Week 9

At least 4-6 more weeks?  Ack! That's what the neurosurgeon suggested today at our checkup.  I guess I got my hopes up we'd be done in 3 weeks and shouldn't have.  Yes, her head is still flat.  She is continuing to get better though!  Today her cephalic index was 88.4%.  Still a long way to get to 82% which is the norm but progress is progress right?  I just want my baby back!  People who say this helmeting time flies by are nuts!

In other news, baby bird went to the fair for the first time and LOVED it.  She would have ridden that carousel all day.

Quinn and Daddy at the fair.

Somebaby loves the park too!

Weeks 7 & 8

This helmet is sooooo much better than the last one.  I really need to focus on how happy I am that we have a helmet that fits for the last half of her treatment and not dwell on the fact I'm so irritated we wasted the first half on a bad fit.  There has been tremendous improvement in just the 2 weeks that she has had it.  Well, in my opinion.  She still has a ways to go, don't get me wrong, but she is really rounding out.  It's funny because we were so worried about the plagiocephaly that we never really noticed she had brachycephaly too!  Now that her "flat spot" is getting better we are seeing it more.  Oh well.  I am so ready for this to be over.  I read all the message boards and everyone is so upbeat and their children adjusted so well to the band.  Poor Quinn hates it.  It very well could have been because the helmet fit so poorly in the beginning, but she is not loving it like everyone else describes.  We are in the process now that her helmet stays on of moving her back in her own bed.  Eeh gads is that tough.  Little munchkin is so used to waking up with Mama right there that when she wakes up now she's in a full sweat terror!  She got up every hour two nights ago.  Thank goodness Daddy was there to take some of the wakings.  She's been asleep for an hour now.  Let's hope she has a good night!

Here's a photo we snapped tonight of her head progress.  Better right?  Have a good week!

Week 6

I cannot believe we are technically halfway through this nightmare!  Six weeks really has flown by.  I do see that her head has improved a lot, so hopefully this will all be worth it in the end.  We got our new helmet yesterday and so far so good.  There are some minor tweeks that still need to be done, but I can finally see my baby's eyes and it seems to be staying on better this time.  Her second casting was a breeze and she was a trooper.  She even busted out some dance moves during the process (thanks again to Daddy for the musical and dance entertainment!).  The orthotist tried to convince us to be done with the helmet saying if it were his kid he'd leave today.  I'm 99% sure he just wants to be done with us, I can't imagine we're his favorite clients.  Seriously though, her head looks better but she's still pretty flat.  89% cephalic index is nowhere near "normal" and if she's going to look back at pictures and see herself in a helmet, she better be able to look in the mirror and see a perfectly round melon. Here's looking forward to an easier last 6 weeks!

Really guys, this again?

Daddy the Duck

 In other news, my little bumblebee turned 7 months old today!  Where is the time going?  I just want her to stop growing for a year.  Then, other times I can't wait for her to grow up.  So is the life of a mother I guess.

7 Months Old

 All for now.  No pictures of the new helmy yet but will post soon!

Week 4 & 5

We're getting a new helmet!  Finally.  Our orthotist came to terms with the fact there is no fixing this original helmet and we are going to get casted again (poor Quinn) tomorrow.  Here's hoping this one fits nicely.  Sheesh, she'll have been in this poorly fitting one for half the entire time!  What a stinkin' waste.  ALTHOUGH...we had our follow up appointment with the neurosurgeon last week and he saw nice improvement.  Her cephalic index went from 94% to 90% in the four weeks she was wearing it.  So I guess it's not all that bad.  I think the visit is what prompted the decision for a new helmet.  The orthotist was at the follow up appointment and the neuro guy basically bashed the helmet fit. 

I wanted to share a couple pics of the decorated band before it hit helmet graveyard.  I think it turned out so cute.  We're debating whether or not we'll decorate this new one.

In other news, our little birdie has taken to dancing.  She dances to any beat she can find.  It's so cute!  Today she was dancing to firetruck sirens.  Love her.

Week 3

Ugh.  Helmet still pops off after 3 1/2 weeks.  Obviously we are not seeing that much of a change because the helmet is never on her head.  The orthotist actually said last "adjustment" that there was nothing more he could do to get it to stay on and that she'd just have to grow into it.  Really?  I really hoped this would be an upbeat blog with great stories of how my sweet baby girl's head is rounding out making her even more beautiful than she already is.  Now I just feel like giving up. We are headed to another orthotist for an evaluation next week. We'll see if they can offer anymore advice.  Plus, I'd like them to take a look at this horrid fit!

My poor little love bug. She's having to endure this helmet which she hates and she's not even getting the full benefit of it.

Recent head shot.

Sorry to be Debbie Downer.  Let's hope it starts to turn around!

In other news, our Miss Piggy had her 6 month appointment last week and tipped the scales at a whopping 20.15 lbs and 28 1/4 inches long!  She is perfectly healthy and has learned many new tricks like sitting on her own and waving.  She also will break out in dance any time she hears anything remotely like a rhythmic beat!

Week 2

My baby bird turned 6 months old today!

So my grand plans of being a super blogger?  Yeah, not doing so well!  Ha!  It's been a busy week.  Baby Quinn has been having a heck of a time with her helmet.  Or should we say the helmets been having a heck of a time.  We cannot seem to get it to stay on her head.  She's been sleeping like a champ because every morning when I wake up, the helmet is sitting nicely in the corner of her crib.  Argh.  We had it adjusted today and hopefully that helps.  Although, I can already see a dark red spot forming and when I put her down tonight...shift shift shift...it looks precariously close to popping off.  I'm starting to doubt this orthotist.  Ahhhh, breath in breath out.  I just have to have faith her little head will round out eventually.

We finally got her band decorated this week too!  I think it turned out great.  I will post a few pictures soon.  We went through Bling Your Band.  Coree was really easy to work with and the stickers are just what I had hoped for.  I recommend her to anyone!

In other news, we started little baby bean on real food!  She ate like a pro, so stinkin' cute.  Today is her 6 month birthday.  I cannot believe it has been that long, it seems like just yesterday I was holed up in the hospital.  What a precious little gift she is.  I'm so blessed that she is HAPPY and healthy except for a few minor cosmetic issues.

Chow Time

Hope you all are having a good week!

First Week

They say the first week is the hardest. Well, I'd have to agree.  We started off great.  She barely noticed it.  Then we attempted to have her sleep in it.  Naps...OK.  Bedtime...uh not so much.  She got up every hour the first night until I finally took it off at 4am and we snuggled in bed and got a few good hours in. Second night got up every 3 hours but it took 2 hours to get her back to sleep. Fail again.  On full time wear day she was a pro.  Didn't seem to notice it at all.  I pulled it off at 6pm to give her a nice little bath and noticed a big ol' red spot that didn't fade.  Argh.  Too late to call the orthotist so she slept without it.  Ahhhhh, 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep, but no helping the flatty.  When I called the office first thing in the morning they said they were booked solid (really?) and to just wear it intermittently until my regularly scheduled appointment tomorrow.  I attempted to have her sleep in it again tonight but the red spot just got darker.  Another night wasted.  I hate to be little miss negative, but it seems I just wasted a week of probable growth and those two nights of no sleep got us nowhere since we are back at square one with her getting used to sleeping in it. 

Let's hope we get these kinks worked out and on our way to fixin' that flat!

Finally, some zzzzzzzzzz's

Happy to have the helmet off!