Helmet and Randoms

Greta had her first physical therapy appointment last week for her head (since she favors turning it to the left and now has a flat spot on that side).   The PT was surprised by how well she does with turning to the right and said the stretches we did must have helped b/c she she has full range to turn that way and does often turn that way.  She also said that often kids with that issue will then grasp for toys with their left (or whatever way they always turn) hand instead of using both and at this age should be using both hands.  She tested Greta and Greta grabbed with both hands which was good.  She did some other things too which Greta which Greta did well at so she said there's no need for us to do anymore stretching excercises really.  The only issue now (besides her flat head) is that Greta does sometimes leans her left ear to her left shoulder so she gave us a couple of things we can do to help strengthen Greta's right neck muscle.  Based on what she saw, she said it seems that Greta has a weak neck muscle.  I guess you can have either a short muscle or a weak one and Greta's is weak.  That is why she looks left more often.  She said that most likely it is from how Greta was positioned in the womb or happened during birth. I didn't know that before.  I just thought we didn't switch her head around enough when she was first born.  I asked if earlier therapy would have helped and she said based on how well Greta does now, she didn't think that would have helped.  Ever since she was born, we've changed her diapers, fed her and had her mobile in her crib all so that she'd look right.  So anyway, within a few minutes of even seeing Greta's head she said she'd need a helmet.  I was hoping to avoid that (I know there are FAR worse things, so I'm really not complaining, I'm glad she's healthy), but nothing we can change now.  And I know in the long run, it's a short period of time that they have to wear it (4-9 months).  I'll feel bad for her being so sweaty in it in the summer, but I'm sure she'll get used to it.  My nephew had one too and it didn't seem to phase him.  It kind of threw me off when right away the PT said she needed a helmet and was wanting to get the appointment set up right away with the place that makes the helmet--I guess I thought we'd try PT for a bit to see if that'd help.  I talked to her ped's office and her dr said that he thinks her head will shape up just fine, it's just a matter of how long it will take, obviously the helmet will be quicker, but then if it'll end up okay anyway, I don't see why she needs the helmet??  But I also don't want to not get it for her just b/c I feel bad for her having to wear it all the time and because it's somewhat expensive (thankfully a lot less than I originally thought it cost) and then have her head be mishaped forever.  I just want what's best for her so hopefully meeting with the helmet people soon and seeing the measurements will help us make a good decision.  As of right now, it seems there's about a 98% chance that she'll be getting one.  And hopefully she can get it on soon since the sooner she starts, the sooner she can have it off!  Anyway, here are just some recent random pics.

Gibs and Layla can definitely fight, but they can also be the best of friends.  Lately, they both really like Lilo and Stitch.  Gibs still LOVES watching Mickey but also like the Backyardigans and they both really like Doc McStuffins.  Disney Family has so many craft ideas so last week they made little Doc McStuffins signs (I just had to print them and then cut and glue them on cardboard and attach strings) saying whether the doctor was "in" or "out" and they both loved the signs.  They LOVE playing doctor (especially Layla), so the signs fit right into their pretend play perfectly.

Layla got all matching Fisher Price Rainforest stuff for Christmas when I was pregnant with Gibson.  I remember thinking how it'd be so cute for the baby to be laying on the real playmat and then Layla could have her baby on her play mat.  Since she wasn't even 2 when he used the playmat, she wasn't really all that into it so it's fun now that she can use those things now to match Greta.  She's got the baby doll stroller, car seat and crib that match the set too and loves them all.  I'm selling all my baby things, so it's definitely sad to sell things like the play mat (not quite yet--Greta still uses it), but at least we'll still have the baby doll one around:).  Oh, and Greta does still like the playmat, but often now she gets "stuck" on her belly up against one of the "poles".  She's mastered rolling from back to front now but still sometimes thinks she can't get from tummy to back even though at times I see her roll back and forth like it's a little game.  In bed she always thinks she's "stuck".  Hopefully that phase ends soon b/c she's been waking up earlier.  She used to wake up around 7 and then talk to herself for a bit and then go back to sleep.  Now she wakes up, flips to her belly, and then thinks she's stuck so she eventually starts crying.  I put her in her swing and she'll then sleep until 8, but it'd be nice to go back to sleeping in in her crib until at least 8.  But I know, all these are just little phases they go through and besides that she's my perfect angel:).

 Gibs has been on a coloring kick lately so I thought I'd document it.  Normally they color at their little coloring table, but Layla wanted to paint and I don't trust that at their table!  Gibs is not so into painting--he just wants to play with the water:).

 Layla LOVES dressing up and always cracks me up with what outfits she puts together on rest time.  I was down changing the laundry over the other day and she told me she was just about to get married:).

 They think it's fun to see light reflections on the ceiling and these little colored coins they have work perfect for seeing purple, green and gold circles on the ceiling when the light comes in our windows in the morning...(and yes, Layla is wearing a hat and ear muffs with her jammies:D)

 Stylin' in her big sissy's Princess Tiana glasses...

And while Layla and I were at Target on Saturday, Joe sent me this pretty pathetic looking picture of Gibs with his pink eyes!  I feel so bad for him, but thankfully once we started the drops, it has gotten much better!  Poor kid could barely open his eyes:(.

Disney Show

The Zeeland High Madrigals were putting on a show this weekend with all Disney songs.  We went with Auntie Em and Gavin and Gavin's two cousins, Ellie and Lindsie.  The Madrigals did a great job singing/acting out a variety of Disney songs and Layla loved it. It was an hour and a half show and it kept her interest the whole time.  I was planning to take Gibs too but wasn't sure if he would sit very well for that long and then he ended up getting pink eye shortly before we left so he didn't end up coming with.  I think he would have had a hard time sitting for that long.

Layla and I had to eat on the go as we left right when Joe got home from work Friday night and she is quite possibly the slowest eater in the world so she was still eating when we got to Auntie Em's.  And then still wanted to finish her old nuggets when we got back in the car after the show was done.

 Buzz and Ariel excited for the show!

 Layla and Ellie...

 Layla and Lindsie...

 A couple of times they had things for the kids to go up there and dance or march so Layla went up with Lindsie during the marching one.  Gavin wasn't interested in going up.

A group shot of those of us wearing Disney attire...



We had a great Easter weekend celebrating Christ's death and resurrection with our families!  Saturday we headed to my dad and Joyce's for lunch and an Easter egg hunt, and Sunday we went Joe's family for lunch and a hunt.

Auntie Christina cuddly with Greta. Greta didn't nap long in the morning and then woke up right when we got to Grampy and Gigi's so she was exhausted.

 Harper sleeping in her chair...

 Gibs finding an egg...

 Layla and her eggs...

 Gavin and Layla comparing their eggs...

 

 Opening their eggs...

 Daddy and Gibs...

 Auntie Kristina and Greta watching through the window...

 Enjoying their bunnies...

Sunday after church...

 The kids didn't really have an egg hunt--it was a candy hunt.  They had fun looking for candy in the yard! 

 The "kids" (meaning Heidi, Steve, Joe, Rachael ane me) also had a hunt.  Joe's parents hid eggs in the woods that we had to look for.  We've done egg hunts with them for years and it's always fun.  The adults not only get candy in their eggs but money as well:).  Steve and Joe had the most amount of eggs (they are a bit more aggresive with looking) but Heidi and I ended up with more money in our eggs:).

 Showing their Slinky Dogs from their Easter baskets...

 Cheese!

 Greta was so tired!

 Finally asleep...

 Greta's basket...

4 Months

Greta turned 4 months on the 25th.  She is still just a sweet little girl and is still at such a nice stage.  She still likes playing on her activity mat and really loves sitting in her little striped chair and her Bumbo.  She had her 4 month appointment last Thursday and did great!  We waited a bit for the doctor, then she had her appointment, then we waited some more for the nurses to come in to give her her shots.  She started getting a little grumpy and sleepy while waiting for the nurses.  When the nurse came in to give her the oral vaccine, I set her on the table and she drank the vaccine right up and then started falling asleep.  I don't think I've ever had a baby fall asleep on the cold paper on the table (or at least not at this age) before while waiting for shots:).  It was sad to have to wake her up then to give her the shots:(. 
She is currently in size 2 diapers and blows out of them all the time!  She just moved up to 2's since we used up the last box of 1's we had and 2's fit fine.  She has had WAY more blow out diapers than my other kids though!  And I don't think it's the fault of the diaper--there's just a lot of poop:).  She doesn't poop that often, so when she does, she gets it all out at once.  She has had many outfit changes and quick baths!  She rolled over from back to front a couple of days before she turned 4 months but hasn't since then.  She gets close, but not quite all the way over.  She is probably basically on the same schedule she was on at 3 months except we've been putting her to bed a little earlier at night now.  She wakes up around 8:30 normally, eats her 6 oz breakfast bottle, the naps about an hour around 10.  Then eats lunch around noon.  Then takes an afternoon nap for anywhere from 1-4 hours, it just depends on the day.  Normally she sleeps at least 1 1/2-2.  She then eats around 3:30 (6 oz) then naps again around 5:30 and then eats her supper bottle (6 oz) around 7 and goes to bed right after her bottle.  And then sleeps until 8:30ish and does it all again the next day:).  She was getting 5 bottles in a day until recently and four seems to be working better.  It's nice to be able to put her to bed before the other two go to bed except it allows no time for cleaning up supper if one of us is gone since we normally don't eat supper  until about 6:30. So then it's eat supper, quick feed her, put her down and then put the other two down.  Then clean up supper and anything else that needs to be picked up.  And I need to fit pumping into that schedule.  It definitely feels a lot busier having 3 little ones.  I'm wore out by 9:30!  I wouldn't trade it for anything and love having Greta has part of our family, but it definitely keeps us busy!  She wears 3-6 months clothes.  She had a 0-3 month shirt on today and it was really hugging her curves:).  She is still on all breast milk and I'm still getting extra to freeze.  I'm getting sick of putting my milk in freezer bags, but I know it'll be nice for when I stop pumping to have a nice supply and not have to spend money on formula.  I'll probably cut back and slowly quit when the whether starts getting nicer as it's harder to fit pumping in with going outside since I don't trust leaving my kids outside if I can't see/hear them from inside, so I don't pump while they're outside. 

Here are her stats:
Weight - 13 lbs 10.5 oz 50th %
Height - 24.5" 50th %
Head - 40.1 cm 25th%

She is growing healthy and still has plenty of cheeks to squeeze:).   The doctor said that her top of her head looks nice and round, it's just the flat spot on her back left side now.  She starts therapy soon to help her look to her right more and tomorrow is getting and x-ray of her head just to make sure her plates aren't closing early.  He doesn't think that's what it is since you can tell by how she lays looking left that that's where her head is flat, but he just wants to make sure.
Laying on Gibs' panda pillow (he LOVES pandas, I'm surprised he was okay with her laying on it)...

Looking cool in sissy's Princess Tiana glasses...

 She now has her own little prayer doll to pose by for her monthly shots...

 A quick pic before church this morning...

 Gibs just recently started wanting to smile for pictures which worked well since he had his two year pictures yesterday.

 Poor Layla fell down the steps tonight as we about to load up in the car to head over to Auntie Heidi and Uncle Steve's house.  She landed on her face on our landing (tile) and had a bloody nose. Normally Gibs is always the one getting injured, not Layla.  He actually fell down the stairs on Friday which is random b/c they don't normally fall down stairs!

This also isn't about Greta, but today for Palm Sunday the kids all walked in with palm branches which was cute.  Layla stood there pretty sternly waving her branch, but she said later that she liked doing it.  And of course Gibs had fun with his.  As soon as we gave him one (after we picked him up from nursery), he hit his buddy Owen on the head with it.  Good thing they're soft:).

Greta with Harper last week...

 Having fun playing the piano...

 She loves to smile, I love it!  She has also started giggling more and more which is cute.

 Layla wanted a picture of them together in their dot shirts:)...