CT Scan and Surgery Date / Pics

CT Scan & Surgery Date

I planned on putting up a quick blog post yesterday, but the 3 hours of sleep we got that night was catching up with me! :)

First-- Thank you SOO much for all the prayers!  

We had to be at Brenner's Children's Hospital at 7:45AM for Reid's CT scan..... Leave the house at 6:45AM with 2 infants? Sure, no prob! Ha. (My mom had lil man.)  I had to set my alarm for 4:45AM to give Reid his last feeding in case they needed to sedate him.  I did NOT want him sedated if at all possible. 

They took us back around 8:15.  Of course, Reid wouldn't lay still for the scan because he's used to practically eating every hour!  After they ruled out sedation (b/c they forgot he was premature), our last ditch effort was to allow me to nurse him, swaddle him, and pray like crazy.  We did and thankfully he slept through the whole scan!  WHEW!

Purpose of the CT scan:
-To confirm that the plates in his skull were fused and to make sure his brain looked ok.  Both were found to be true.

Next step:
-Surgery on Sept 4th.  They pushed it back a month to make sure the bones in his skull could handle the tension of the springs.

Other details I learned:
-We will be able to start seeing a difference in his head shape about 6 weeks after the springs are placed in between the fused plates.

-His head will continue to widen the next 4 months while the springs push the plates apart.

-While the springs are in, Reid will wear a protective helmet at least 22hrs out of the day to protect the big soft spot "valley" created by the springs.  

-By the end of the 4 months(ish), his skull will have formed new bone in the "valley".  He should be left with just the normal 2 soft spots.   (That's fast! CRAZY!)

-Then the springs will be taken out in outpatient surgery.  

-The doctor says by age 2.5 to 3 you shouldn't even be able to tell he had this issue.  :)

My question: Why did this happen in the 1st place? 
- Dr. David said (in my paraphrased words) this was not a genetic issue or caused by anything I had done. It was simply a communication error in the cell level.  The cells in the plates told them it was time to fuse together way before it was actually time.  It was kind of a coincidence occurrence, although it's a common issue that she deals with.  


Soooo... it looks like we will just go about our normal lives until his surgery on Sept 4th.  Thanks again for all the prayers!! 

Pics

Here is a picture of my sweet babies at 1 month.  They aren't too happy, but you can see the difference here in their head shape.  I'm anxious to see how different his head will look at Christmas!  

Stella at 1 month: Sweet baby girl with a feisty side ;)

Reid at 1 month: This pic made me laugh!  "What-choo-lookin'-at?!"

Screenshot of the BEST YouTube video ever! My BFF from college's mom told me about it.  It puts my screaming kids to sleep in seconds!!

My wonderful husband arranged for me to have a girls night with the bestie last week! 

Spectator Magnet

Spectator Magnet

So obviously, most of our time is spent at home. If I think I need to go somewhere, I usually change my mind after visualizing getting out with my highly active 2 year old and 2 one-month old babies who prefer to literally be attached to my chest 24/7. .... "Nawwww, we don't need milk for our cereal. Water will suffice."

But lately I have been going stir-to-the-flippin-crazy. I've been grabbing any available friend or family member to help me get out of the house before it completely closes in on me.

For some reason, when about 2 out of 3 random strangers see this sweaty mommy pushing her 3 lil ones in the 'tram', they feel compelled to stop and have this identical conversation. Every. Stinkin. Time.

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Stranger: "Ohhhh!!! (*insert their germy head waaaay too close to my babies*) Are they twins?"

Me: (*fake smile*) Yes.

Stranger:  "Is it two boys?!"

Me: (*Yes, that's why I dressed one in blue and one in pink with a headband*) "No, a boy and a girl."

Stranger:  "Are they identical?"

Me: (*Yep! Completely identical! Besides the whole penis and vagina thing. Oh, and the fact that they look nothing alike. Seriously people, boy/girl twins cannot be identical. Insert half a fake smile.*) "No, they aren't." 

Stranger:  "Do twins run in your family?"

Me: (*Why ask this?! If we were friends, I'd tell you about our infertility issues. But I don't know you from Adam...avoiding eye contact now.*) "Nope!"

Stranger:  *insert long story about someone they know who has twins*

Me: (*Trying to chase down my two year old and calm a baby.*) "ohhhh." 

Stranger:  "Well you sure have your hands full."

Me: (*Doing my best to walk away*) "Yep! Sure do."

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For real-- that conversation happens every aisle at the grocery store and every so-many feet anywhere else! I don't mean to sound rude, but just 'smile' at us and let me get in and out as fast as possible!!  Thank you!!

Side note: I don't mind stopping and talking to my friends. Most of them anyway.  ;)

Another side note: before I had the babies, I shared this YouTube video on facebook that my friend showed me. Scary how accurate it has become!! Video still makes me laugh. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT-lgB_HGEE

Last side note: Our family and friends rock. Thank you sooooo much for all your help!!!