We use the "Emla" numbing cream for our blood draws. It has made life wonderful
for the tests! Although we are still a bit aprehensive at times, the techs can
probe a bit and it not be quite as painful. Kyle is a tough guy to find a good
vein and they like to run and hide . ANyone else ben told that?
-Debbi
-----Original Message-----
From: Angela Strong <jaade1@...>
To: CAHsupport <CAHsupport@onelist.com>
Date: Tuesday, March 02, 1999 8:41 AM
Subject: [CAHsupport] (no subject)


Hi Ladies!
Yes, we've done the bone age. After the first few years, it doesn't
happen all that often, and it's just an X-ray. The techs at Primary are really
cool with the girls. They always ask them to wait and then they let them see
their hands. It just tests to see if their growth matches their actual age.
The girls have always been right on target until this last time and they are
about a year and a half off. What happens with these kids (from my limited
understanding) is they tend to go through puberty a little early if their meds
are off. This causes them to grow too quickly before it's time. So although my
girls are tall for their age now, they've had their "big growth spurt" for
puberty and won't gain much height from now on. The doctors have told us that
5'2" is about it for them even though their dad is 6'1". (Of course, I'm only
5'4"1/2. My son however will be about 6'2".)
About drawing blood, yeah to be blunt, it sucks! When they were small
it was once every 3 months, then 4 months, and now 6 months. So if it's been a
year, consider yourself lucky, which I think you do. When they were tiny, they
screamed like banshees, but they really couldn't fight it. Then they got big
enough that there was no cooperation and we had to put them in the papoose. The
techs have always been really good to us knowing that this was something we
couldn't scare them with and they needed to be extra careful. (The only nice
thing I have to say about military care, by the way! LOL!) Then we finally got
to the stage where curiosity got the best of them. They wanted to see the blood
run into the little tube. But know they know it all! I think it ticks the
techs off a little when they tell him/her what to do. I'm hoping this is a
temporary stage as well!
At the risk of running on, I do have a funny story about this. Once we
were drawing their blood, and Elizabeth was sitting on my lap. I was holding
her one arm straight and still and the other one tucked into her body. (Not
only is their last name Strong, but they REALLY are strong.) The tech stood
directly in front of her and I asked him if he wanted me to hold her legs. He
said no, and much to his surprise, when the needle went in her leg went flying!
He NEVER said a word but a single tear welled up in his eye as he smiled and
went on with the job. I could hardly control myself! Needless to say, he never
stood in front of her again.
Well today is Dr. Seuss' birthday and my son's first grade class is
expecting me to read to them today, so I'd better get ready for school. You
ladies have a wonderful day!

Angi