We had Andrew's check up and new scan today, and I'm so happy with his progress! All the numbers are so confusing to me, but the picture I think shows it all. I'll try to upload it at some point.
Here are some of the #'s.
For his 2 diagonal measurements, last time he was off by 10.9mm and now he is only off by 8.6mm. So there is progress there. 2.3mm to be exact!
There is another statistic (and I always forget what is actually measuring, but it has to do with the "min" and "max" of his head measurements and he was at 94.5% before, and now he is at 91.5%. I guess normal heads are within the 80's, so that is what we are shooing for on his next scan. Again, I'm not quite sure what this # means, but I know the goal, so whatever!
Other than that, we made our 3 week check up for 10/18 and then we will do a 3rd scan 3 weeks after that (should be around November 8th). There is a small chance on 10/18 the Dr. will say "OK we're done!" but I doubt it. We thought that would happened today, but no luck :( Maybe on November 8th. I'm crossing my fingers but unfortunately not holding my breath :(
Andrew did so well in the scanner today though. It doesn't take very long, but I guess some kids get really upset. We have a well behaved child I guess! Sweet Andrew boy!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Its a Miracle!
We just got our bill, well not our bill, but our notice from Medica on what we WILL get billed for Andrew's helmet and... ITS ONLY $238!!!
I couldn't believe my eyes! Insurance is actually covering the helmet. We were pretty excited when we opened that piece of mail yesterday. Felt like we won the lottery. YIPEEE.
I couldn't believe my eyes! Insurance is actually covering the helmet. We were pretty excited when we opened that piece of mail yesterday. Felt like we won the lottery. YIPEEE.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
4 week check in
Andrew had his 4 week check in appointment on Friday September 3rd. The doctor said everything looked good and that he would start to "grow into the helmet" now. I guess the helmet isn't necessarily reshaping his head, but its made a little bigger than his head has room to grow into it with a nice rounded shaped head. Its basically not letting his head grow bigger in some places, but let it grow in others (the flat spot) so that's how it works. I guess I didn't really get that until this appointment, so that was an "ah ha" moment for me. I guess that's good!
He has his next appointment on Monday September 27th to get measurements done on how much his head has grown and changed. I'm excited to see his progress and hopefully we will get news that he only has to have it a short while longer. We shall see!
He is starting to notice the helmet a little more now, by playing with the strap on the side. He also touches his head and pulls at his hair when we take it off. It probably feels very different. One thing we have noticed is that we don't worry about him falling on his head when he pulls up on things or is trying to get somewhere, because we know the helmet protects him! Ha, we laugh at that. At least we are having fun with hit!
We also just got our decals and put those on his helmet over the weekend. There is one on the back that says "Wildcats" with a Wildcat (Daddy's hockey team) and then the side says "Give Blood Play Hockey". Of course it was Dad's idea! But it does look cute. We are going to try and buy another sticker with his name on it for the front. I'll have to post a picture on here of it once I take one!
He has his next appointment on Monday September 27th to get measurements done on how much his head has grown and changed. I'm excited to see his progress and hopefully we will get news that he only has to have it a short while longer. We shall see!
He is starting to notice the helmet a little more now, by playing with the strap on the side. He also touches his head and pulls at his hair when we take it off. It probably feels very different. One thing we have noticed is that we don't worry about him falling on his head when he pulls up on things or is trying to get somewhere, because we know the helmet protects him! Ha, we laugh at that. At least we are having fun with hit!
We also just got our decals and put those on his helmet over the weekend. There is one on the back that says "Wildcats" with a Wildcat (Daddy's hockey team) and then the side says "Give Blood Play Hockey". Of course it was Dad's idea! But it does look cute. We are going to try and buy another sticker with his name on it for the front. I'll have to post a picture on here of it once I take one!
Monday, August 16, 2010
1 week check
We had our first check up today for the helmet. We thought we would get some measurements to see any progress that has been made, but we found out today that we won't know that until another 6 weeks- ug! I think it would be nice to see that at least all this is working, but we have to wait a while for that I guess.
The doctor ended up shaving down some parts that rub against Andrew's head and make those parts red. I asked him about tightening the belt (which I had been doing) and he told me that it is supposed to be a little loose to leave the room to let his head grow in the different areas. There is supposed to be about 1/2 inch around his head for room for it to grow, so it shifts up and down on his head. I didn't think it was supposed to do that, so I had been strapping it tighter than I was supposed to... whoops. Anyway, now we know.
Our next appointment is on 9/3. It's just another check up, and then the next appointment 3 weeks after that we will be able to get some measurements.
I asked again today how long he thought we would need it on, and he said for at least 3 months (booo). I was hoping for only 2, but we shall see.
The doctor ended up shaving down some parts that rub against Andrew's head and make those parts red. I asked him about tightening the belt (which I had been doing) and he told me that it is supposed to be a little loose to leave the room to let his head grow in the different areas. There is supposed to be about 1/2 inch around his head for room for it to grow, so it shifts up and down on his head. I didn't think it was supposed to do that, so I had been strapping it tighter than I was supposed to... whoops. Anyway, now we know.
Our next appointment is on 9/3. It's just another check up, and then the next appointment 3 weeks after that we will be able to get some measurements.
I asked again today how long he thought we would need it on, and he said for at least 3 months (booo). I was hoping for only 2, but we shall see.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Car Seat
Tomorrow will be the first day we can have Andrew wear his helmet while in his car seat. We had to wait a week to have it on while he was in the car seat, so tomorrow is it! Because of that, we have only had it on about 21 hours a day or so, just because of the driving time to and from work and whatnot. Also the time to take it off to clean it at night and air it out in the morning.
We are driving to YOGI Bear campground tomorrow to stay for the weekend, so it will be a long drive with the helmet on, but we will see how it goes. I'm excited to get away again for the weekend. We'll see how good we do with the helmet staying on. If it's too hot we have to take it off so he doesn't overheat. He also can't wear it if we go in the water. So I bet this weekend we won't have it on the full 23 hours we are supposed to. I know for sure while he's sleeping (overnight and naps) we will have it on- so that's about 14 hour all together in itself. I suppose we'll just have it off in the heat of the day, but we'll do the best we can!
The good news is that we are already able to see progress from the helmet. His cone has really gone down and the flatness has somewhat rounded out. We have an appointment on Monday afternoon to check the progress, I'm excited to see what the doc will say!
We are driving to YOGI Bear campground tomorrow to stay for the weekend, so it will be a long drive with the helmet on, but we will see how it goes. I'm excited to get away again for the weekend. We'll see how good we do with the helmet staying on. If it's too hot we have to take it off so he doesn't overheat. He also can't wear it if we go in the water. So I bet this weekend we won't have it on the full 23 hours we are supposed to. I know for sure while he's sleeping (overnight and naps) we will have it on- so that's about 14 hour all together in itself. I suppose we'll just have it off in the heat of the day, but we'll do the best we can!
The good news is that we are already able to see progress from the helmet. His cone has really gone down and the flatness has somewhat rounded out. We have an appointment on Monday afternoon to check the progress, I'm excited to see what the doc will say!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
First 5 days down!
I didn't have a chance to update over the first 5 days of transitioning to the helmet. Andrew actually did quite well with it. The first 5 days, the schedule was as follows:
Day 1 ---- 1 hour on, 1 hour off, repeat (not on during naps/night time)
Day 2 ---- 2 hours on, 1 hour off, repeat (not on during naps/night time)
Day 3 ---- 4 hours on, 1 hour off, repeat (on during naps, 1/2 the night)
Day 4 ---- 8 hours on, 1 hour off, repeat (on during naps, full night)
Day 5 ---- 23 hours on
So yea, the first 5 days were hard to keep up with the taking on and off, but really Andrew didn't seem to mind it. I only broke down and cried twice. Once was when I first saw him with it on at the doctors office, and once was on Sunday (day 4) when I had to go to a public place with it on. I was just a little embarrassed and its pretty obvious that he has this big helmet on (he looks like hes an astronaut going to outer space!) So yea, it's been ok. He is just starting to get a little Redness now since he wears it most of the day, but we bought the cream tonight to put on it, so hopefully it will get better. Oh and also, the first few days he had so much sweat! Every time we took it off his head was drenched. But the doctor did say it will take some time for his body to figure out temperatures with it on.
Phill is still working on the insurance thing. For now the Dr's office is sending the claim in knowing that it will be denied.
Day 1 ---- 1 hour on, 1 hour off, repeat (not on during naps/night time)
Day 2 ---- 2 hours on, 1 hour off, repeat (not on during naps/night time)
Day 3 ---- 4 hours on, 1 hour off, repeat (on during naps, 1/2 the night)
Day 4 ---- 8 hours on, 1 hour off, repeat (on during naps, full night)
Day 5 ---- 23 hours on
So yea, the first 5 days were hard to keep up with the taking on and off, but really Andrew didn't seem to mind it. I only broke down and cried twice. Once was when I first saw him with it on at the doctors office, and once was on Sunday (day 4) when I had to go to a public place with it on. I was just a little embarrassed and its pretty obvious that he has this big helmet on (he looks like hes an astronaut going to outer space!) So yea, it's been ok. He is just starting to get a little Redness now since he wears it most of the day, but we bought the cream tonight to put on it, so hopefully it will get better. Oh and also, the first few days he had so much sweat! Every time we took it off his head was drenched. But the doctor did say it will take some time for his body to figure out temperatures with it on.
Phill is still working on the insurance thing. For now the Dr's office is sending the claim in knowing that it will be denied.
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