Week One of the Cranial Remolding Band (aka Helmet)

Ansel just finished his first week of wearing his cranial remolding band, aka helmet, and it's going well. Overall he's a pretty chill baby anyway, and he eased into the helmet without a problem. Over the past week, he gradually built up his time wearing the helmet until he was wearing all 23 hours a day. Day one was one hour on, one hour off. Day two was two hours on, one hour off, and so on for the rest of the week until he wore it all day. The one hour that we take it off is the hour that we clean it with a mild soap and let it dry out. He hasn't acted like it is hindering him or getting in the way, and continues to play, smile, and eat normally, although his head has been a little sweaty. The specialists say that will go away after a few weeks as his head adjusts to having it on. I am just glad that he is wearing it in the winter, because he is hot-blooded, and I bet he would be sweating like crazy if he had it in the summer.

I was concerned with being able to breastfeed with the helmet. It's not very large, maybe a 1/2 inch thick, but is difficult to nurse in the cradle hold. When I'm home, it's easy enough to nurse side-lying on the bed with the helmet on (hello, naptime after work for momma!) but I just take it off to nurse if he is nursing in the cradle hold. I check with the doctor today about that and he said it was just fine to take it off for that 20-30 minutes when I need to nurse. It's just now that I've gotten the hang of nursing, I don't really want to give it up. Plus, of course, I know it's better for Ansel and cheaper too!

He continues to have therapy for the torticollis once a week, plus we do stretching and even more tummy time than before at home. I see the improvements and the therapist has told me that she is very happy with his progress and he is right on pace with the other milestones like sitting, which makes me feel so much better.

We decided to design the helmet as Captain America's helmet. I really wanted it to look like some kind of a real-life helmet, not just a design (though there were some cute "fixin' my flat" designs). So I spray-painted it blue, then added the "A" and wings decals with puffy paint, and covered the whole thing with Mod Podge. I need to go over it again with a clear spray paint because the Mod Podge doesn't hold up to water the best.

To be honest, I never would have wanted all these issues, and of course prayed for a healthy baby. Between therapy, consultations, helmet fittings, and normal checkups, we have had around 15 appointments in the two months, with most of those in the last month. I'm ready to have my evenings at home back! But of course I know this is best for him, and want his little head to be round and normal like everyone else. I keep trying to trust God and look to Him for strength on those tired days. Somehow I am getting close to seven hours of sleep a night, and can make it on that much. One thing that I am really struggling with lately is keeping up with my Bible reading. It's just so hard to fit it in. I know I could read on my phone while nursing, but I just don't feel like I can focus like I should then. And with working, my evenings are  maxed out with just keeping up with dinner and chores. I'm not doing a bunch of extra cleaning or something either, just the minimum. (Like dishes get done about twice a week! Bathrooms? haha.... twice a month maybe...) We teach Sunday School twice a month, host a weekly Bible study, I try to participate in Meal Trains... I know everyone is busy, and I'm not saying mine is worse or anything. I'm just saying I'm struggling to get my Bible reading in, and it is frustrating because I have always been super consistent on reading every day. The truth is, I really miss it and long for that intimacy with God. So I am determined to find a way to make time. Maybe just 20 minutes, but I have to find a way. I need the Word. NEED it. Pray for me if you can, that I will be able to make time to read. Shoot, even writing this post takes time, which I could be reading! And I realize that, but I know several people wanted updates on Ansel, so I wanted to be able to do that for them. Sigh. Balance. It's so elusive.