Helmets, poop, ice cream and friends!

I haven't blogged in over a year. I can't believe just how much has happened in this past year. The biggest change would have to be the addition of our sweet little LaLa! This little baby is just amazing. She loves her big brother, her daddy, music (especially Adele's "Don't You Remember"), bouncing, laughing, singing and FOOD. This chunky little monkey can put down some milk, oatmeal, fruits and veggies! Her big brother has gotten so much bigger, too! He's now in second grade and is seriously the smartest, sweetest, most lovable little boy I have ever met. I decided to start blogging again because we have so much going on right now and I want to make sure I always remember these times. I'm not going to be using "code names" for the kiddos, either. Little Dude is Travis Justin and LaLa is Lucy Julianne. Lucy currently has 2 minor medical conditions; Plagiocephaly (flat head w/facial asymmetries) and Torticollis (twisted/wry neck). She has been going to therapy once a week for the past two months and should be graduating soon. During these sessions she works through different holds and stretches while "playing" with her AMAZING therapist, Laura. I am seriously so sad that we won't be seeing her much after Lucy finishes her physcial therapy. Laura has been incredibly kind, patient and gentle. She truly has a gift and we have been blessed to have her work with our sweet little girl. In addition to therapy, Lucy will be wearing a cranial orthosis called a Doc Band...which is just a fancy way to say "helmet". This helmet will redirect the growth of Lucy's skull and correct her facial asymmetries. Lucy had her Doc Band put on today and she doesn't really seem to mind it too much. She keeps reaching up with her chubby little hands to pat it or tug on it. The car ride home from Cranial Technologies was VERY difficult to say the least as she cried the ENTIRE ride home. I don't think it's simply because of her helmet...she's also teething. Once we got home she had some teething tablets and a fantastic nap!!!

Look how adorable she is in her helmet!! After her nap it was time for her weekly therapy session. I drove to the hospital, was feeling super cool when I found a super close parking spot, got out of the car, got the stroller ready and started to unfasten the car seat straps when I noticed my hand was....wet. Lucy had pooped EVERYWHERE! It was ALL over my hand, her hands, her leg, the car seat and her clothes. Thank goodness I had a huge package of wet wipes and a clean change of clothes. I was able to change her in the back of the car while simultaneously wiping tears and sweat away. I was so tempted to just cancel her appt but I sucked it up and made the most of it. We pretty much bathed in hand sanitizer....but, we survived. I whined a little (a lot) on Facebook and I was absolutely spoiled by an amazing friend of mine. Ms. Maddy stopped by this evening with a chocolate peanut butter sundae for a treat AND brought me a box of Cap'n Crunch Berries to ensure that my morning would start off well, too. How thoughtful is she???? Sometimes it takes a rough moment for me to realize just how many blessings I truly have. I've always heard coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous. I truly believe this and I truly believe that he gave me some great friends to help make this journey just a little easier.