Visit #2: Noah - the little bank robber

Today's appointment for Noah at Cranial Tech. was short & sweet. We were there all of 10 minutes to get his pictures & measurements done for the DOC band that will be fitted next week Friday. They placed a nylon type sock over his head & face to be able to get a good picture of the shape of his head so they can mold the helmet just right -- if that was me I would have been completely claustrophobic but he was a CHAMP! He stuck his tongue out the whole time to feel the nylon, & was giggling & smiling at the techs who were getting a kick out of him. We are now enjoying our Noah "helmetless" for the last week before he gets his shell for the next few months. :) Here are some pictures from today's appointment. 

The Beginning of our Plagiocephaly Journey

When we had Noah it was one of the most amazing gifts - obviously. We had our little boy & couldn't be any more thankful. He was perfect as could be, healthy & happy -- for the most part - sorta. He grew FAST. As he grew Steve & I started noticing at around 2 months that his head was a bit flat in the back…part of me just brushed it off & the other part of me was FREAKING out & trying to ignore it. When we went to his 2 month appointment I asked the pediatrician what she thought and she told me she was a bit concerned but to wait until his 4 month appointment to see how it was looking. Well his 4 month appointment quickly approached (I WAS DREADING IT) & we were referred to Cranial Technologies in Lombard. I didn't know much about the DOC band or helmet so I started doing A LOT of research (I mean A LOT). To be honest with you, I was scared about what people would think & say. My kid was in a helmet & I was worried about people talking about him or making fun of my sweet precious baby boy – let’s be real – people can be MEAN.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous any more but I still am. I’m warming up to the idea & becoming “OK” with it. I just pray that he adjusts well & it doesn't bother him too much. (Momma likes her sleep!) We were relieved to hear that it is mostly just a cosmetic thing for now & wasn't effecting his development or brain. PHEW. Bad news of all of this is that he will have to wear it 23 hours a day! Left untreated without a helmet,  we would have no way to know what the extent of his facial asymmetry would be.

After leaving Noah's first appointment & learning everything that was involved, it was hard, but I had to remind myself that I was so thankful that we were dealing with a just a cosmetic & “minor” issue as far as medical issues can go, and that Noah is a sweet, happy & loving little man… he just has a bumpy head! It was such a wonderful experience aside from the news. The people were so sweet & Noah was in a great mood. Everyone answered all of my questions & made me feel a bit more relieved about the whole “helmet thing”. We were told that he has a severe case of Brachycephaly with Plagiocephaly – which pretty much is where his head is wider and taller than normal (which is clear, have you seen his head?!?! Haha), forehead has an incline/slope, ears and eyes don't match up, & he typically favors one side. We will have to do some physical therapy exercises at home due to him favoring his left side – they don’t want him to only lay on his left side or the muscle in his neck and shoulder can tighten & cause him to not be able to turn his head the other direction. We also learned that a lot of this could be the cause of his TERRIBLE acid reflex & colic...I would be 1 happy lady if this fixed both of these problems. I'm a bit sick of changing his & my clothes 4 times a day, and the whole colic thing is REALLY teaching me to have patience which is great … buuuuuut really – I’m over it. ;)

We left feeling very well informed & thankful that we went at the time we did since it sounds like he will only need it for about 3 months due to his age. Next step-getting insurance to cover this (which should be fine) & then getting more pictures of this head & getting his band fit to this head just right. From there we will be travailing out to Lombard every week for adjustments –which could be dangerous since Oak Brook Mall is RIGHT there – probably should just leave my debit card at home those days!

I have been spending WAY to much time looking at the adorable vinyl wraps that they have for these bands! I can’t choose which ones to pick! ;) He could be a watermelon, a robot, a football player --- ahhh it’s just all too cute! 

Here are the images that Cranial Technologies took of Noah yesterday to see the severity of his Plagiocephaly