Ava's gluteal fold and Rachel's brother

When Ava was born, it was noted that her gluteal fold (ie her butt crack) had an extra fork to it going to the left.  Although she is developing well and there are no concerns about her pelvis, hips, nervous system, or development, this abnormality was still a little bit of a concern.  Abnormal skin marks on a low back/sacral area could be related to one of two things: spina bifida occulta or a tethered cord.  While we weren't concerned about the first, our family doctor was slightly concerned about the possibility of the second.  A tethered cord can present without symtoms, or become more symptomatic as a child grows, and an abnormal skin overlying the spinal column may warrant an MRI to look at the spinal cord/surrounding structure.

On Monday we went to the neurosurgery clinic in Denver at 9am.  I wasn't excited about having to drive through traffic to get there or about taking Rachel and Ava together by myself.  Rachel is not great at sharing her attention with Ava, and this appointment needed my focus to discuss things with the doctor while looking at Ava.

We got there fine and Rachel was great.  I was reading her "Clifford's Christmas" when the doctor walked into our room.  Rachel pouted and wanted to keep reading / wanted my attention.  Thankfully, the doctor was awesome and got it right away and involved Rachel in taking our medical history.  He asked Rachel how old Ava was, if she was sick, how old Rachel was, who lived in our house, etc.  Then Rachel was involved and in charge of the appointment.

Doc: "Rachel, how old are you?"
Rachel: "Three."
Doc: "Rachel, how old is your sister Ava."
Rachel: "I don't know. Mommy?"  (Mommy answers almost 5 months.)
Doc: "Rachel, do you have any other sisters?"
Rachel: "No."
Doc: "Do you have any brothers?"
Rachel: "Yes.  Nunu.  Nunu is 4."

Anyway, the doctor quickly looked at Ava's butt and determined it was totally fine with no concern whatsoever.  The whole appointment was less than 20 minutes and I was relieved not to have to consider sedating Ava for an MRI or have any other follow up to this matter.

Then I took my three kids to the zoo.  Nunu had a nice time.