Home from Wisconsin

We had a great trip to Wisconsin for 4th of July but I'm so glad to be home!!! Traveling with two kids was surprisingly a breeze-they both were so well behaved the entire trip.

We went to the world famous Dr. McComb yesterday at Children's Hospital. He suggested that Ava have an MRI to rule out any neurological or bone abnormalities. Ava has to be sedated which makes me really sad. McComb is also referring us to an Orthopedic Surgeon who will be able to tell us whether she'll need surgery in the future.

Also, Ava was approved for her helmet right before we left for Wisconsin!!! We'll pick it up on July 14th. I already went to Blingyourband.com and bought really cute tickerbell stickers and some other bling I bought at target. I heard sleeping is an issue the first week so I also bought Ava a memory foam mattress topper so it's nice and cozy for her :) I have a feeling it's going to be like having a newborn again for a little while-all well worth it though :)

Landon and Ava June 25th 2010

Sitting-6 months 1 week and 2 days old

YAY! Ava is sitting really well all of the sudden. She starting sitting in a tripod position about 2 weeks ago but she would only last like 10-15 seconds. All the sudden the last couple days she LOVES to sit all by herself-sometimes with no hands!! Today she must of sat for 15 minutes straight while reaching out to play with toys and such.

Another new thing is now sucking on her lip-still no teeth but they must be coming in soon!!! She still LOVES to eat and is eating two meals a day-usually apple and oatmeal in the morning and a veggie and oatmeal at night. I hope Ava still loves food as much once those little toothers come in :)

On the tort issue, we went to Hanger who of course measured 7mm which they still said she would be a good candidate. Being neurotic like I am, I would rather go with Cranial Technology despite the fact they are all the way in Pasadena. We've been doing lots of stretches and I really think it's starting to work!!! I'll make an appointment for probably when we come home from Wisconsin to get fitted. I can't believe we're going to Wisconsin next week!!! I'm a little apprehensive about traveling with 2 kids but it will be really nice to see everybody and introduce them to Ava!

6 month appointment=even more confused

So today we went to a PT appointment and Masha remeasured Ava's head and got between 4-5mm (same as Savina did a couple weeks ago) Based on that they would not suggest getting a helmet for Ava. Problem is that CT measured 11mm and Dr Graham measured 14mm. Basically it comes down to anything over 8mm we would want to opt for a helmet. Anyways, I'm just absolutely confused, who's right? I'd much rather focus on Ava's tort and not worry about getting her a helmet...obviously...but then again if she needs it I want her to have it.

Then we went to Bromberg who really didn't have anything to add. I made an appointment with Hanger (another helmet company) for Monday and Bromberg wants to here what they have to say before moving forward. He said surgery is a last resort so wait on seeing Dr McComb at Childrens-the neurosurgeon.

Because of everything that's been going on we decided to give our little buggy a break and only do the oral vaccine today. She actually really liked the way it tasted and gulped it down. Other than the confusion it was a good appointment. Ava is hitting all her milestones, rolling, smiling, cooing, grabbing. No sitting yet but Bromberg didn't even mention it and I know older kids that aren't either so I'm not worried. As for measurements height is 25.25 inches, weight 14 lbs 2 oz and head is 41-Pretty much 20% across the board, my little peanut is growing, slowly but surely :)

John is on his way home from the Lakers Game-Game 7 of the Finals-Another victory!!! Lucky guy got to see 3 out of 7 of the finals games-what the heck??? He traded seeing the badger game in Vegas and footrubs for the rest of the year-so I guess we both lucked out :)

I have to say-her head looks pretty round to me?!?!?

DENIED

So John and I went to Cranial Technologies today and Ava was denied the DOC band due to her severe torticollis. The lady said to keep stretching her and come back in 3 weeks to see if we can do it at that time. My feeling=hopeless. I've been stretching for 6 months...I don't really know if 3 weeks is going to make any significant difference but we're going to give it our best shot. My poor little girl :( I love her with all my heart and just want her to get the help she deserves. I'm not a praying type of gal but I'm seriously praying that these next few weeks make a big enough difference so my baby can get her DOC band.

On a good note-I just posted the cutest video of Ava laughing at her doggies!!! She is seriously the cutest kid ever!!!

Appointment with Dr Graham=Bad News

So we went to Dr Graham last week at Cedars Sinai-he's the craniofacial specialist I've been waiting 2 months to see. Since Bromberg said at 4.5 months that Ava didn't need a helmet I just wanted to get a second opinion from somebody who knows what he's talking about. Anyways, Grandma, Ava and I drove down there last Wednesday and to be honest from what everybody has been telling me I really thought I was wasting all of our time. Even the nurse that checked us in was like "why are you here, for her head??? It looks good to me"

Anyways, we got in to Dr. Graham's office and he started to measure Ava's head. She wasn't thrilled about it but I appreciated that he was actually measuring her rather than "eyeballing" it like Bromberg. After taking many measurements, he said that Ava has "severe" torticollis and that she DOES need the helmet. He said that we need to kick up the stretching to 6-8 times a day daily and keep doing PT once a week for the next 4-6 months. He said that the there is transitional tissue that is tight in Ava's neck and that if I stretch it enough it will transition to muscles; if not it will turn to scar tissue which would have to be surgically removed.

Needless to say, my heart immediately dropped. I feel disappointed that I apparently haven't been doing enough and also really sad that my poor sweetheart has to wear a helmet :( I'm nervous about what people will say and how Ava will react to it. Summer is coming and I hope it's not too hot for her and I hope she can sleep comfortably with it. It's not even on yet and I can't wait til we can get rid of it!

I immediately made an appointment for Cranial Technologies in Pasadena. It's not the closest place, but it's the BEST. John and I are going on Monday so I'll have more to post then.

I've been constantly on the computer looking things up to make me feel better about of situation. Now I'm really worried because even though the helmet will correct her head shape, it does nothing for the tilt. Right now I feel hopeless. I keep on stretching her but every minute of it is hard on both of us. I'm happy I followed my intuition but I definitely doesn't feel good to know that I was right.

Rolling Rolling Rolling

Ava is Rolling both ways as of yesterday!!!! She's now 5 1/2 months old-she was rolling front to back at 3 weeks but just yesterday she rolled back to front :) So proud of my little girl

Also, today was Davis and Ava's first swimming lessons-with lauren berger!!! It went really well, Ava LOVES the water and Davis put his whole head in for the first time!!! I have the best kids ever!

I've been a bad girl

So much has happened in the last month and a half and I haven't written anything! I'm soo bad, then a started another blog to make it easier than signing into my old email address every single time but then I realized that I really need to just stick with this one. I can't keep up with one-why am I even considering two?!?!

So here was my one blog entry to Ava...and a couple recent pictures :)

Dear Precious Little Ava,

A couple weeks ago we moved into our new house and so far you love it! (At least I think you do) I set up your jumperoo and although you seemed a bit confused at first, you're now hopping and playing away! It's really cute because you're still a little small for it-it's supposed to be for 6 months and you're only 5-anyways, you use your big toe on your left foot to help bounce you since it's the only thing that can touch the ground! You now have your own room too-it is full of a cute ladybug theme because you're my little bug. Lately I can't help calling you Buggy-I think it comes from my parents always calling me Bug.

You get more beautiful with everyday. Your face has really rounded out and your getting so big!!! We went to see Caitlin's niece Anna who is 4 weeks old and you looked like a total kid next to her-it scared me a little bit because it's flown by so quickly. You were an adorable newborn but it was hard because you didn't smile and talk and giggle like you do now-now you're really my buddy! I just love the sound of your voice and all the talking you've been doing lately. It's the cutest little coos...at the most appropriate times! Just this week you started talking to strangers a little bit-like the receptionist at the doctors office yesterday-it was so precious to watch you have your own little conversation with her.

You're also a great little sleeper-more so in the new house. Every night we have a routine...we feed you dinner (so far you like carrots, sweet potato, butternut squash, bananas, and apples-I'm starting to make everything homemade) then you get a bath then we give you a bottle and put you to sleep. Your Daddy wakes up and goes to work around 530 and then you wake up at 6 and I bring you into bed with me to cuddle...we end up sleeping til like 8 which is amazing!!

Blowing raspberries on your tummy and your thighs is what makes you giggle most. If I just smile your way you whole face lights up which is priceless. I was looking at our hands today-yours is about half the length of mine now....with your long pretty fingers :) I just love everything about you baby, I'll write again soon.

Mommy

So anyways, the new house is awesome!! I thought I would be running home to the valley everyday but just the other day I was driving down and as soon as I got to Kanan I realized I really just wanted to be HOME! We have the most amazing Target here-I don't know why I'm even writing that-but it's just that awesome!

Today was a really long day for buggy, we went to mygym class than went and saw Babies with Elissa and Landon. I LOVED the movie! I couldn't believe the way animals were just all over the babies the whole movie and how interesting other cultures are. One baby was born then right away they swaddles him up and put him on a motorcycle with his mom, dad, and sister---THE WHOLE FAMILY ON A DINKY LITTLE MOTORCYCLE! The movie just made me realize how much we really do spoil our kids here, which is really fine by me but it's also good to keep in mind that a lot of this stuff is sooo unnecessary. Especially that stupid $20 dog toy "sophie" that I just had to buy! But it was such a cute little giraffe :)

I don't know how much of this I put into the letter but Ava is now sitting while supported, she's eating from her highchair, I make all her food. She still isn't rolling from back to stomach but is rolling stomach to back both ways. I think since I never put her on her back it might take her some extra time but we'll see. We went to the zoo 2 weekends ago-pointless for a 5 month old but Davis enjoyed it. Santa Barbara zoo is beautiful!!!

John is going to Indy this weekend so I'm really sad he's leaving but really happy I get to spend time with Caitlin and go see Sex in the City and go to Elissa's for a Memorial Day BBQ. She's heating the pool up so we can take the babies in :)

On the torticollis issue: I hate to bring this up because it makes me sad and I feel like it already takes over a lot of time spent with my daughter. Just writing about it now has brought tears to my eyes...anyways, I feel like I have to write so that I remember well enough to help others in my situation in the future. I've looked all over the internet for something real about the condition and I've found is medical bullshit-nobody tells you about the voice inside your head yelling at you to turn your babies head or how you should probably put them on there tummy to bed sooner then later. Anyways, today I met another mom who told me her son has torticollis. She's in our mygym class and her son is Rocco. Rocco has many problems she began to tell me about like his lungs not developing properly but she said torticollis is also on the list...he doesn't qualify for a helmet because his head is already so big and they think it's done growing for the most part. Anyways, this is the 4th baby including Ava that I know has been diagnosed. What I hate to hear most is that a lot of the times the doctors miss it at the beginning. In a way I consider myself lucky that Ava's was severe enough that we caught it early.

Anyways, the craniofacial specialist had to cancel our appointment today and rescheduled it for two weeks. After talking to Roccos mom she said it would be best to go straight to Cranial Technology first instead of wasting time with Dr Graham. I've already been waiting over a month so another two weeks really does seem like eternity anyways. I read on the internet that Cranial Tech is only in California so I consider myself very lucky to be close by. I'm really upset because the PT said last time that she's not getting much better so I've been working with her a lot at home on the strengthening exercises but I haven't gone back because A It's a long drive and B I really don't like people telling me that my daughter isn't getting better. I feel like all day everyday I tell myself LEFT, LEFT LEFT-Lisa, she has to look to her left!!! I have even caught myself yelling at John to do the same-it's a horrible way to be, not a fun way to live having a voice in my head yelling LEFT at me ALL DAY LONG. I also get really sad when I look at Ava's reflection. The assymetry to her face is a lot more obvious when I look at her in the mirror-again this brings tears on. The good thing is that all I see is her perfect little face when I look at her...It's the reflection that gets me. Anyways, last night I had another panic attack about the whole thing-thinking, what if she doesn't get better? I already want to look into getting her ear pinned back and the helmet but John tells me I'm just being impatient and that it's a process-that it's not going to happen overnight. Inside I do know that but I feel like it's been many nights with no improvement. I feel guilty too for not going to PT which is probably making things even worse for me. It just seems like now that she's been sleeping on her tummy for a month, now that I got the boppy nest pillow for her carseat, now that I'm doing the exercises ALL the time, I would hope to notice some improvement myself. But then there it is, her reflection, and it just makes me sooo sad. The feeling of helplessness when it comes to your child is the WORST feeling in the world. I've seriously never felt so sick to my stomach. So that's my update for now, it's not a very happy note to end on but it's the way things are right now.

4 month appointment

Ava,

We got to see Dr Bromberg today who said you are doing perfectly! He also told me I look super skinny so we're both huge fans of his today! As for measurements, you're now 24" long which is the 50th percentile-you moved up! Your weight is 12 lbs 6 oz which was still in the 25th percentile...so you're tall and thin, which you'll be happy about when you grow up :)

Dr Bromberg also gave you your 4 month shots today while I stood outside-I can't stand to watch you in pain! Apparently you didn't even feel the first shot but after the 2nd one I ran in and comforted you-you only cried for a second, you're such a good sport. Dr. Bromberg also noticed how sweet you are....You're my sweet little baby! Sometime when you smile you hide your face like you're a little shy, it's the cutest thing in the world!

So after the appointment we stopped and said hi to Daddy then went shopping with Greatgrandma Marilyn. Grandma bought you a cute new outfit and a few toys from Target. At Target we had a blast letting you pick out your favorites which were a little cell phone and a cute little vibrating froggy that made you giggle. Grandma LOVED hearing you giggle :)

4 months old

4 months old already! Wow time flies. I feel like Ava has really grown up the last couple weeks too. First of all, we have giggles! She giggled for me once on the changing table a couple weeks ago, then last week she thought the word "poop" was really funny, then this Monday she giggled a bunch for Elissa. I'm a little bit jealous that Elissa was so good at making her laugh but I'm really happy I was able to catch it on video. Also Ava has gotten really good at grabbing things-especially my hair and her o ball! My hair has really started falling out now, it she's not helping matters.

We went to our first My Gym class yesterday in Thousand Oaks, it was hilarious! They have a warm up session to stretch and dance and sing then they do activities like flying and tumbling and swings. We're definitely going to continue with the class-next time I'll take some more pictures but Elissa was able to get this one of the kids while they were getting a ride from Yukov-I think.

We also went to our mothers gathering class today where the topic was sleep. Jill said that now is the time where we should be putting them down to sleep while they are awake-we've been rocking ava to sleep while swaddled in her miracle blanket. So tonight I thought I would just give it a shot so I put her down drowsy without being swaddled at all...and it worked!!!! She's went to sleep at 8, then I did a dream feed at 10 and it's now midnight and she's still sleeping :) Now my only problem is that I can't get to sleep because I'm feeling really sick :(

Physical Therapy is going well, this week they said she went down from 8mm to 6 mm so that's a nice improvement. I'm working on taking Ava to a cranial specialist to have her measured more accurately so we'll see how that goes. I'm going to do everything possible to make sure she gets the best care possible. Our 4 month appointment is next Friday so I'll probably ask Bromberg more about it then. I also weighed Ava today and she was 12 pounds 5 ounces-my little peanut is growing!!!! By her 4 month maybe she'll be 13 pounds???