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.