BooBoo's 4 year checkup (AKA: Why we have to meet an endocrinologist)

BooBoo had her 4 year checkup at the pediatrician on Wednesday. Unfortunately it did not go as well as I had hoped. We spent about an hour and a half at the office and were told that BooBoo needs to meet with an endocrinologist. I knew that there was a possibility she would need further tests done pending the results of her bone age test.

* A bone age test, for those that have not heard of one, is basically just an x-ray of the left wrist and hand that is used to examine the rate of growth in an individual.

BooBoo's bone age testing showed that at 3 1/2 years old (this was done in August) she was closer to the size of a 2 1/2 year old or 3 year old. She has also only grown about half of an inch in one year. The doctor explained to me that most children reach half of their adult height by the time they turn 2 years old. BooBoo was exactly half of her "predicted" adult height at 2 but then she just kind of stopped growing. So that is why the doctor is concerned, well that and she has only gained 2 pounds since August! I mean I try to get her to eat more but she only takes a bite here and there. There are days where she will eat and eat but not often. :( Sorry, went on a tangent.

J and I are not as concerned about BooBoo's height only because my family is on the shorter side. My mom is 4' 11", my sister is 5' 4", my brother at 18 is only 5' 4" (but his bone age is 2 years behind his actual age), my maternal grandmother is right around 5' 1" and I am only 5' 3". The doctor has never asked about the heights of any extended family and this is why we are not as worried. We love BooBoo no matter what her size!

So, what have we learned? BooBoo is tiny for her age and we have been referred to Children's Hospital in Columbus for a meeting with an endocrinologist *(That meeting has been scheduled for June so I'll update on that then!). Other than being small the doctor said she is a happy, bright 4 year old. He was impressed that on the developmental questionnaire papers they make the parents fill out, BooBoo could do everything on the 4-6 year olds paper!