Plagiocephaly

As you have probably noticed, Emma is now wearing a helmet.  Here's why.

When I was 20 weeks pregnant with Emma, we went in for a detailed ultrasound, to check for any possible problems, and to find out her gender!

Along with finding out that she was a girl (yay!), we also saw that she was facing left in the womb.

From that time on, every ultrasound we had showed that she was facing left.  So, I wasn't totally surprised when she was born in transverse position, that is, head facing left.

 She continued this preference for facing left as she grew older. 

Because Emma was spending so much time looking left, the muscles on the right side of her neck weren't getting enough exercise.  As a result, her neck got tight on the right and she couldn't look right as easily as she could look left.  She also got a flat spot on the back of her head, because it was staying in the same position so much. 

 

Emma's doctor diagnosed her with torticollis and plagiocephaly and referred us to a physical therapist to help strengthen her neck muscles. 

We love her therapist.  He has been super kind and very helpful with Emma.  We started out with a couple of neck stretches on her for 2-3 minutes, 3 times a day.

Here's what her stretches look like:

Note: Emma does not hate her stretches this much (I promise we're not baby torturers!!!).  These photos were taken after a full therapy session, when she was really tired.  She normally doesn't mind them too much.

 After we got the hang of the stretches, Emma's therapist increased them to 15 minutes, 4 times a day.  It's a lot of work, but her neck strength is improving a lot.  Getting her to hold funky positions for 15 minutes at a time is tricky too, but my sister gave us some Baby Einstein dvds and they are great distractions.

We kept doing the stretches, and also worked on tummy time (an hour a day to help strengthen her neck muscles) and repositioning Emma to help her face right more often, but after a couple of months her head still wasn't reshaping itself well enough., so her physical therapist referred us to an orthotics office to see about getting a helmet for Emma.

So, that's why Emma needs a hemet-- to help correct her flat head.

Stay tuned for another post with more details about the process of getting a helmet, how the helmet works, and how it is going so far!

Baking buddies

I'm glad to have my little helper around when I make bread!

Diapers

If you meet a dirty diape
Do not let it stay!
Quickly change the diaper out
and throw the mess away!

No one likes a stinky diape-
Change it for a fresh!
Make the world a better place
by throwing out the mess!

Naptime Reflections

I'm so glad when Emma takes naps!
Glad as I can be!

Clap my hands and shout for joy
then hurry and tidy

Get my scripture study done
Practice piano, too

Curl up and read a book . . .
then I nap too!

Watch Out World!

Watch out, world!  Emma is eating solid foods!

What is this stuff?

Hmm . . . interesting.

I like it!!!

Pregnancy-- the real truth

This week I had an epiphany.

I had eaten breakfast in the morning, and a short while later, I was already hungry again, thanks to the growing child inside of me.  As I started frying up an egg, I joked to Spencer about my never-ending hunger.

That's when it hit me.

I know what's going on here . . .

Pregnancy changes women into hobbits!

Think about it. 

When we're pregnant, we get fatter, hairier, and need to eat every two hours!

Totally hobbit-like.

I just hope my baby turns out to be a normal human, and not a baby hobbit.

Now, please excuse me-- it's time for my second breakfast.  Mmm.

A Baby For Becky

Today I want to share an opportunity for you to help someone in need-- our friend, Becky Soderquist.  

I first met Becky at Timpview High School, where I was impressed by how kind and cheerful she always was.  She knew my sisters first, but was quick to befriend me and make me feel included.  I really appreciated her kindness, as I was very shy.

Fast forward a few years and Spencer and I are now happily married and enjoying Spencer's position as a hall advisor for BYU.  Becky, coincidentally, is also a hall advisor.  She's a great hall advisor and a very loving mother to her daughter, Julia.

Becky struggles with infertility.  It's a surprisingly common problem-- 1 in 10 couples will struggle with infertility.  It's a very heartbreaking, exhausting, and expensive disease.  Becky will either need special treatments to help her become pregnant, or she will need to adopt.  Both are very expensive.

Becky is selling some beautiful resurrection-themed easter eggs to help raise the money for a baby.  The eggs are made of the finest quality materials and contain scriptures from the Easter story and items that represent those scriptures.  They are a wonderful way to teach young children the story and meaning of Christ's resurrection.  I haven't had a chance to see these eggs yet, but we have a simpler version that we love.  All proceeds from these eggs will go directly to Becky's baby fund.

If you are able to, please consider buying a set of these eggs to help Becky.  It would mean a lot to her and us.  This is something that is very near and dear to my heart because we have also been struggling with infertility.  I know firsthand how difficult, painful, and expensive infertility is.  Any support you can give would be greatly appreciated.

You can purchase the resurrection eggs here: http://traditionswetreasure.com/product/easter-story-eggs/.

If you can't afford the full price, you can donate any amount to help Becky here: http://traditionswetreasure.com/product/baby-becky-fundraiser/. 
 

Please consider donating, even if it's just a dollar or two.  Every little bit helps.

If you really can't afford to donate anything, please don't feel pressured.  I understand that not everyone is at a point where they can spare the money.  But, I would ask that you at least spread the word and let people know about the Resurrection eggs.  It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the true spirit of Easter by helping someone in need.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, That  . . . ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy . . . In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

       --John 16: 20, 33