JTOK Chatter > 2009 > Page 6

Year: 2009

My Letter to Owen

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Dearest Owen,

You got your helmet today. It was a rough day for us—we know it’s the best thing for you and we know you won’t remember it AT ALL—but it still breaks our hearts knowing we have to put you through this. Your poor mommy is so emotional anyway, that just thinking about you having to wear a helmet for months brings tears to her eyes. We never knew how hard it would be to be a parent at times like this.

But you were a trooper, like always. You never cried or whined or anything like we thought and worried might happen. You’re such a good little boy. And you’re as cute as a bug in your helmet!

You just have to know that we want the very best for you. If we could make your life perfect with a snap of the fingers, we would do without hesitation…but unfortunately life doesn’t work that way.

But your dad and I will do our best to make this helmet a fun experience for you. We will only be positive about the helmet. We will try to educate people who might stare or point fingers. And heaven knows we will take a thousand cute pictures for you to have forever (and maybe, just maybe, to potentially embarrass you with when you bring home your first girlfriend!).

We love you, peanut. You are the very best thing that has ever happened to us. You are healthy and happy and we couldn’t ask for more. (Well, I might ask that you start sleeping through the night consistently because mommy is T-I-R-E-D, but that’s a letter for another day.) Soon enough this will all be over, and you will be even cuter than anyone ever thought possible. Trust me. I’m your mom—I know.

Love,
Mom

Owen has a helmet!

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Just to be on the safe side, I called in the morning to MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE they 1) had the helmet and 2) it was the right one. They couldn’t check it at that exact moment (from the gist of the conversation, it seems only the specialist can open the box?). But I was assured it would be double-checked as soon as he was free, and we would get a call if there was a problem. We didn’t get a call, so it was off to Livonia to try on the helmet and get it fitted! Tom was able to go, so I was happy about that.

Our “substitute” specialist was nice, but it will be good to see our regular guy again (I am sure they are both equally qualified, but the guy we saw today made sure we know they do things a little differently from one another).

So without further ado…here’s Owen the first time he tried the helmet on:

Making the marks of where to cut it out for his ears and around his face:

The burp cloth is there because he just ate, hadn’t burped, and we wanted to be prepared. Oh, and still making marks and checking the fit:

Just one of those cute baby faces we didn’t know we got until we looked at the pics afterward. It just makes me laugh…because he really wasn’t uncomfortable or upset or anything:

TA DA!

On the way home…since it was past nap time, he was out in a few minutes. But isn’t he cute?

He only had the helmet on for 45 minutes (it takes 5 days to work up to the 23 hours a day thing) and look how sweaty his head is! I can’t FATHOM what it will be after 23 hours! Hoo boy. And they said after a while, there’s no real way to clean it. Lordy.

So, the first day he has to wear it one hour, then off an hour, then on an hour, etc., and no naps or nighttime. The next day, it’s two hours on/one hour off with no naps or nighttime. The third day it’s four hours on/one hour off but then including naps and nighttime. Day four is eight hours on/one hour off plus naps and nighttime. And then day 5 we jump to wearing it 23 hours. We only get to take it off for an hour to bathe him and let the helmet air out. (Although, he did say we could take it off for like 15 minutes here and there throughout the day to dry his head and let it air out IF he’s truly a big sweater. We assured him he IS. I really don’t think they believe us. Oh, and there are holes in the back of the helmet, but it’s not for air flow—it’s so they can look in and check how his head is fitting. They guy assured us that more holes did NOT help with air flow.)

I think this helmet it going to be WAY STINKY in a month or so, considering how much the boy sweats. I mean, seriously. His head sweats just laying on your arm for a 15 minute feeding! And his hair was soaked from just the 45 minutes he wore it on the way home! It can be cleaned, but not REALLY cleaned—they say you can wipe it out with rubbing alcohol or try to get rid of any smells with nail polish remover. You aren’t supposed to put powder in it and you can’t use Febreeze or anything chemical because it’s touching his head and could cause an allergic reaction.

It’s also going to be a challenge for the next few days—as it’s nearly impossible for one person to manage the helmet alone. It takes two hands to open it/put it on…so it really is necessary to have someone hold the boy while the other person puts it on. If he would sit on his own (which he can almost do, but not well enough to sit STILL for helmet placement) it would be doable. At least it’s the weekend and Tom will be around for the most part, and by next week maybe I will have mastered the art of baby wrangling with my legs so I can put the helmet on alone.

The worst part of the day was that he missed his 1pm and 3pm naps—he had about a 30 minute catnap on the way there and back, but anything less than an hour doesn’t count as a NAP (according to my sleep expert book!)…so he’s extremely cranky at the moment not wanting to sleep but desperately needing to.

Wait.

The mobile has stopped and I only hear ever-so-faint whimpering and heavy breathing. I think he’s finally out. Phew.

Oh crap.

He sneezed and woke himself up. Now he’s fussy and screeching again. DAMMIT.

Anyhoo…I still can’t fathom him having to wear this for the next X number of months. We asked when he will have to be rescanned (to see how much his head has changed shape) and we were told maybe at eight weeks or maybe not until 16 weeks since we should be able to tell just by looking at him. Eight weeks? 16 weeks? Logically I know it’s going to be that long—but actually hearing it out loud was another story. SIXTEEN WEEKS….FOUR MONTHS. That’s a long time. 🙁

That said, they said we might be able to see some changes within 2-3 weeks, so I’m really looking forward to that and hoping we do…just so I can SEE it working.

We do, however, have to go back for bi-weekly checkups. Except for the first one, which they like to schedule for one week. Unfortunately our guy still won’t be back from vacation, so that means we either get a SECOND new guy if we don’t want to drive to Livonia—or we get to see the same guy we saw today, but we have to drive the distance to Livonia. GRRRR.

P.S. It’s now 5:21 and someone STILL isn’t asleep. And he’s been fed AND changed. Hoo boy. He needs to sleep so we can get the helmet on him again for a bit tonight before he has to go to bed!

Helmet Appointment

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Today was the day Owen was supposed to get his helmet. Yes, SUPPOSED to get his helmet.

We were fit into the schedule for today because our specialist was going on vacation for 1.5 weeks. Luckily we only had to drive about 15 minutes, as the appointment was in Southfield (versus Livonia, where we had to go for the laser scan). I picked up Tom, and off we went.

As we were waiting in the exam room, we heard our guy (the specialist) say to his assistant, “It should still be in the box. It’s probably not even opened yet.” And we didn’t think anything of it.

Fast forward a few minutes when he comes into the room to apologize—seems they sent the helmet in the wrong color/pattern. We were supposed to get a light blue helmet but instead got this:

Yes, a PINK helmet with BUTTERFLIES! 88| >:XX

They are rushing the second one and it should be here Friday. (So, hmmmm, it took 1.5 weeks for the first helmet, but after a mistake it only takes 2.5 days?) But now, since our guy will be on vacation, we have to drive to Livonia. Ugh. And Tom might not be able to go. Double ugh. >:XX

Yes, mistakes happen. And they apologized over and over and over. But it’s still annoying. And we could have avoided even GOING today had they actually OPENED the box when they got it and saw it was the wrong one.

Sigh.

Kentucky Vacation

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We just got back from a week’s vacation in Kentucky. Why Kentucky, you might be asking? Well, that was a fairly central mid-point for all of the Schwalmlettes & Schmitlettes (the nickname for the Schwalm kids and me) to drive and meet for a family reunion!

It was really nice, since we never all get to see each other at Christmas like we used to (see what having kids does?). 🙂 However, it wasn’t QUITE like old times—there wasn’t much staying up until 3am playing games and drinking and talking like in the old days…since there are kids to deal with now. (I might hazard a guess that I had the worst of it, since I still have to get up with the boy for night feedings, which meant I was usually in bed by 10 each night.) But we still all had fun visiting and relaxing and playing Wii games (and more to the point, watching the kids play Wii games) and watching the kids’ production of Three Little Pigs and Annie!

Owen was the absolute HIT of the week for the kids. They just about loved him to pieces! They always wanted to be in his face playing with him or kissing him or hugging him or touching him or helping feed him. I am sure he was overwhelmed, but it was very cute! Here’s what it looked like a lot of the time:

We also learned that Owen does NOT like a lot of noise and commotion. We had him in the room with us when the kids were singing or boxing on the Wii (both LOUD and CRAZY) and he was NOT a happy camper. As soon as we took him out of the room, he quieted down and was happy again. A kid after my own heart! :yes:

There was a hot tub (which I had been really excited about), but the weather was so warm that I never went in. It pretty much just got used by the kids (that is, after Kath turned it town to like 80° so it was more pool-like) who really enjoyed it!

We were out of cell service range, but the house did have internet so all us geeks didn’t have to go through withdrawal. I think we had three laptops and four iPhones—sometimes all going at once!

One day we all went to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and managed to get this family photo:

Of course, it was over WAY too soon…and before you know it, we were packing and on the road home. At least we discovered we have a pretty good little traveler—Owen slept most of the way and we only had to feed him once during the 8-hour trip (although we had to feed him the moment we got to our destination, both ways!).

Stay tuned for a link to the entire set of pictures!

Tricare gets a thumbs down from me today.

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Long story short, the helmet is NOT covered like we thought it would be. Apparently the physical therapy appointments are but not the actual orthotic device that will help the most. 🙄

After doing some research, A LOT of military families are dealing with this, and have filed appeals. Some get it covered, some don’t. Lovely. What a pain in the ass.

But I guess that’s what savings accounts are for, right?

I finally did it!

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So I’ve been planning on cutting my hair and donating it to either Locks of Love or Pantene Beautiful Lengths…but was leaning towards Pantene because the minimum donation length was 8″ as opposed to 10″ for Locks of Love. (I had enough to donate 10″ but I just didn’t want to go THAT short.) And if you remember from a few months or so ago, I was debating over about 10 different hairstyles. But new hairstyles scare me so I just kind of put it out of my mind.

Fast forward to our upcoming vacation, and I knew I really REALLY needed a haircut before we left. Well, it was getting really scraggly so I at least needed a trim. I wasn’t quite sure I was ready to donate it yet, so I was leaning towards a trim…and then in a few more months when it needed another trim I would cut the length and donate it. Except that Owen has become MUCH more grabby lately. And I am sick to death of wearing my hair in Pippi Longstocking braids or a pony tail. So I was actually leaning more towards a full chop.

So today, just for the heck of it, I took these two pictures to show just how long it was getting. Ironically, the back didn’t look NEARLY as bad/scraggly as I assumed it did.

I even put it in a pony tail and measured it, to make sure I had enough—and to make sure I’d still have some hair left afterwards! But, remember, I still wasn’t planning on getting anything but a trim…although I was CONTEMPLATING getting it chopped.

So I was planning on going to the salon on Friday, the day before we leave for vacation—because a professionally-styled hairdo will last a long time and I could probably avoid doing anything with my hair the entire time we were gone. 😛 So I talked to my mom about what time they were going to be arriving (because she was going to be my babysitter) and…she said she had no idea. EEK! Which means I had to go Thursday. So I called the salon and my stylist wasn’t available Thursday! 88| So I desperately asked if she happened to be available now—and she was! She asked what I needed to have done, and I briefly told her a trim OR I was cutting it all off to donate it—and I was VERY nervous. She said they would take care of me—and then I was literally out the door in less than two minutes.

I was VERY nervous when I walked in, but the two women there were VERY nice and VERY welcoming and VERY understanding with what I was about to do. Yes, I had decided to chop. it. all. off. 88| It was off to get washed, then get it combed out—and I told her she had to take pictures. Of course, she was totally game for it, and was excited that I was donating it!

And then she offered me a glass of wine to calm my nerves. And I eagerly accepted! :>>

So, here is my hair “before” completely combed out. It touched the top of the chair!

We discussed how much to cut—enough to make sure we got the required eight inches, but not so much that I wouldn’t have my own ponytail left. And then we measured twice, cut once. (Just like woodworking, dad!) Except we actually cut twice, because there were two ponytails! Here is the first one gone:

And then here are both ponytails…and my glass of wine! 🙂 I think the ponytails were about 9″ all said and done…and it was definitely a lot of hair…but just sitting on the counter they looked so small and pathetic.

And then here I am minus 9″ of hair!

And the final product!! I love it!!

Now, of course, the challenge will be if I can replicate how it looks!! And if I can make it do something in its wavy form.

The ponytails just need to dry now (which will take at least a day) and then I can mail them off! YAY!

Second PT session

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Owen had his second Physical Therapy appointment this morning. The worker said he did very well—but of course we still really have to work on belly time. Of course, she makes it all look easy and deals with his frustrations much better than I do (she IS the professional, after all!)… 🙁

Of the 50 minutes we were there, he probably spent 25-30 total on his stomach, which is a miracle (and he was even tired and cranky the last 10 minutes). So I come home, all hyped up to try everything and positive it’s going to go well…and five minutes into it he’s frustrated and I’m frustrated and it spirals downward from there.

Hoo boy.

We can only keep trying, I guess.

I was excited…

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I was pretty exited last night when Owen ate an entire 8oz bottle before going to bed. He hasn’t done that in AGES, so I was sure he would have a good night’s sleep (read: he would sleep THROUGH the night—skipping his 2am feeding—and I would get a good night’s sleep for once).

Ha.

HA HA.

He was up at—are you ready?—MIDNIGHT. Mid-freaking-night.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! 88|

Every night I tell myself if this happens I will just LET him be noisy for as long as it takes to see if he will just put himself back to sleep…and every night I just end up getting up to feed him because the noise will be over quicker and I can get back to sleep quicker. Besides, I was sure he couldn’t be hungry, so I gave him his pacifier and turned on his mobile and went back to my room.

So, you guessed it. I was up within 20 minutes because he wasn’t quieting down—and was actually getting louder.

Then he was out and slept soundly until 6am when he started to stir—and I had to wake him up to feed him so we could get to his 7am PT appointment (who knows how long he might have slept/laid there quietly had I not had to get him up). Of course, I was up WAY before my 5:30 alarm. XX(

This sleep thing has got to change.

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He’s killing me! No matter what time he goes down, he’s up around 2.

Usually he’s asleep by 7:30 or 8—and up at 2. Last night he didn’t fall asleep until after 9—and was still up at 2.

Then, he used to sleep a second round—until 6:30 or so. Now, it’s until maybe 5. XX(

This morning I went in at 5 and gave him his pacifier and turned on the mobile…and then tried to get back to sleep myself. I was up again at 6 because—surprise!—he was up again.

So I fed him—and he didn’t even finish the four ounces! So my guess is that he wasn’t really hungry but didn’t want to sleep anymore…but he went back to sleep fairly quickly—so he must have still been tired, right? I kept my fingers crossed that maybe he would sleep until 9 or something.

Ha.

HA HA.

He was up at 7:15. Sigh.

I’m sooooo tired.

I thought things were supposed to get better as he got older?

The 4th of July is over. Please be quiet.

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Ugh.

So right now, the neighbor boy is lighting off what I can only assume are leftovers. Not even fireworks, but just shit that makes loud pops and bangs. Really >:XX irritating to me since the baby is napping, I’m trying to nap, and the dog is freaking out.

It’s just not necessary.

I know, I know, it’s a boy and boys do crap like that but the parents are obviously letting him. Whatever. It’s still >:XX irritating. I can literally feel my blood pressure rising with each bang and pop.

Yes, I’m turning into a crotchety old person. GET OFF MY LAWN.

Idiot Baggers

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WHY DON’T BAGGERS LISTEN?

I don’t want to use plastic bags, which is why I brought mine.

And if I tell you to “just put the items in the bag” as I see you reaching for the plastic bags—PLEASE put them in the bag—I know those three LIGHT bags of potato chips will fit JUST FINE on top of the four cans of baked beans and carton of macaroni salad. >:XX

It was all I could do to NOT take the chips out of the TWO plastic bags and throw the stupid unwanted bags back on the counter.

Belly time exercises!

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So we have to do belly-time exercises with Owen on an exercise ball. So this was what it looked like today…

I think the picture is hilarious because at a quick glance, it looks like Tom is completely naked. But, as you can see from the very next picture, he most certainly isn’t.

Owen doesn’t love the exercises, of course, because he’s on his belly. We’re getting better with belly time, a bit at a time, but it’s still a struggle.

About last night…

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So about 10:30 he finally went down with his pacifier and burp cloth—without a screaming fit. And he slept straight through until about 4am. That is fewer hours than he usually sleeps (during the first stretch) on a good night, but he took his bottle and went down again—then woke up his normal happy self…completely sideways and kicking like mad at his Ocean Wonders Aquarium.

And the biggest surprise of all? When he got up here was no poop. Egads.

And he managed to go through two outfits in a matter of 20 minutes. Egads.

Prune juice!

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Well, Owen just got his first prune juice.

We’re not entirely sure he needed it, but we just experienced something new with him…so we figured it was worth a shot. He’d been sleeping for almost an hour when he woke up and started crying and screaming. He didn’t stop, so each of us took turns trying to comfort him and he was okay while we were holding him, but he DID NOT WANT to be put down.

He hasn’t pooped in two days—which is not out of the norm—but we figured we might as well try prune juice (since we had some). We’ve heard horror stories of post-prune juice poops, so I’m not looking forward to tonight if it works like I’ve heard. 88|

That said, he wasn’t too sure about the water/juice mix at first (his first juice ever!), but he sucked down 2oz in no time flat! We tried more, but he was done.

We could tell he was tired (lots of yawns and eye-rubbing) so maybe all this will lead to a full night’s sleep (vs. the last two nights where I’ve been up TWICE with him, instead of just once).

Stay tuned.

— Time lapse. —

So about 10 minutes after I finished writing, Owen’s eyelids drooped so Tom took him back up to bed. And AS SOON AS Tom laid him down, the crying started again.

Hoo boy.

Poor boy.

Poor us if he doesn’t go back to sleep. 🙁