Norah Can Crawl!

Norah has reached a big milestone. Norah can crawl! We love that she comes to find us once we have left the room, and has a sense of adventure to see what she can find and where she can go.

Cephalohematoma

Norah saw her pediatrician, and he diagnosed Norah's bump as a cephalohematoma. This is something that usually occurs at childbirth, but Norah likes to be different so instead of just having a 'normal' bump on her head, she has this. He felt like this would go down over the next couple of months. He was just going to call the neurosurgeon to update them. Promptly after talking to Norah's pediatrician, the neurosurgeon's PA called saying they would like too see Norah in the office the next morning. ??? We felt great after seeing the pediatrician, what did he say to make them want to see Norah right away? On top of that, he said keep her NPO in the morning in case she would need a procedure. ????! When he was questioned on that, he thought maybe it would be OK if she ate since looking at their schedule the earliest they could fit her in for a procedure would be later that night.

I was dizzy with all the possibilities that the next day could bring. Are they just covering their butts because the received all these extra phone calls about Norah, did our pediatrician have other concerns that he didn't share with us, there is also the concern that Norah's shunt maybe over draining, is that playing into this, did they review the xrays again and maybe see something? I was as close to an anxiety attack as I have ever been.

Friends and family were called to set up care for Grant if the 'what if's' became reality. Then there was the issue with work. I was scheduled to work a 12 hour shift. I had stayed home on Saturday to help Jason and keep an eye on Norah, but I am currently the only one getting paid in our family and we need the money to pay the bills. Jason and I decided I would go to work, and he would call me as soon as the neurosurgeon saw Norah.

It was so hard to work in the ER, taking care of other people when I just wanted to be with my family, taking care of my Norah. I was anxious, and the fact that the neurosurgeon was 2 hours late to see Norah only added to my stress.

RELIEF!! "Jen, you have a call on 8943." Yes, it's FINALLY Jason.

All is well. The neurosurgeon agrees that Norah has a cephalohematoma. In fact he thinks her head may even be beginning to follow a growth curve. He thought she looked great, and to cancel our September appointment and see him in January. Really?? I had prepared myself for the worst outcome and I'm trilled that we received the best one. Thanks for all your prayers.

The Stairs

Friday night was going along like any other nice evening. We ate dinner together, then I was heading to work, just another Friday the 13th. Jason's parents had gone to the state fair that day so they were going to stop by and visit.

I made it to work when I received a phone call from Jason. He told me that he fell down about four stairs while carrying Norah. He thought that he was able to cradle her and didn't think that she hit anything, she was just scared and cried for awhile. She took a bottle and was now falling asleep in his arms. I told him to call me back if she vomited or if anything else concerning was going on. An hour later, the 2nd phone call. Norah was awake again and fussy. Jason also noticed a bump on the right side of Norah's head, the non-shunt side. He felt like it just didn't feel right. His parents were thankfully still at our house, so they could stay with Grant as Jason packed up Norah and was off to Children's ER. Thank goodness I have such understanding coworkers, I was able to hand off the patients and head off to meet Jason and Norah.

Norah was checked in seen by the resident in the ER who said, after not even touching Norah, well it's just a bump and usually we just send kids home and tell their parents to watch them. She was going to talk to her attending and he would be in. The attending doctor quickly palpated the bump while Norah fussed and squirmed away. He told us he was concerned about making sure he shunt was intact, he had seen crazy things where a bump somewhere else had caused the shunt to break away or crack. He didn't think a CT or MRI were necessary and thought a shunt series would be suffice. Xrays complete, shunt intact, we were sent home, told to watch her and return if there are any further problems. Should be the end right? I should feel better, right?

Well this is what Norah's bump looked like yesterday.

Norah has been rubbing her eyes often. She has been eating around 1/2 to 3/4  of what she normally eats since this happened. Her sleep has been broken up. Her bump has not improved at all. It feels like there is a step off on her skull, instead of being smooth. Norah has a bumpy, wonky head, but this doesn't feel right. The bump is squishy. It looks like there is a 1/2 of a tennis ball sticking off the side of her head. So Monday I called the Neurosurgeon's office, waited by the phone, no return phone call. This morning, I made an appointment with our pediatrician. The neurosurgery office just called back. I felt like they weren't listening to me. I shared all of my concerns. The PA that I talked to told me he looked at the xrays of her shunt, and that was fine, she has a MRI in a month. I should continue to watch it and she should be fine.

I continue to have concerns, why wouldn't they just take a few minutes to take a look at her.

Jason is off to the pediatrician now with Norah, maybe he'll take the time to examine her and give us the reassurance we are looking for....

2010 Wisconsin State Fair

We had fun, lots and lots of fun!

We watched a juggling show, Grant not so impressed.

Played with the 'Recycled Bicycle,' the coolest bike. It even had an attached wagon with drums and cans to hit. It was a 'hit' with Grant!

Grant went on his first fair rides. I can't believe he was tall enough to go and that we let him go. He smile and laughed the whole time, no tears here.

Norah entertained herself in the stroller waiting. I love her little feet, she is always trying to prop them up. You should she her in the shopping cart at the store.

Around on the carousel with Daddy.

Of course, we ate. No cream puff this year, instead we tried the Krisy Kreme Cheeseburger....

It looked like this....

one bite for each of us and in the garbage it went. We give it two thumbs down. Who knows, maybe it's better with the chocolate covered bacon on it?


It's the fair so of coarse you need yo see the animals.

Or pretend to be an animal.

Grant had fun throwing himself around the inflatable bounce houses.

We can't wait until next year!