Helmet Head

Here's Kessler with his new Fire Truck Helmet!

More photos...

Here is a photo from a few weeks ago. It's the sweetest thing. Kess had been crying, then all of a sudden we noticed there was silence.

My Commute..

As I was driving Makena to school this morning, I realized how lucky I am to have such a beautiful commute. Here is the converstaion we had:

Makena: What chu habing?

Mommy: I'm having an apple.

Makena: I lub apple. I want some.

Mommy: Okay. Here you go.

Makena: Thank you.

Makena: I don't like apple.

Mommy: Okay. Just hold onto it until we get to school.

Makena: Mommy. I remember Kip. (A really, really good friend of ours that visited us from Las Vegas a few weeks ago.)

Mommy: You remember Kip?

Makena: Yes, I remember Kip.

Mommy: Oh, that's good, sweetie.

Makena: Kip lubs me.

Mommy: Yes, he does.

Makena: Where did Kip go?

Mommy: He went back home to Las Vegas.

Makena: To work?

Mommy: Yes, he works in Las Vegas.

Makena: Is he always working?

Mommy: I don't know. We can ask him next time we see him.

Makena: Kip's a big boy like daddy.

Mommy: Yes, he is.

Makena: I lub Kip.

Mommy: That's really nice, sweetie.

Makena: Look Mommy. It's the moon.

Mommy: Yes, it is.

Makena: What does the moon say?

Mommy: I don't think the moon says anything.

Makena: (&*)*)*&@^#^(#B away.

Mommy: hmm... You want to run away?

Makena: No.. )#@$*($(%*(@ away.

Makena: (Realizing mommy is not going to work it out.) Where did the moon go?

Mommy: Oh!! The moon went away.

Makena: Yes, we have to find anuber one. Keep looking mommy.

Mommy: Okay, beautiful.

Makena: Oh.. I did farty farts.

Kessler: A-Chu

Makena: Bless you Kessie Kess.

Makena: Look mommy--a little doggie.

Mommy: Yes, it is.

Makena: Anuber little doggie. Two little doggies.

Mommy: Yep.

Makena: What chu doing mommy?

Mommy: I'm driving you to school.

Makena: I have a boo-boo on my finger.

Mommy: You do?

Makena: Noooo, it's an apple part.

Mommy: An apple part?

Makena: Yeah, it's not a boo-boo it's an apple part.

Makena: I'm holding the apple.

Mommy: Okay, sweetie.

Makena: Are we at school?

Mommy: Yep, we sure are!

Such precious moments!!

Photos

We just picked up some photos that were taken back in December. It was meant to be the first in the series of sittings for baby's first year for Kessler. That's why most are of him!

Enjoy!

Noise

Makena was playing and I was holding Kessler. He started to get fussy so I began singing to him.

Makena said, "Mommy, what's that noise?"

Mommy said, "I'm just singing to Kessler."

Makena said, "It's too loud mommy. You should try not to do that... Duffa."

Last week!

Here is a quick update.

We took Kessler to the orthotist to be measured for his helmet this past Thursday. We go back in on Tuesday the 19th to be fitted. And we will leave with his new *firetruck* helmet! The orthotist told us that he would probably end up wearing it for 4 months, rather than just 3. But, she did say it would make a huge difference. And, if at anytime we feel it's good enough we can stop. She is a really nice lady; I'm looking forward to going in to see her again!

Let's see.. Makena has done a few more "poopies in the potty". Here's proof:

Here's more proof as we consummated the occasion with the official "poopies in the potty" dance.

And here is my handsome little man. He's such a sweetie.

For our very special niece/cousin Phoebe - Makena came running into the bedroom emphatically saying, "look what I found!" She actually thought it was a photo of her. She was quite happy when I told her it was actually not her, but Phoebe. She carried the photo around for the rest of the day.

Other than that.. I was sworn in last Thursday. I am officially a Court Appointed Special Advocate. I go in on Friday to go through some files and find a child I think I can help. I'm excited and nervous at the same time.

Those are the high points.. at least what I can remember!!

Take care everyone!

The Beginning..

I thought this would be a good way to keep everyone up to date with what's happening in our lives. Though I have a ton going on, I expect I will put off those things in order to make posts here.

Where to begin? Since life is happening all the time, I suppose I will start in the middle.

We took Kessler to the neurologist yesterday. He has plagiocephaly (a flat head due to repeatedly sleeping in the same position). I first noticed it when he was about 3 months old. It took me a few days to decide that I wasn't overreacting by taking him to see his pediatrician. The first doctor we saw said that it was mild, which surprised me a bit. But, she's the professional, right? She did say that I could get an x-ray, if I wanted, to make sure the sutures had not fused together. So, the results of the x-ray were negative. Shew!

When we went back for his 6 month check up, the other pediatrician in the same office said, "I think you might want to take him to see a neurologist." We made the appointment immediately because we thought there might be something else wrong--besides plagiocephaly. The good news is--it's nothing worse than plagiocephaly. The bad news is that his is not mild as the first pediatrician said, rather it is quite severe. The neurologist said that *if* the shape doesn't worsen, it will still be significantly abnormal as he grows. But, it's likely that it will worsen as he will probably continue to sleep in the same position. Also, since the flatness is favoring one side, the ear on that side will shift forward. At 1 year the skull isn't as maliable anymore so, whatever shape it has at that point is the shape it will have forever. Mark and I think it would be really tough for him to grow up with his head shaped the way it is. So, we have to get Kessie fitted for a helmet which he will wear 23 hours a day for 3 months. As the brain grows, it forces the skull to grow. As this happens, the helmet will act as a mold for his skull. He has to see the doctor every 2 weeks until the helmet is removed. It could certainly be much worse, but it's still a little overwhelming to imagine him in a helmet. By the time it comes off, he will have worn it for 1/3rd his life. :(

We also took Kessie to see an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor yesterday. He is tongue tied, but it seems to be improving. The doctor told us to come back in 6 months. If it has not improved enough he will snip the skin between his tongue and the lower part of his mouth. Apparently, this is pretty routine, but a little difficult to do on such a young baby.

Despite all of that, he is such a happy little boy. He giggles every chance he gets and loves to laugh at Makena. He eats a TON which is probably why, at 6 months old, he's wearing 18 month clothes. Oh yeah, Mark noticed his first tooth today!

Makena is beautiful as well. After about 30 minutes of waiting she did poopies in the potty today. This is her second time. Her first time was about a month ago. She warned us that she had to go when she wasn't wearing a diaper (she had just gotten out of the bath). We rushed her to the potty. She was not very happy; she wanted a diaper! She couldn't hold it, however. With much regret, she did make poopies in the potty. This morning was different though. She was determined to go and she did! Apparently that was enough for her because she wouldn't go near the potty for the rest of the day!

No need to break any records with my first post! It's time for bed anyway!