Happy 1 year Cranioversary!!!

One year ago today...  wow, it feels like forever ago yet just like yesterday. I am truly in awe of how incredible my precious Felicity Grace is. I am infinitely blessed, grateful and proud to be her Mommy. 

(Early morning lovin' is how we start each day)

9 month post-op follow up

Check up time again!!! Three generations back on the road heading to Mesa and Phoenix.

Everything has been going so well and I know the surgical teams will be pleased but, I still had the nerves of worry in the back of my mind and a little part of me was trying to prepare for a curve ball just in case.

First stop was Dr. Moss' office where Lindsey examined her with a visit from Dr. Moss himself. They said she looks great, her measurement is on target, the incision healed wonderfully, the scar looks great and her head and forehead look perfect. She still has a slight dent above her right eye but overtime that will become less and less. It's really not that obvious, but her "storks bite" birthmark doesn't help to not bring attention to her forehead. However, it's fading over time and her gorgeous lil eyes are a great distraction lol. 

They said there was no reason to do a follow up CT Scan to see if everything (the bone and sutures) looked good because if there was a problem, they'd be able to see it just looking at her head shape and Lindsey said it feels and looks great!

It had been a couple weeks since I had felt the spot where there was a hole in the bone so I wanted to show them in person (I had previously sent pictures and talked with them about it via email and telephone). Not only did I have one heck of time finding it (I used her scar as a guideline and that is becoming more and more difficult to point out which makes me happy on her behalf) but, I found that the hole IS filling in!!! Oh sweet joy :) 

Dr. Moss and Lindsey said to make a follow up visit for 6-8 months but if everything is going well during that time I can move it to 1 year and then as long as everything is going according to plan, we'll just have follow up visits once a year until she starts school.

After a pit stop at my Corporate office to see a couple of her Aunties, it was lunch time in the car in the parking garage.

Next up was our appointment with Dr. Joganic. He too said she looks great!!! He measured her head circumference said it was right on target. 

At first he said we could follow up at 6 months and then said that if everything is going well that we really could follow up in 1 year. So, we'll continue with the tag team of seeing both surgeons on the same day when we do have follow up appointments. We'll also continue seeing Dr. Joganic every year until she starts school.

Felicity got a thumbs up from everyone on her healing and the shape and growth of her head and forehead. WooHoo!!! My beautiful miracle baby makes me so proud, she is truly so amazing!!!

If everything continues to go as it has been, we'll see you in a year :) Thank you again to everyone for the continued prayers and emotional support!!! 

It's the bone, not the brain

After Felicity's surgery, I said I was happy she wouldn't have to live with Craniosynostosis every single day of her life. But sadly she has.

Milestones ugh!!! Almost daily I have people ask me if she's hit this one or that. If she hasn't YET, I see the sympathy on their face or hear it in their voice. They automatically assume it's because of the Craniosynostosis that she hasn't done this or that yet.

Let me repeat... It was the BONE not the BRAIN. In her CT Scan, her Neurosurgeon confirmed that her brain looked normal and great!!!

It's hard enough with Moms competing on who's child can do this or that at the earliest stage of life as possible, but then throw this in the mix and geez, talk about pressure on a baby/child and Mommy. Additionally, though she had Craniosynostosis she does NOT have one of the syndromes. 

Because of the concern some show, I admit it has affected me and I too have then questioned the speed of her hitting milestones. And then my awesome parents bring me back to reality. They remind me that each child develops at their own speed. That my daughter is no different!!! They give me examples of people they've talked to or meet who's children or grandchildren weren't freaks of nature and walking at 3 months (not intended to offend) but finally did walk at 16 months old without the cause being anything but they just weren't ready sooner.

Now don't get me wrong...  I greatly appreciate the prayers, concern and follow up in regards to my daughters surgery. Her development however has nothing to do with it. She is hitting her milestones on track in the time frame that is expected. She has a terrific Pediatrician that is nothing but pleased with her growth and development!!!