Pasta, anyone?

Gracie is normally pretty serious, but from time to time, she gives us a big 'ole smile. This one is a partial smile (I think she knew I wanted a picture of her). However, she was in the church nursery yesterday, and the girls told me she giggled and jabbered the whole time I was gone. I think she likes to be around the other babies.

Well, we have worked Gracie back into her helmet. Amy, Gracie's orthotist, drilled holes in the back of the helmet to allow air to, hopefully, cool her scalp. It looks like a colander! The holes are only on one side because the right side (from the back) is the part that literally pushes on her head. It is called the "holding spot". The idea is to hold the round side in place while the flat side is allowed to grow into the round part of the helmet. So far, so good! She has developed a few rashy areas, but I am trying new ways to keep her body cool while she sleeps. Based on Gracie's non-stop eating patterns lately, I think she is going through a growth-spurt. That means this is prime head-shaping time! Grow Baby, Grow! (and round that head out at the same time)

The girls are still doing well. Gracie is sitting up, and she scoots across the room. Hanna changes her mind about being a big sister by the day. One day she loves Gracie and wants to play with her, and the next day she decides that Gracie is an annoyance. Ha! My favorite part of the day is when the girls are at the kitchen table during breakfast and lunch. They giggle and carry on about silly things. Gracie can't take her eyes off of her big sister. Hanna is definitely Gracie's favorite person whether Hanna likes her or not!

It's Been a While...

Yep, it's been a while since I have posted. Initially, it was because all was well, and there was nothing interesting to say. That has all changed! Gracie has started developing a heat rash under her helmet. Each time we must remove the helmet to allow healing. This is causing much lost time. We had thought she would be out of the helmet by now or within the next month (at the longest). Her progress was super in the beginning! However, for some reason she is developing these rashes (which are painful, itchy, and ooze). It took eight days to heal the rash the last time. When all seemed well, I put the helmet back on for one night. I removed it in the morning to find that the redness and bumpiness had developed all over again. Kiddo has spent a lot of time in oatmeal baths, and her hair always looks grey from powder. She doesn't mind, though. I have the most tolerant kid I have ever known!

The pediatrician said Gracie's skin needs to breathe more. Our orthotist is drilling small holes in the back of the helmet for airflow, and she is making the hole on top wider. When Gracie's head is healed, I will begin a schedule similar to the one we used in the beginning...an hour on, an hour off, etc. If the rashes continue, we will try a new kind/brand of helmet. A company makes one that doesn't use any padding. It could be that the padding is causing all of the problems.

We will just have to see what the future holds for Gracie's Little Noggin! Whatever it is, her head is looking great. I am grateful that she has had the opportunity to come this far in her treatment. She's a great kid!

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Hanna is doing well. She went back to school on Tuesday, and she was happy to be back. We had a fun winter break together, though. We spent six days with Aunt Mellie and Uncle Paulo in Portland. It was fun, and Hanna was spoiled big time! She had her own room at Mellie and Paulo's (complete with Barbies, games, and coloring books), we went to Seaside, OR and visited a carousel and arcade, we visited OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), and we spent an evening at Chuck E. Cheese.