another picture. i do not know how to post multiple ones at the same time

You may or may not have scales (joke!) but your citrus leaf definitely does.
In addition to the three you have shown in close-up, there are several others faintly visible both left and right along the central leaf rib. Probably 'soft scale' but could be another species.
However, if other leaves are not worse infected than the one shown, I doubt this level of infection would by itself cause leaf loss.

thanks for answering! from what i read on here i was pretty sure that is what it was. do i just continue to wipe off any that i find and spray with my alcohol/water mixture?

Good plan... good luck

thanks! it has been close to a year since it has produced flowers or growth. how often does that happen? just picked lemons off at christmas time.