Tattoos and Drool

I’ll let her give you the update herself.

Hi everyone! It’s me, Avonlea.

Can you guess why I’m so happy? No, it’s not because I have the coolest mom ever*, although I do smile about that quite often. (*Disclaimer, I was not paid by my mommy in any way to mention her awesomeness. Unless you count breastmilk as payment.)

Last week I went and saw a nice lady doctor at the children’s hospital. She looked at my head and made me hold real still, which I didn’t like much. And she made me lay strapped down on this cold table so they could take pictures of the bones inside my head. That wasn’t fun either. But after all that, she told me that I don’t have to have surgery! And I don’t have to worry about that big long C word any more. Just the long P one, which means I need to wear a helmet for a little while. But that’s okay. As long as I don’t have to have any surgery!

I was kind of scared when they told me I had to wear a helmet. What if it hides my gorgeous long locks? But my mom said she would get it painted real pretty for me, maybe even with Hello Kitty, which is my favorite. So I guess it won’t be so bad. I have to wear it 23 hours a day, and from the look on my mom’s face, that’s a pretty long time. I don’t know, I haven’t figured this number thing out yet. I especially need to wear it while I sleep though, since sleeping in my most favorite position is what made my head flat.

After we finished at the doctor, we went to a place that makes all kinds of orthotics and prosthetics to have a mold made of my head. I had to sit on my mommy’s lap with a sheet of crinkly paper between us. I was pretty stoked about it at first.

Then a man put a stocking over my head and I got a little scared. He said it was to protect me from the plaster.

But all it made me want to do was turn around and snuggle into my mommy’s shoulder.

The process started and it wasn’t quite as bad as I expected. The man put a big piece of cloth dipped in plaster across the back of my head. I was nice and calm.

I got pretty mad at the end though when he had to press pretty hard on my head and hold me really still again. I really, really don’t like being held down. So I yelled at everyone to get away.

It was over really fast after that though, and I was back to my happy self! They told us we would get the helmet in about two weeks. I’m getting kind of excited about it and can’t wait to see how my new round head makes me even prettier.

Thanks for checking on me!

Love,
Miss Avonlea

Hello world

Hi internet. How’s it going?

I decided to take an unannounced bloggy break. I tend to do that. I’m so far behind on my blog reader and Twitter that I don’t know if I’ll ever get caught up. So please forgive me. I still love you, promise!

I’m posting today because Avonlea had a checkup with the pediatrician to address a couple concerns I’ve been having. And, well, I could use as many positive thoughts right now as possible so I had to share it with the internetz. <3

So. First off, we're starting Prilosec for reflux to hopefully cure the nightly screaming that I am seriously completely exhausted with. That, coupled with the projectile sleep-vomiting, points to reflux. Sigh.

And, as expected, we will be seeing a plastic surgeon at Riley. I know I’ve mentioned a couple times that babygirl has a flat spot. We’ve been watching it virtually since birth, and it has progressed from just a flat spot to a very defined deformity, complete with ear misalignment. I’ve been pretty much obsessing over it for four months and decided to move forward with an evaluation, despite everyone telling me it’s “not that bad.”

Well, the doctor took one look and didn’t hesitate, so it must be worse than she’s used to seeing. But, I knew that was coming. Now I just hope that our appointment is soon so I don’t have too much time to consult Dr. Google and lose my mind over it.

Right now there are two possibilities – plagiocephaly which is what I was originally thinking, or craniosynostosis. Which is harder to say and a lot scarier. Positional plagiocephaly is generally just from remaining in one position for too long, which causes the deformation. Treatment would likely be the cranial band, which she would hopefully only need for 8-10 weeks. Craniosynostosis, on the other hand, is congenital and involves the skull plates fusing too soon. Treatment is surgery. On my baby’s SKULL. Ear to ear incision. Hospital stay. Recovery. NO. So yeah, we’ll take the baby helmet, please.

I did read that taking certain prescription drugs during pregnancy can increase the occurance of plagiocephaly.. one of those drugs is sertraline (Zoloft) which I took until 27 weeks. So, there’s hope that it’s the lesser of two evils since all signs are pointing to that right now. Positive thoughts are greatly appreciated.

In case you’re curious, here’s what we’re dealing with.

The dot marks the middle of her forehead.

That’s my boy

It could be worse

In other Expenses We Totally Can’t Afford or Control news, one of our cats is sick. I don’t know WHY he’s sick or what to do to make him better, because although I thought that by throwing away over two hundred bucks at the vet for antibiotics and bloodwork and an x-ray and whatever else, we might get an answer – apparently that isn’t the case. Nope. Looks like you can do that and still be at square one, which involves the cat hiding out under the couch and leaving regurgitated stomach bile in random spots around the house.

It’s been fun, can’t you tell?

And of course, leave it to my kids to put things into perspective. I asked each boy what he was thankful for, expecting the typical Mommy Daddy Grandma House answer.

Wrong.

Sawyer is thankful for “quesadillas, balloons and dandelions that float in the air.” While Beckett’s list wasn’t quite as whimsical or profound (eating food, crackers, burgers and dinner), it too left me refreshed and a little less gloom and doom.

Like, really, how can you be depressed when there is a plant right outside in your front yard that, with a simple breath, sends dozens of tiny magical puffs of awesomeness floating into the sky? You can’t, mom. Now make yourself a dang caysa-dilla and get happy.

So. My thankful list this week? Cheap mailboxes at Menards. Cool neighbors. No cavities. An extra third bathroom to contain a pukey cat. Burger King’s cupcake shake (you sweet, sinful thing, you).

And also, indoor cats that don’t eat a mouse and then hurl it back up, whole, on my basement floor. (Sorry about that, Mom.)

Yeah, it could be worse.

Happy Halloween (and a swift middle finger)

Costumes were a hit, trick-or-treating was a success, loads of candy that will mostly be eaten by me was procured.

They looked freakin’ cute.

And, the neighborhood assholes teenagers left us a lovely “trick.” How adorable of them.

And the community we live in? Why, it’s so fabulous that not only will the homeowners association (which we pay a ridiculous amount in fees to) NOT cover the repair costs, they will also drive by and give us a ticket and a fine if we don’t have it fixed immediately. Welcome to suburbia!