Visiting The Real Doctor

Last week, the children had their annual well-visit check-ups with their doctor.

They're growing! Anna, who turns 4 on Wednesday, measured 40.5 inches tall (55th percentile) and 37.5 pounds in weight (75th percentile). Alexander, who turned 3 in July, measured 37.5 inches tall (50th percentile) and 32 pounds in weight (50th percentile). They got weighed with all their clothes (but no shoes) on, so I don't know how accurate the stats are compared to the percentile charts.

Alexander has also really progressed in other ways. He didn't shed a tear. I remember when we first were taking him he would start to cry his eyes out as soon as we turned the corner to walk down the hall.

Overall, they checked out great! One frustrating thing, though: Alexander seems to have some continued "out-toeing" when he walks (more noticeable when he stands, actually), though his movements don't seem to be impaired in any way. Every time we've visited his doctor we ask her about it and she doesn't seem to think it's a big deal at all and has said to wait until he's been walking a while because the ortho specialists wouldn't do anything with it now. On his translated Russian medical reports Alexander was diagnosed with Talipes valgus, which is inward toeing (though not a club foot). But after our first meeting with Alexander in Russia, we corresponded via e-mail and photos and video with our international adoption doctor who then called it an out-toeing because his toes/feet face more outward. She talked about various options once we got him home and to our doctors here in the states.

Anyway, Alexander's pediatrician said we could see the pediatric orthopedic specialist but she predicted that he wouldn't do much and would see if Alex outgrew it. So, I called this specialist and was told that he requires our pediatrician to send over her notes and he would then review the notes and decide if he would see Alexander. I was so disappointed and upset! If we're willing to pay, then why won't he see us — at least to give us peace of mind about this? While being respectful of her, I let the scheduler on the other end of the line know my disappointment. He would refuse to see our son based on notes from our pediatrician, who is not an expert on this subject? And, if he refuses to see Alexander, then who in town will? I told the scheduler that I didn't expect the specialist would see our son based on what our pediatrician told us. She said that I could send as much info as I have (his Russian medical records and notes from our international adoption doctor). But when I reviewed the translated Russian medical records I remembered that Alexander's diagnosis was for the "inward toeing". FYI, the Russian medical reports of orphans are notoriously not completely accurate. We were told by our IA doctor that, upon reviewing the Russian medical reports, then it's a wonder the children are even born alive. They consider childbirth itself a very traumatic experience for the baby. Anyway, my point is that I'm not sure the Russian medical reports will hold much weight with this specialist.

Overall, I think Alexander's fine since he doesn't seem to be impaired in walking or running or any other sort of movement. But we should get him checked out, right?