This is our story of trying to round out our 10 months old flat head. He has mild brachycephaly\plagiocephaly and will wear a helmet. We hope to share the information and research that we find along the way and continue to learn as we go. Hopefully we can be a source of comfort to you in your own journey as we seek our own comfort in knowing that we're doing what's best for our son.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

DONE-ZO! Whoop Whoop *23 Weeks*

Today we were discharged from Our Thinking Cap.
SEE YA NEVER BIG BLUE!

Easton has done absolutely fabulous with the helmet.
These last few weeks were touchy because of the heat, but he still did great!

I thought I'd go back to Day 1 Measurements to see how far he came.

DAY 1- February 1
Cranaul Vault Asymmetry was 7mm off
Cephalic Index was 97.22

Today- Day 163- June 13
Cranial Width: 136mm
Cranial Length: 165mm
Cephalic Index (width/length): 82%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 150mm
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 149mm
Cranial Vault Asymmetry- 1mm!!!!!!!

Looking back, it was such a difficult decision for us {me} to make.
The doctors and specialist left it up to us to decide.
I'm glad Lance was confident in the process.
He made the final call.
It was SO worth it.
Easton did wonderful!
I am so thankful for his little round head.
It looks just like any other little boys head.
I know it was the right thing to do.

Not to mention, our insurance covered 100% of the helmet!
That was reassurance for me that the Lord was taking care of this!

My advice to you, as parents of a child with a head that might look a little off to you is this.
Follow your gut.  If you think it looks odd, it probably does.
Insist on meeting with a specialist.
I'd suggest finding the closest Hanger Orthotics and have them take a look.
Your child will have their head the rest of their lives.
Don't count on others to tell you his head looks different. They won't.
Go with your God-given parental instinct.
You'll be glad you did.

I hope this blog will encourage you that it's really NOT that bad!
I'll be back soon with some noggin pictures!


Happy Helmet-Less Noggin Day to you!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

21 Week Check Up

LAST Measurements 5/18/11:
Cranial Width: 141mm
Cranial Length: 149mm
Cephalic Index (width/length): 95%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 149mm
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 148mm
Cranial Vault Asymmetry (difference of L & R):  1mm

Todays Measurements 6/29/11:
Cranial Width: 141mm
Cranial Length: 147mm
Cephalic Index (width/length): 95%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 149mm
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 148mm
Cranial Vault Asymmetry (difference of L & R):  1mm

Not  much change today.
Overall looking pretty good.
FEW more weeks.
We see Dr. Kelly in 2 weeks.
BJ said that's when we'll be discharged.
We're hoping so.
It's hot here!
Here's too 2 more weeks of Big Blue ;)

Friday, May 27, 2011

First Hair Cut!

{This post is not helmet related, but HEAD related!!!  AND...there are some pretty good head shape pictures to show you where we're at now!!!!!  ENJOY!!!!}

Loveys hair was getting a little wild!  With our upcoming wedding, we knew we had to look our best.  So, today Easton got his FIRST PROFESSIONAL HAIRCUT!  He was quite the champ.  We did have a few tears but for the most part, PERFECT!





I didn't think he {Easton}could get any cuter...but this hair cut has about done me in.
It's a good thing he can't talk cause I'm sure I'd give him anything he asked for!
Soon enough!

Might I add, that little noggin has rounded out quite nicely!




Wednesday, May 18, 2011

15 Week Check Up

LAST Measurements (4/20/11):
Cranial Width: 139.5mm
Cranial Length: 148mm
Cephalic Index (width/length): 93%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 147mm
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 150mm
Cranial Vault Asymmetry (difference of L & R):  3mm
 
TODAYS Measurements:
Cranial Width: 141mm
Cranial Length: 149mm
Cephalic Index (width/length): 95%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 149mm
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 148mm
Cranial Vault Asymmetry (difference of L & R):  1mm
 
I'm trying not to focus on Cephalic Index- because he's brachy.
If he was plagio, cephalic would be more important.
The HUGE victore this week is the Cranial Vault!  It's 1mm!
It was 8 when we started! (I think)!

So this is a great change!
 
BIGGER NEWS!!!!
We got the ok to take the helmet off during outside play times.
It's gonna get HOT soon and with that comes a sweaty head and a moody boy.
So, we're allowed to take it off during those hot play times!
HOORAY FOR THAT!
 
As long as the helmet still fits, BJ does suggest that we keep it on because it COULD change more.
BJ does feel that as he grows more his head will continue to round out on his own so that's encouraging.
SO, onward we'll go.
 
We have another appt June 1 with Dr. Kelly and afterwards with BJ.
 
Hopefully we'll be out of this thing soon!  I'm getting tired of looking at it!
 
More updates to come!
 
HAPPY 14 MONTHS EASTON!!!!!!
 
 
 

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Long Awaited Pictures




Still a little bit wide on the sides, but looks SOOOOO much better than before!!!!


There's still room for improvement right here (see arrow) but it's a lot LESS room than when we started.
When we started it was pretty much the entire back of his head, now we're about the size of a quarter.
This is the last spot to come out.
The 3 sutures in the skull join at this point, thus making it the last part to be corrected.

Another check up 5-4-11

Until then, we'll keep rounding!



Monday, April 25, 2011

What to do with your helmet when baby's got a fever?!?!?!

Little Easton has had a fever for 4 days.
Yes, you heard that correctly, 4 long days.

We noticed that when we took his helmet off his fever would go down and stay down.

When we'd put it back on, he'd get EXTRA sweaty.
The normal day to day sweating has stopped so we know it's due to his fever.
He does still sweat during naps and playing outside but not just normal day to day wear. 
That only lasted a few weeks.  

BJ did say we could remove the helmet when the fever spikes and put it back on when it goes down.

However, we just kept it off. 
Yesterday we took it off at 4pm and just put it back on today about 4pm.

Obviously this isn't ideal but Easton didn't seem to mind once we put it back on.

I don't think we missed out on any growth spurts and he slept on his belly so I don't think we made it any worse.

I do like to follow the rules and do 23\1 but for this weekend, we had to deal with the fever first.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

11 Week Check Up- Dr K & BJ


Today we went to visit Dr. K for our head check.
Seriously, I don't know what purpose he serves.
Other than he's a DOCTOR....but I mean really,
does he remember what his noggin looks like from 6 weeks ago?
Anyways, he took his helmet off, felt around a little, did a little scribble scrabble on his helmet letting BJ know he needed more room and sent us on our way.
5 minutes max.

On to BJ
BJ, on the other hand, knows Easton's head like a book.
He was very pleased with how much it had changed in just 2 weeks.
He had taken out more in the top (near the crown) and could really feel a difference. 

Last Measurements:
Cranial Width: 139mm
Cranial Length: 148mm
Cephalic Index (width/length): 93%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 149mm
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 148 1/2mm
Cranial Vault Asymmetry (difference of L & R):  1/2mm

Today's Measurements:
Cranial Width: 139.5mm
Cranial Length: 148mm
Cephalic Index (width/length): 93%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 147mm
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 150mm
Cranial Vault Asymmetry (difference of L & R):  3mm

Numbers don't really look too much different but all the little knots and bumps are coming out.
You can sure feel a difference.  And see a difference when his head is wet.

We go back to see Dr. K in 6 weeks.

Dr. K said we'd probably have to be in the helmet a total of 6 months but I'm praying for less time.
We'll just take these next 6 weeks and focus on only that. 
If it is 6 months, we're halfway.

We go back to see BJ May 4th. 
More updates then. 
Maybe some pix next week to show you the little noggin.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

4/7/11 Check Up

This diagram is SO elementary, but I thought it might help.
BJ uses something similar. 



Last Measurements:
Cranial Width: 137mm
Cranial Length: 145mm
Cephalic Index (width/length): 94%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 142mm
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 144mm
Cranial Vault Asymmetry (difference of L & R):  2mm

Today's Measurements:
Cranial Width: 139mm (Diagram A)
Cranial Length: 148mm (Diagram B)
Cephalic Index (width/length): 93%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 149mm (Diagram C)
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 148 1/2mm (Diagram C)
Cranial Vault Asymmetry (difference of L & R):  1/2mm

All these numbers HAVE IMPROVED so we're super excited about this,
but there is still work that needs to be done. 

See Diagram D
This is from the top of the head- looking down.
Just like Diagram C.
The line across the back is similar to Easton's head shape.
We want it to look more like the outer circle.
The outer circle is about accurate at the occiput (posterior (back) portion of the head)
But we need the top to come out some more.
So, even though is Cranial Vault Asymmetry is only off 1/2mm, it's really not. 
Because it measures from the widest part of the head. 
Which is the occiput.
So, we need that top part to fill in a little more. 

Clear as mud...right!?!?!
Mm Hm...that's what I thought. 

BJ did take some out of the top of the helmet to allow for new growth to shift upwards.
We're hoping for some major growth spurts so we see some more changes!

We go back to Dr. Kelly on the 20th and then on to see BJ after that.

BJ said 6-8 more weeks.
But it's all based on his growth.
I'll look at it like this, we're more than half way there. 
10 weeks tomorrow.

And, this has been a breeze.  Perhaps it's Easton and his easy going personality or perhaps just because we as parents (or, me as mom- daddy was confident) made a bigger deal initally about it,
but this has not been bad at all. 
I do hope he has it off before the heat of summer because he does sweat a lot!
But, again, this bothers us more than it bothers him. 
And the cleaning it every night is a pain, but whatever.
It's temporary!

We'll see you back next week for some more head pictures!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

9 Weeks

Remember....here's our head BEFORE HELMET...


And here's our head 9 weeks in the helmet...

Right side's looking good.
If I was a bettin' woman, I'd bet we're gonna need 'more room' again on the left side.


You can see here that the occipital is coming out. 
If you put your thumb and pointer together on both hands to make an O and put it at that spot
you can definitely see it coming out.
That's BJ's trick.  When you localize it like that you can see more change.
We'll take it.

And because he's so dang cute...
here's his little face.
You see the back of his head most of the time!

BJ Thursday!
Will update after!
Thanks for reading!
Happy Rounding!

Friday, April 1, 2011

2 Months


2 months in the helmet!
I'm satisfied with the progress.
Progress has slowed- or maybe we're just used to seeing it so we don't notice.
But I do think it's getting better.
The "occipital" is coming out nicely. 




Yes...there's the occipital bone.
It's lumpy and wonky feeling back there, but that's a good sign.
That means it's coming out.
We go to see BJ Thursday.
It's been 3 weeks since we've seen him so I'm anxious to hear what he thinks!

Hopefully this marks our half way point.
We'd love to be out of this by summer!

Be back Thursday for Helmet Update!



Thursday, March 17, 2011

6 weeks 2 days- Helmet Check Up

Last Measurements:
Cranial Width: 137mm
Cranial Length: 145mm
Cephalic Index (width/length): 94%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 142mm
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 144mm
Cranial Vault Asymmetry (difference of L & R):  2mm

Today's Measurements:
Cranial Width: 140mm
Cranial Length: 145mm
Cephalic Index (width/length): 97%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 146mm
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 149mm
Cranial Vault Asymmetry (difference of L & R):  3mm
Head Circumference: 475

To me, these numbers don't look good- they look like they've reversed, however BJ was pleased.
He was pleased with the circumference the most.
It has grown 5 cm.
Head growth is important at this stage of the game. 

So, we go back in 3 weeks.
We'll keep rounding out hopefully.
He's doing wonderful with his helmet so it's really no bother to him or us.
Strange questioning looks are the main bother!

Monday, March 7, 2011

5 Week- Plastic Surgeon Check Up

We met with Dr. Kelly today.
He's with Vanderbilt Plastic Surgery.
He was very pleased with Easton's progress.
He marked up Easton's helmet for BJ to adjust.
We go for that adjustment tomorrow...
Until then, we need MORE ROOM!

Tomorrow BJ will carve out this portion of the inside of Easton's helmet.
This will allow MORE ROOM for growth for the left side of Easton's head.
And here's the inside of Easton's helmet.
For those of you wondering what it looked like.

So, we'll keep rounding.  Progress is awesome and so encouraging!


Yes...MUCH better!!!!!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

1 Month (and 2 days)

OOPS, I FORGOT TO TAKE PICTURES ON TUESDAY NIGHT
PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

We've been in the helmet 1 month and 2 days.

Time is flying.

Easton continues to do so well with his helmet.
He's stopped sweating in it so that's  nice. 
He does still sweat when he sleeps but not just wearing it.

Here are our 1 month (and 2 day) pix:




and because I love me a good neck picture...I'll leave you with that goodness.
Mmmmm.  This is the sweetest neck EVER!

We meet with Dr. Kelly Monday.
I'm anxious to see what he thinks about our improvement.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

BJ Check Up- 3 Weeks

Today we went to see BJ.
He was THRILLED with what he saw when he took off Easton's helmet.

When we started 3 weeks ago his measurements were as follows:
Cranial Width: 140mm
Cranial Length: 144mm
Cephalic Index (width/length): 97%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 149mm
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 141mm
Cranial Vault Asymmetry (difference of L & R):  8mm

AND TODAY:
Cranial Width: 137mm
Cranial Length: 145mm
Cephalic Index (width/length): 94%
Left anterior to Right posterior: 142mm
Right anterior to Left Posterior: 144mm
Cranial Vault Asymmetry (difference of L & R):  2mm

This is such an encouragement to us!
We are SO thankful that we chose to have Easton in the helmet.
We're so thankful that he's responding so well to the remolding therapy.
We are also very thankful for BJ.  I'm so glad we chose to take him to BJ.

We go to see Dr. Kelly Wednesday so we'll see how he feels the progression is.

Back to BJ on the 17th of March
1 Day before his birthday.
His.1.year.birthday.
He's growing up way too fast.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

3 Weeks

3 Weeks in the Helmet
2 weeks at 23 hours a day
We can tell a nice difference
It's not near as wide at his ears
And there's knots coming out on the back
We definitely feel we made the right decision

We go see BJ on Thursday for a check up and measurements.

Hoping for a big change in the cephalic index!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

2 Week Check Up

Today we went to see BJ for our 2nd week check up.
He was very pleased with Easton's growth.
There are bumbs and knots coming out all over!
That sounds like a bad thing, but it's not, it's GREAT!
He will see us again next Thursday.
He'll take measurements of his head then for us to take to Dr. Kelly on March 2.
He's expecting 3-4% change on his cephalic index.
I'm anxious for those numbers!

So, here's the head pix for today.
2 weeks into treatment:

Look at that bump!
Now, that's what I call progress!





Easton continues to do wonderfully with his helmet.
He's napping and sleeping good with it and plays normally as well.
In fact, he's started trying to put it on himself when it's drying after we clean it.
We put it on the vent in the bathroom floor to dry and he'll go in there and get it and try to put it on his head!
Little stinker!
This has not been near as traumatic as what I thought it would be!
Such an encouragement to see this progress!

Happy Head Rounding!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Appointment with BJ

Our appointment with BJ went well yesterday.
He was pleased with Easton's head.
He could see a change in the bottom of his head...where most people have that bump that sticks out.
Easton didn't previously have that, but now he does.  It's coming out quite nicely.
He also cut the face part of the helmet out some so it opens up  his face more.
He looks like Easton again.
He also shaved some of the foam off the underside of the helmet around his face so it's more comfortable.
No more wonky eyebrow.
He can now look up and SEE you instead of his eyebrows pushing down.

We go back in another week.
We'll see how much progress is made then.
That will be a whole week of 23\1.

As for naps and sleep, those were my biggest concerns but he's doing well.
As long as you keep it cool (around 64-66) in his room he sleeps right through.
The helmet makes him really warm so to avoid overheating we keep it COOL.

Nevermind that Lance and I are fully clothed from head to toe all night!  ;)


Monday, February 7, 2011

23 Hour Day- SUCCESS

As far as the helmet goes, his first 23 hour day was a success. 
He slept fine with it, and played at school perfectly.
Easton....well, he's got a snotty nose, he's teething and tired...
so this afternoon was... well...exhausting.

But, we're praying for another good night's rest so we'll all be rejuvinated in the morning.

We've got our week appt with BJ tomorrow.
I'm excited to see what he thinks of Easton's head!



Night 1- Success

Easton slept just fine in his helmet all night!!!  :)

He was 'required' to wear it for 8 hours, but we left him in it all night. 
No need to wake a sleeping baby...right???

He wore it 10 1\2 hours.  That's the longest so far.

Until today.  Today is our first 23 hour day. 

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Day 6- Night 1

Today was 8 hours day/ 8 hours night.

8 hours day went very well.
We went to church for the first time in his helmet.
The response was fine.  Not that I was expecting any different from my wonderful church family.

Helmet was on from 8-4
and on again at 7:45.


He nursed in his helmet tonight and I laid him down for bed...when normally my quiet baby drifts off to never never land...but tonight, up pops his little head in that big blue helmet.
I walked out of the room and the crying began.
It was short lived. 
3 minutes at most.

Right now he's asleep so we're hoping he stays that way.
IF by some chance he doesn't,
I'm blaming it on the snotty nose and the teeth about to make their way through. 
He was a little fussy tonight and didn't sleep worth a toot last night (without helmet) so I don't think we can blame the helmet IF he does wake up!

Here's hoping to a good night's rest.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Day 5

More of the same today.
Today's schedule was 6-8 hours on 1 hour off, twice.
Well...we kinda make our own schedule today
He wore from 8am-4:15pm
and
5:15pm-7:30pm

Today was our first 'outing'
He's worn it to school all week but today was the first day in stores.
We went to Hobby Lobby, Target and Joann's.

I didn't have any strange comments.

But...I have discovered there are 3 different kinds of people
The NO LOOKERS- you KNOW they see you, but they look beyond you at all cost, not knowing
whether to smile or cry...so they just don't look
Then you've got the LOOKERS- these people look...but they look at you pitiful like they feel really sorry for you/and baby
Then you have the ACTIVE LOOKERS- these people WANT so bad to look that they strike up a converstaion with you about how cute your baby is and what a pretty smile he has or how sweet his eyes are...all the while really wanting to say 'why does he have that helmet on?'

It's funny, everyone I made eye contact with I wanted so badly to say, 'there's nothing mentally wrong with my child, he's perfectly fine- see he can wave, clap, smile on command, he's just got a flat spot on his head and we're fixing it'.
But, I can't. 
I just smile and hope they see that we are happy!
And don't need any pity. 
:)

Happy Saturday!


Friday, February 4, 2011

Day 4

Today went well.
Today was 6 hours on 1 hour off, twice. 
Because of our schedule, we did 6 hours and 5 hours.
7am-1pm
2pm-7pm
Naps were a little off today.
He took 2 back to back short naps and no afternoon nap so he was a little fussy tonight.
I considered pulling the helmet off to see if it was bothering him, but I restrained.
He just needed a little extra TLC tonight.

Also, his head is a hot sweaty mess when the helmet comes off so we're gonna have to go back to baths every night.

When we took his thinkin cap off...we REALLY could see a difference. 
He did have a pretty definite straight line on the top of his head, but tonight it looked a bit rounded!
HOORAY!

So, all in all, 4th day was a success.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Day 3 with 'my thinkin cap on'

I've decided that I will lovingly refer to his helmet as his 'thinkin cap'. 
Dang. 
That would have been a good blog title. 
Oh well...we're fixing a flat head so no use back tracking now. 

So, Day 3 went like this:
Today was 2- 4 hour segments with his helmet on.
Daddy put on his thinkin cap this morning.
It took twice to get it on where it wasn't sitting funny on his brow.
He wore it from 7-11 and napped from 9:45-10:25 {this is normal- he's not a big napper}
He wore it again from 12:30-5:00. 
 He napped from 12:35-1:30 and took a small cat nap in the truck on the way home.

He's really adjusting nicely to his helmet.
Ms. C at school is very impressed with how well he is doing with it.
She said today "I really thought Easton might scream all week, but he's perfectly content."
In true Easton fashion, he goes with the flow.

Moving right along.

Tomorrow is 6 hours!  Man, that's a long time!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Helmet- Day 2

Day 2 of the Helmet went good.

Today he wore the helmet 3 times for 2 hour increments each.

He wore it from:
7:00-9:00am
10:30-12:40pm
2:30-4:30pm

My first attempt to get his helmet on this morning wasn't pleasant.
I couldn't get it open wide enough to get it on his bean.
The first attempt brought screams.

I took it off and tried again in a few minutes.

The 2nd attempt went well.

Both times at school he did great.

It was nice to have it off for the night so I could snug his little head!
Soon enough I won't get to snug that head as much as I want too.
Temporary...this is only temporary.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Helmet- Day 1

Today we picked up Easton's helmet.

Here is Easton's BH (Before Helmet) pix.  The side view is not as bad as the top view.


Easton has Brachycephaly.
Brachycephaly in a nut shell is where is head is wide and flat across the back.

Easton's Cephalic Index (ratio of width of the head multiplied by 100 and divided by it's length) is 97.222
100 would be square- same width as length.

BJ's goal for Easton is 81. 

His other measurements are pretty normal.  We won't see much change in the facial measurements.
The measurement across the top of his head (front left to back right and front right to back left) is only 7mm off.  He's seen them as bad as 30mm. 
That would be plagiocephaly.
Plagio is the asymetrical distortion (flattening of one side) of the skull. 

So, Easton has Brachycephaly.
His helmet will have a hollow point in the top back of his helmet.
The 'pressure' will be on the sides of his head where it's a little wider.
There really is no pressure, just the foam of the helmet touching his head.
The contact encourages growth to the hollow part of the helmet to round out the flattness.

BJ brought out the helmet, without any cosmetic adjustments.
He then wrote on the helmet and cut it to fit around Easton's face, neck and ears.
At this point the helmet was VERY snug.

Now, after the cuts were made it was less snug and fit better around his face.

He's not crying here, though it may seem that way.
He's got a new smile where he scruntches his whole face up!
SO,  he's still smiling, even with the helmet!

And, he's STILL Easton, even with the helmet!


He did really well today.

BJ does a transition week to ease him into wearing it 23 hours a day.

Today it was recomended that he wear the helmet 3 times, an hour on and hour off.
We did 4.  4's better than 3 right??
In the helmet:
9:10-10:10
11:10-12:10
1:15-2:15
4:40-5:40

He did really well.  A few times he'd tug on it or let out a holler but never cried about it.
It is a little snug around his face but BJ will adjust next week when we go back for our follow up.
It bothers us more than him.  It kinda makes his left eye look 'off' but it's not.

SO, all in all Day 1 was not so bad at all.
I had my fears, but they were all for nothing.
Hopefully Day 2 is just as successful!

Monday, January 31, 2011

A Head in Pictures

Birth- 3-18-10
VERY coned head

3-30-10
Nice & Round


5-10-10


5-28-10
Little flattening happening


7-5-10
Looks pretty good from this view


8-15-10
Almost 5 Months Old (Just sitting on his own- still sleeping on his back)
This is where it gets noticable
We asked our pediatrician SEVERAL times about the shape of his head.
He said 'as he sits, rolls over, plays on his tummy, etc it will round on on its own. 
Oh, if we only knew then what we know now.


8-22-10
Ped says 'symetrically flat' not to worry.


10-27-10
Can roll over now.
Sleeping on belly at 6 months.

11-15-10

11-30-10
Started Crawling at 8 months

12-15-10

12-31-10

1-26-11
Now, this is a great improvement over what it WAS at it's worst.
It did round out, but it's still flat.
It's almost as wide as it is long, and that puts his percentages way up.
They prefer your percentage to be around 81%.  That's BJ's goal for Easton.
His is about 97%.  100% is 'flat'.

These pictures will be a good reference point to measure where we've been and where we go.

MIGHT I ADD- THIS IS THE CUTEST KID EVER (CKE)----flat head or not, helmet or not!

Helmet tomorrow.  Mixed Emotions.