My pumpkin is not round...but it's big!!

So I started this blog because I got really tired of emailing, texting, calling, facebooking, etc. all different people to discuss Charlie and how he is doing and such. I figure this way I can update in one spot and send everyone here!

Here is a brief back story on Charlie and his head. So at his two month check up Dr. Richardson (his Pediatrician) noticed that one side of the back of his head was flatter than the other. At that time she recommended that we focus on alternating which side of his head we lay him on, etc. but to watch him because it could be caused by a neck issue. Apparently 80% of babies with flat spots get them because they have tight muscles in their neck and don't like to turn their head one way. At that time he wasn't really as active and we didn't really notice a neck issue. Now, within the last week or so I became concerned that he did indeed have a neck issue because he always seemed to look to his right and almost never to his left. So we went in to see Dr. Richardson and she agreed that he has Torticollus (tight muscle in the neck). Also, she noticed that his flat spot has gotten worse and was starting to cause facial asymmetry. So she gave us some neck stretches to do at home, referred us to a Physical Therapist that will be coming to our house once a week and referred us to Cranial Technologies to get his little head fixed. As far as the neck goes, he is already showing better range of motion with just one day of at home stretches so that looks promising. We went to Cranial Tech this morning and they've recommended he start treatment with a DOC band (those white helmets you see some babies wearing). They are running our insurance to see if they cover (Please God let them cover...that thing is EXpensive) and will then schedule his initial session where he gets fitted for the band. The good news is that we caught it early. The earliest they treat patients at CT is 3 months and Charlie is 3 months 10 days. The Dr. there said it should only take 6-8 weeks of the band to fix his head. It is kind of a bummer, he has to wear it 23 hours a day and of course it isn't the most inconspicuous thing, but in the long run, it is what he needs and we are grateful we caught the problem now.

Also...Charlie is getting so big!! He weighed 14 lbs 15.5 oz at the Pediatrician yesterday...that is in the 75th percentile. He has come a long way from the 5 lbs 11 oz at birth!

So that's the story for now. I will update with info and pictures as things progress. For now we are enjoying our little (big) pumpkin every moment watching him learn and grow. He is so smiley and is such a talker (is anyone surprised considering his father? :) and he is just beautiful... misshapen head and all!

Our little longhorn...

Charlie chatting with me...