Friday, June 8, 2012

Graduation Day… For Real!

Let’s try this one more time! Today I finally graduated from my second helmet, and my plagiocephaly journey is officially over! After a total of 14 1/2 weeks in two different helmets and a pretty stinky and sweaty head, I am helmet free! My new round head feels GREAT, that it took me almost NO time to get used to sleeping without my helmet this time! Mommy had a fun graduation day planned for me, and as always, it started with some pictures!!!!

-Ben

Here are links to my other plagiocephaly posts if you want to look back on my journey!

Original entry: http://blog.beachfamily.us/2012/01/our-new-reality-for-while.html

His “first graduation”: http://blog.beachfamily.us/2012/02/graduation-already.html

After getting his second helmet: http://blog.beachfamily.us/2012/04/round-2.html

IMG_6146

IMG_6162

I’m going to miss my cool Lightening McQueen helmet!

IMG_6032

This is my second and FINAL diploma from Cranial Technologies:

Scan1 (2)

I had to have one final set of images taken, so I had to wear that crazy net over my head again… but I kept on smiling!

IMG_6060

Look at how much my head has changed since my first pictures taken in December! My torticollis is gone, so my head doesn’t lean to the right anymore, my whole head has rounded out, and my forehead “bump” is almost completely gone (you can see that in the last pictures the best)!

1

2

3

Mommy loved my Cranial Technologies therapist, Sue, so much, and we’re going miss seeing her each week! She was so gentle and kind, and helped us through every step of this long process. Even my big sister Abby loved her so much that she wanted to make a special thank you card for her today!

Scan1

Thank you Miss Sue!

IMG_6055

After my graduation appointment, my whole family headed over to the “Build-a-bear” factory to make two special animals for my old helmets to hang out on. My sisters loved making them for me, and they turned out so cute!

IMG_6104

They got to pick out which animals they wanted to make, and Abby picked a floppy dog while Emily chose a fuzzy bear (well, she wanted Hello Kitty, but mommy said I might not like that one). Thanks mommy…

IMG_6063

They helped push the button to stuff the animals full of “fluff”, and they picked out special hearts to put inside before they were sewn up!

IMG_6079

IMG_6087 IMG_6089

IMG_6090

Next, the animals got a “bath”, we picked out special clothes, and the girls got them dressed!

IMG_6094

IMG_6101

IMG_6100

IMG_6107

Abby picked doctor scrubs for her “Helmet Doctor” Dog, who she named “Patches”, and Emily named her bear “Happy” and picked out cool Lightening McQueen pajamas (after mommy said no to the Rapunzel dress… Thanks again mom)!IMG_6112

They turned out GREAT, and will be perfect for my old helmets!

IMG_6171

IMG_6184

IMG_6196

Thanks everyone for all of the prayers and best wishes throughout this journey!

IMG_6038

Sunday, June 3, 2012

My very first ballet recital!

Today was my very first BIG ballet recital! I’ve been practicing with my class since last September, and I finally got to be in the spotlight on the big stage! Nannie & Bridget came down to see my recital too, and I made EVERYBODY cry because they were so proud of me! I can’t wait for Emily to take ballet next year too, so we can BOTH be in the show!
-Abigail
MLHimg_0109F
IMG_5947 IMG_5948
Before the show today, we had to wait with all the girls in the back and keep ourselves “busy” with some coloring. I spent the time trying to think about all my dance steps I had to remember…. I looked pretty serious about it too!
IMG_5954
It was a little nerve wracking though as we waited and saw the stage from a distance…
IMG_5879
IMG_5884
I was in the front row, and the first one on stage!
IMG_5898
My special recital song was “Somewhere over the rainbow” by IZ, which made mommy cry, because it reminded her of her honeymoon in Hawaii with daddy!
IMG_5903
IMG_5908
IMG_5909
IMG_5911
I was very nervous, and tried to smile, but more importantly, I wanted to make sure my feet were doing just the right thing!
IMG_5924
IMG_5931
Everyone was SO proud of my dance!Check out the video! I'm the first one on the stage!



IMG_5949
Especially Mommy & Daddy!
IMG_5958
Daddy bought me some very special roses, and gave me a BIG kiss after the show!
IMG_5969
IMG_6006
IMG_5971
I wanted to make sure I got my picture taken with EVERYONE!
IMG_5975 IMG_5983
IMG_5989 IMG_5992
After the recital, we all came back to the house for a lunch fit for a ballerina!
IMG_5946
IMG_5943 IMG_5944
My Nannie even bought me a beautiful ballerina that really spins!
IMG_6022
What a wonderful day! I am one happy little ballerina!
IMG_5997
Stay tuned for when mommy posts the video in a few weeks! You’re NOT going to want to miss it!

Brian's (Early) 50th Birthday Celebration "River Cruise"

 With an upcoming, looming BIG birthday in November for Brian, we have been planning a river cruise on the Danube for over a year now. He...