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April 04, 2009
Failure to Thrive
Last week, we took Alden for her one-year checkup. Before we left for the doctor's office, we placed bets as to how much she had grown since her nine-month visit (at which time she had weighed 14 pounds, 10 ounces). Both of us thought that she had grown quite a bit, though we disagreed as to how much. I guessed that she was 17 pounds, 8 ounces, and Robbi guessed 18 pounds, 9 ounces. Bob guessed 27 pounds, but one wonders if he might have been joking.
In any case, at the official weigh in, we learned that all of us had overshot the mark. Quite a bit, in fact. Alden weighed in at 15 pounds, 10 ounces, a figure that placed her well below the 5th percentile on a chart that looked a little bit like this one.
Her sub-fifth percentile status, combined with an overly-gradual rise on the growth curve places her squarely in a category of smallness known to the medical community as Failure to Thrive.
As the doctor was making this pronouncement, Alden was scampering enthusiastically across the floor of the examination room, chattering cheerfully and clapping her hands at intervals. The evidence of her thriving so abundant, the doctor sheepishly declared that Alden would temporarily be spared the usual battery of tests to which a child who is Failing to Thrive would usually be subjected. He allowed that genetics might well be a contributing factor to Alden's diminutive stature and that we should make a point to feed her in abundance in the weeks ahead. If we can fatten her sufficiently, he will worry less about her ability to thrive.
In addition to diet enhancement, we have launched a strenuous regimen of physical activities meant to promote vigor. This slate of exercises includes:
Daily conditioning on the new trike.
Morning benchpress.
The ottoman squat.
And the plastic car lift.
To supplement these activities, and entirely of her own volition, Alden has taken to taunting wild animals in cages.
We asked her why it was necessary. "Because it makes me thrive," she replied.
We must sheepishly admit that it seems to be working. The child does little else but thrive these days. It takes all of our effort to keep up with her.
Posted by bogenamp at April 4, 2009 11:26 PM