HESS

After much consideration we had decided that Riley needed a helmet.

 It was a tough decision for us to make because he was so close to not needing one. One side of his head was a little flatter than the other and the back was flat in general. We know a little of the flatness is genetic but the flat side we knew was not.

Riley's doctor had told us that different positioning during nap times and bed times would put pressure on the opposite side and would typically pop it out.  It was such a task to create his sleeping area in his crib to make him forced to not roll over. So when we were going to our regular Dr. check ups month after month it really wasn't getting better. Though to some people the shape was very unnoticeable. So our doctor sent us to a physical therapist to make sure that all the options for it were ruled out (head was turning okay, he didn't mind tummy time, etc.). So once again her recommendations after 3 months of appointments with her- were sleep positioning again.
When we went to our final appointment with the therapist and she was taking measurements... she told us, "you know...most parents ask me the same question... if this was your kid what would you do? But you guys haven't?" We had to tell her that was because it was so close to nothing...but was something. She knew that, we knew that. It was so clear that it wasn't a huge deal. So we decided that the only person that could actually tell us if a helmet would even help was the people who make them.

So we made an appointment with the prosthetics place, we to the appointment... and his advice was that if our insurance would cover it... he knew it would help. He said that it wasn't bad enough to bust our bank over.

So I prayed about it, got a good feeling, and knew Heavenly Father would help us take care of it.

I also talked to somebody who had a physical birth defect at birth. He told me that he was SO glad his parents took care of that for him.
Our insurance covered 80% of it so we were glad about that. And when we found out that 20% was $648 we were like, seriously!? But we had already decided we'd do it.
We went in for the casting. That's this picture here.
He had told us earlier that babies do NOT like this part. No baby likes their head constricted. I guess it makes them very mad. So I was really nervous about it.

But you know what? He did fine. Not even a cry out of him.
They put 4 large sheets of plaster on his head which he has to wear for 20-30 minutes. By the time it was all on he could hardly hold his head up on his own it was so heavy. That was the saddest part of it all. We had to scrape off the plaster that got on his face and arms at home. It broke my heart. You have this brand new perfect little baby and its strange when you feel like you're doing something totally out of the ordinary with him. But I'm sure by the time we have more kids, things like this won't bother us.

We're just so proud of our little buddy. He surprises us everytime when handles everything so well!

We had to wait two weeks for them to make the helmet. We went in on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to get it fitted and take it home. When he first brought it out I panicked and my thought was, "okay, that is just as flat as his head is...????" It was exactly the same mold as his head shape. So he tried it on then drew some lines to trim it around the face and ears. The doctor came back tried it on...left...came back...tried it on...left... Apparently, each time he would leave he would the helmet take out and heat it up to make more helmet room on the side that needed. It took him about four times. By the time he was finished, I felt so good about it. 

 For Thanksgiving my mom had rented a cabin in Pine Valley and we were staying over night there. We decided we'd try the helmet his first night sleeping at home where he was comfortable. So he wore it from Friday to Monday when we had to go in for the check up appointment.

I can't tell you have relieving it was to look at his head only after 4 days and see a significant difference. At our appointment the doctor said he could see a big difference too! He said that usually its never noticeable this soon... but sometimes you catch a baby right in the middle of a growth spurt and its possible.

Sure doctors and medicine fix things... but Jake and I know that its true Faith and Prayer that make the most difference always. The original time frame was about 3 months. So we'll see how that goes.

 As for him wearing it...

He's still our happy little guy. Doesn't faze him in the least. Crawling around like its nothing.
Which by the way, this is how he originally learned to crawl. Hands and feet. It was so funny. He looked like a monkey! He's using knees now only on the carpet. Tile is still hands and feet.




The only major downside at the moment-
        He sweats. That why we ended up cutting his hair. So glad we aren't doing this through the summer. The doctor warned us that it was part of wearing the helmet. He said that we let heat out the top of our head which we all know. But the helmet isn't letting heat out. So he said that eventually he would form sweat capillaries in other parts of his body to let heat out. Babies apparently don't have them quite yet. But since cutting his hair he doesn't sweat as much which is good.

 But he's doing great. I think it was more of a major deal for his parents than anything.

 Other than that...everythings good in the Hess House.

We took Riley to see the lights that the temple. He really loves looking at lights! He babbles so much when we drive by them so we know he's enjoying them. We just wish it wasn't so cold out at night.

 Still teething. Four little teethers and two more coming in on top. 

We're all also pretty sure he'll be walking at 9 months. He's been taking steps on his own and learning his balance. He finally quit flapping his arms like a seal when he stands on his own. That really wasn't working out for him.  By Christmas...we'll see!