WHEW!!!!

I've posted in the past about our concerns about Son #1's growth. To recap, click the following links:


http://3blueberries.blogspot.com/2008/07/son-1s-growth-update.html
http://3blueberries.blogspot.com/2007/04/more-questions-than-answers.html
http://3blueberries.blogspot.com/2007/04/56-is-magic-number.html
http://3blueberries.blogspot.com/2007/11/failure-to-thrive.html

In a nutshell, Son #1 is 13 and a half years old and in the bottom 3rd percentile for height/weight. His doctor recommended at a bone age xray test (according to the most recent test, Son's bone are about a year 'younger' than his actual age - this is especially true considering that Son #1 is losing baby teeth at a much slower rate than his 2-year younger brother.

Son #1 had a growth hormone stimulation test - which he passed with a D minus (anything below a 10.0 is generally covered by insurance, Son #1 scored 10.4).

In the past several months, Son #1 has taken an appetite stimulant, plus had two protein shakes a day. His weight is 71 lbs, his height 57+ inches. Although still in the third percentile, this represents a significant *increase* in growth velocity (growth rate). At this point, the pediatric endocrinologist feels that Son #1's issues are related to how his body processes calories, rather than an actual growth hormone deficiency.

This is good news in that Son #1 might expect to grow to a more average male height (say 5'5" to 5'8") than previously thought...without medical intervention (i.e. daily hormone injections).