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.

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.