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!

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 ;)

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!

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!!!!!!

 

 

 

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!

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.

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.