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.

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!

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!

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!



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!

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!!!!!

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.