The Fantastic Four (and other happenings)
I've been way overdue for an update, so here's what's been happening with the Creightons!
First, our family welcomed its FOURTH member! On July 27, at 6:08pm, weighing 6 pounds 15 ounces and measuring 21 inches, Declan Dominiq made his appearance! We were ecstatic to hold our first baby boy, with his large blue eyes, blonde hair and skinny legs. After a 26+ hour labor, he arrived via c-section, but that's a story for another day. Salem was indifferent about her new baby brother at first, as she was staying with my mom while we were in the hospital and had just visited a few times.
Life with two under two has been exciting and challenging all at the same time! Salem calls her brother "brother" and says "Declan" when we ask what is his name. Every now and then she gets really excited and goes over to hug and kiss him, but she's a little rough. She has been a good helper by putting the pacifier in his mouth and supervising diaper changes, really she just likes to tag along. She also just recently started lying down beside him on his play mat, although she almost rolls over him sometimes. She does not like when he cries. I've told her that he cries because his tummy hurts, since he has gas a lot. So when she hears him crying she says, "hurts...crying." Declan is so sweet though. His gas issue is getting better, and he is beginning to focus, smile and "talk" to us. He is starting to like baths more and I think that is helping him sleep better at night. Thank goodness because I have to start functioning like a normal person now that I'm back at work.
About a month after Delcan was born, we went for Salem's 3rd cast. This time, they wanted an "out of cast" X-ray so they did that before applying the new one. Dr. Accousti was please to tell us it looks like she's gotten a 10 degree correction from casting just since April, so from about 60 to 50 degrees. Unfortunately, I do not have that X-ray picture as we were in a hurry, but I did see it that day. He is optimistic we will see more correction in the coming months. Everything else about casting day was normal. She goes in with one cast and comes out with a new one. She doesn't really know it comes off. In a way, I am glad for that. The curves and dips of the material in each cast have differed slightly, based on how he's had to shape her spine to be straight each time. This cast seems to dip a little more into her tummy on both sides, but she hasn't had any problems so far. Her new "in cast" X-ray is below and looks great. I'm still so happy with the waterproof casting material. The team at Children's Hospital is still communicating with the manufacturer, who is located in Korea. Apparently, they currently do not see the demand for making specific "molds" for this purpose so we are still trying to convince them. The team is still using sleeves that are purposed for legs and lower torso/leg combinations with the leg parts cut off, but those will only fit kids until a certain age. Luckily, Salem is on the smaller side. I'm hoping that my pictures of her thriving in this casting material coupled with the correction may soon be used to make a case, so that this might become more popular and benefit more kids!
Thanks for keeping up with us! Salem gets her next cast on October 26. Here are some pictures from the last two months.
Jenny
First, our family welcomed its FOURTH member! On July 27, at 6:08pm, weighing 6 pounds 15 ounces and measuring 21 inches, Declan Dominiq made his appearance! We were ecstatic to hold our first baby boy, with his large blue eyes, blonde hair and skinny legs. After a 26+ hour labor, he arrived via c-section, but that's a story for another day. Salem was indifferent about her new baby brother at first, as she was staying with my mom while we were in the hospital and had just visited a few times.
Life with two under two has been exciting and challenging all at the same time! Salem calls her brother "brother" and says "Declan" when we ask what is his name. Every now and then she gets really excited and goes over to hug and kiss him, but she's a little rough. She has been a good helper by putting the pacifier in his mouth and supervising diaper changes, really she just likes to tag along. She also just recently started lying down beside him on his play mat, although she almost rolls over him sometimes. She does not like when he cries. I've told her that he cries because his tummy hurts, since he has gas a lot. So when she hears him crying she says, "hurts...crying." Declan is so sweet though. His gas issue is getting better, and he is beginning to focus, smile and "talk" to us. He is starting to like baths more and I think that is helping him sleep better at night. Thank goodness because I have to start functioning like a normal person now that I'm back at work.
About a month after Delcan was born, we went for Salem's 3rd cast. This time, they wanted an "out of cast" X-ray so they did that before applying the new one. Dr. Accousti was please to tell us it looks like she's gotten a 10 degree correction from casting just since April, so from about 60 to 50 degrees. Unfortunately, I do not have that X-ray picture as we were in a hurry, but I did see it that day. He is optimistic we will see more correction in the coming months. Everything else about casting day was normal. She goes in with one cast and comes out with a new one. She doesn't really know it comes off. In a way, I am glad for that. The curves and dips of the material in each cast have differed slightly, based on how he's had to shape her spine to be straight each time. This cast seems to dip a little more into her tummy on both sides, but she hasn't had any problems so far. Her new "in cast" X-ray is below and looks great. I'm still so happy with the waterproof casting material. The team at Children's Hospital is still communicating with the manufacturer, who is located in Korea. Apparently, they currently do not see the demand for making specific "molds" for this purpose so we are still trying to convince them. The team is still using sleeves that are purposed for legs and lower torso/leg combinations with the leg parts cut off, but those will only fit kids until a certain age. Luckily, Salem is on the smaller side. I'm hoping that my pictures of her thriving in this casting material coupled with the correction may soon be used to make a case, so that this might become more popular and benefit more kids!
Thanks for keeping up with us! Salem gets her next cast on October 26. Here are some pictures from the last two months.
Jenny
THE fantastic four :)
All X-rays, just to compare:
X-ray at diagnosis
In cast #1
In cast #2
In cast #3
Going home from the hospital
A look at the cast on
Amazing. Love y'all.
ReplyDeleteThanks girl :) Love y'all too!
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