Not everyone has ulterior motives!!

My daughter is very, very small. She's on the 3rd percentile for growth. She's 14 and is the size of an 8-1/2 year old. Our family practitioner has always been worried about her size, but mostly just her weight. She went in for her physical last week and was seen by a pediatric nurse practitioner who was filling in that day. She says even though my side of the family is small, she should be checked out by a pediatrician anyway. A week later she was seen. That was this Monday. The doctor ran chromosome and growth hormone tests and routine blood work, and took a bone age x-ray. Her bone age is 12. So far the tests have come back fine, but we don't know the chromosome or hormone levels since those went to Mayo Clinic. Regardless, Milwaukee Children's Hospital wants to see her so urgently that they're going to bump someone off the schedule to make room for my daughter.

I call my ex to let him know and he just says "I'm glad they're concerned, but why all of a sudden now?" Uh, because a medical practitioner finally pushed it instead of doing the usual "let's just keep an eye on her."

I'm not like my ex where I only get concerned when I have the legal system breathing down my neck or don't like the recommendations a doctor has already made for the kids. F****** butt head.

If he thinks I'm doing this because of ulterior motives instead of genuine concern for my daughter's health, why didn't he just ask instead of getting suspicious of my reasons? She's small, she gets picked on, it messes with her head, the pediatrician is concerned, the endocrinologist is concerned, and the window of opportunity to help her is closing. What other reasons do I need?

Sheesh.

You're her mother...in my opinion that's the main reason you need to be concerned. You're looking out for your daughter...no ulterior motive there. The doctors know what they're doing. Your ex will just have to get over it. You're doing the right thing.

Thanks Erin. I feel like I can't do anything right, right now. If I'm concerned, it's because I'm being watched. If I let things go, I'm being negligent.

Is it my fault he made the physical appointments and the examiner was concerned? No. I've always been one to say "Yes, she's small, but so is everyone else in my family. It's probably genetic so I'm not too worried." It's no one's fault that she needs to be taken care of at a time that's not acceptable to him. Now I have to deal with a guy I can't stand in order to be strong for my daughter. I can't even bear to talk to this guy because so much of what comes out of his mouth is false. Is he going to balk at getting her help for this too, because it's more proof that something he helped create is flawed?

I'd love to say no, if there is a problem he will help his child, but honestly, I don't believe he will. I know its easy for me to say, but keep fighting. Your daughter is a smart kid, she sees what is going on, if not now, she will soon. She'll remember who fought for her and who fought for the money.

((((((((((Shirley)))))))))) You're doing great. Take it one day at a time.

I had to call him this afternoon to inform him of the appointment. They're seeing her on Tuesday morning already.

He's so arrogant, it just irritates me to no end. The doctor - the pediatrician - said my daughter is in the 3% range for growth. Her dad says he's looking at a difficult to read copy and she's "clearly" in the 1% range. I just said "well, the doctor said 3% and she's got a lot more experience in reading those charts, so I'm going to trust her." Then he says "after reviewing her medical history and "all" of her other problems (what other problems? She doesn't have ADD according to him, remember?) it's "obvious" what the problem is." First thing that pops into my head is "Oh, you're going to pin her growth problems on her ADD meds," but instead I asked "And that would be....?"

"It's genetic."

Why are we wasting money and hours of driving to go to an endocrinologist? Her dad already has her diagnosed. I'm sure we could go to a vet supply store and get some bovine growth hormone and dope her up ourselves with a little Internet research.

have you ever seen that show "jack***" on MTV? the lout produces it. you're doing the right thing for Alex.....keep on keeping on....i'm back online now, so will stay in touch.....love, pat