both, Elina too! She still does have a persistant runny nose and nocternal (night time) cough! I'm to check with our pediatrician to see about a sinus infection (??) and/or ear infections!

Height and Weight

Our Ellie is a very healthy baby, growing and progressing as the "book" says she should. Here I will show you how she is developing and recount her milestones.

Vaccinations

* Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) - Must be given after the first birthday.

Supplemental Vaccines

We opted for the 3 additional vaccines (at our expense - roughly $800 for the entire rounds of needles within the next 2 years)

Meningococcal Vaccine - Meningococcal diseases are caused by a germ (a kind of bacteria) called meningococcus. This germ can cause two serious diseases:

• meningitis, an infection of the fluid and lining that cover the brain and spinal cord, and
• septicemia, a serious blood infection.

Pneumococcal Vaccine - Pneumococcal infections are caused by a germ (a kind of bacteria) called Streptococcus pneumoniae. This germ can cause several different infections, including:

• meningitis (brain infection)
• bacteremia (bloodstream infection)
• pneumonia (lung infection)
• otitis media (middle ear infection)

Chickenpox

Most people think chickenpox is a harmless childhood disease. But it can cause serious problems in children. And it can be especially bad for pregnant women and other adults who have never had the disease. Chickenpox can be prevented with a new vaccine that was recently approved for use in Canada.

Eye Appointment

Posted: December 11, 2003

We got all all clear on the eye appointment, we had to arrive at 8:15, (woke her 2 hours earlier than usual) we saw the first doctor at 9:00, he looks around a bit, then put in some drops (froze her little eyes), and the main doctor (Sick Kids is a teaching hospital, so there are usually interns who examine and the main doctor comes in near the end and wraps up) she fell asleep again and had to be woken up because she woulnd't let the doctor pry open her eyes. They saw nothing unusual and we don't have to return...

Recap, heart murmur- all clear, premature teeth bubbles - all clear, still no teeth, bubble still there, just in time for her to start sprouting them on her own, and eye thing - all clear. She's a happy healthy baby

Baby Fat

Posted: November 7, 2003

Elina's gained another pound and some ounces to spare and I asked the doctor about what was normal for a child of her age. She's growing proportionally (her height and weight are growing as they should together). She's in her 95^th percential for her weight and the 75^th percentile for her length (height). So, Elina is developing quite normally, she's thriving and growing as she should.

I thought of introducing cereal and or supplementing baby juice in her diet but the pediatrician said that she's too young to start and there are NO benefits to starting early. Elina's slowing moving her schedule to sleeping longer at night and even that - (sleep longer) will not change by introducing food at this time. I will trust what she said (the pediatrician) and continue as I have been until month 5 or so)

Health Update

Elina's been to the pediatric cardiologist and has been given the all clear - I suppose the murmur was something which was common to some babies and clears up on her own!

SHe goes back to Sick Kids Hospital next week for the followup dentist appointment to look at her tooth bubbles (no teeth yet). She is drooling alot and perpahs may start teething (Oh Joy!) soon!

Her last appointment is scheduled for Dec 10 to check for optic nerve eye problem! I'll keep you posted.

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