Torticollis and Plagiocephaly

We knew that Claire had a slight case of Torticollis from about this moment...

What is Torticollis? it literally means " Twisted Neck" the sternocleidomastoid muscle that runs down the sides of the neck close to the ears becomes tightened somehow. No one really knows why that happens to some babies and not others but sometimes abnormal uterine positioning can be resposible. That old uterus of mine (may it RIP) wasn't very elastic. The pediatrician that examined Claire in the hospital noticed that even as a brand new baby, only a few hours old, she favored her right side. We were given advice to follow up with her regular pediatrician.

Fast forward a few months and the pediatrician here has sent us to Physical Therapy to help both stretch and strengthen the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Meanwhile, we have also been evaluated by a specialist for the shape of Claire's head.

Some of the questions they asked:

Good baby? Yes

Sleeps uninterurpted? Yes! 10+ hours!

Premature? Yes

Restrictive intrauterine positioning? Yes

Trauma at birth? Yes

Torticollis? Yes.

Multiple? No

The odds are not in her favor. 

Did No you know 85% of infants that have Torticollis are also diagnosed with Plagiocephaly? 

Now what is Plagiocephaly you ask? a common condition characterized by an asymmetrical distortion (flattening of one side) of the skull. Since Claire usually prefers to sleep on the same side, that side is getting flattened. (Drew was a stomach sleeper and never had this problem) Although SIDS has decreased since babies were put to bed on their backs, alternatley Plagiocephaly has increased. SIDS is a little more detrimental than a flat head though...

How do you correct Plagiocephaly? Cranial Remolding Orthosis (Baby Helmet) With the helmet in place and continuing the physical therapy for Torticollis, in a few months we'll have a brand spankin' new shaped head. Symmetrical, round and bulbous-- I didn't think she could get any more perfect!

we're getting closer

This was taken three weeks ago...

 This was from Sunday...

Give it a few more weeks and we'll have a perfectly posed picture with two smiling babes.

Photography by Drew

Last Christmas we lost our camera... so without much delay we got a new one.
6 months later we found the old camera that we bought as newly weds. However, since then it has become "Drew's Camera." He walks around telling people to "say cheese!"
So the following photos are just a few of the 100's we have on that camera.

 Of course there were dozens of selfportraits. either face shots (showing everything in his nose) or the bottom half were shown.

 This is only half of the pictures on his camera that featured photos of things he has watched.

 Many of his toys were staged and proved to be exciting subjects.

Perhaps my favorite picture of the 400 he took... the babes feet.

His services are very affordable if you're in need of a photographer...

Solid Food

At 5 1/2 months Claire's two bottom teeth are breaking through and we have started her on solid foods.

She doesn't like either.
The teeth have kept her up the last few nights
and the food has not been able to stay in her mouth...