Stats first.
Our boy is 49", 53 pounds of lean, mean, boy machine. About 50th percentile for both height and weight, maybe a bit more - right in line with where he's been in years past, so that's good.
We've been at this office since he was 3 months old, so we recognized nurses and said hi to folks as we went back to the exam room -- the corner room with wraparound windows. It was beautifully sunny and warm today and the room was bright and cheerful. One of the other docs on staff is a photographer, and the rooms are full of framed photos he's taken of kids as well as humorous art posters, all with lots of color. Jon and I took our seats off to the side while Otto climbed up on the exam table and began checking it out. Sliding shelf? Check. Stirrups? Check. Drawer that makes a hollow noise when kicked? Check. He opened and closed things, sat in one spot and then stretched out in another - all while answering questions for the nurse.
Then he went off with her for a quick, basic eye exam - still 20/20 pretty much, a little teeny bit nearsighted in his left eye. Nothing to worry about. He came back and hopped up to lie on the table, then sat up and lounged with his legs folded in origami-like contortions. At some point I realized he'd kicked his shoes off in the corner to be comfy.
Dr. S came through the door her usual cheerful smiling self and said "Hi Otto! Boy, I can't believe you're seven already!" She settled at her little desk, dropped her tablet computer into its dock, and looked at her paperwork. "Now, who recommended you test him for ADHD and why?" Our office uses something called the Vanderbilt scale to evalate kids for potential problems - one of the other doctors in the office scores the surveys. It is, in fact, the same doctor who sings Barney songs when he shines the otoscope down a kid's ear canal, and who once lectured me on kids being "hot and happy" and not worrying about what number was on the thermometer (that was the day O had a fever, became enamored of the ear thermometer, and took it with us to the office so he could keep checking his own temp. The doc was slightly worried about me.)
Anyway. We went through the concerns expressed by various people at school, and I ran through his most recent report card and MEAP test with her too. Otto was on his stomach on the exam table, listening intently, answering questions when asked. The upshot is, Dr. S would not classify him as ADHD but agreed that he's showing signs of anxiety related to school. So she recommended we find a psychologist/therapist who can work with us to figure that out. I don't think that'll be a problem - I already have a couple of leads at the university, we just have to check insurance coverage and figure out who, when and where.
She stepped out for a few minutes so that Otto could strip down to his Star Wars boxers, and we spent half that time trying to get him to leave them at belly-button level instead of pulling them waaaay up high or waaaay down low. Body humor is super funny to seven year olds, isn't it? When she came back, though, he was Mr. Charming and Compliant, taking deep breaths, touching his toes, showing her how he takes his pulse. She asked if he was riding a two-wheeler yet (not yet), or if he was swimming (he said no, I said 'he's taken lessons, but doesn't really float'). Evidently those are skills kids often develop around this age. "Booster seat until 80 pounds, keep 'em in the back seat" she said, and we nodded.
And that was that. We collected our coats from the hooks in the waiting room and said goodbye -- I had to head back to work, so the boys went their direction and I went mine.
I got home tonight just after the kids had been tucked in and peeked in their rooms to see how they were doing. Otto was sitting up in bed looking at his LEGO calendar while listening to the radio. He requested a drink, and after I brought it to him he said "Mama, you are the best mama ever."
And I said, "You are the best Otto ever, and I am so glad I get to be your mama."
In other words, I think we're all feeling a little relieved and a lot better.
Whew.
