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born April 20th, 1999 6:19 pm 9 lb. 3 oz. 22+1/2" long
My mommy and daddy are Donna and Chuck. My big brother's name is Chuckie--he is four years old. I am already 5 months old (this big girl picture shows me at 3 months, right after my Christening). The doctor told my mommy that she better watch out--I'm a strong girl! I have been rolling over onto my tummy for over a month, and can push up on one hand while reaching for a toy with the other. I can almost sit up by myself, but I still wobble. Daddy helps me to stand up, and I can stay there and dance a long time. I love playing with Mommy's hair and laughing when Daddy tickles me. Chuckie can make me laugh, too! He is a great brother and even lets me hold some of his toys (sometimes). This past week, I realized that sucking on my big toe is great fun! And I had Grandma hysterical playing the No-No game!
I took a long time to come into the world. Mommy was in labor for 50 hours, and pushed for 3+1/2 hours. After trying everything, the doctor helped deliver me by cesearan. We found out a few weeks later why. Mommy and Daddy had noticed a bump on my forehead after I was born, and it turned out to be something called craniosynostosis. Babies are suppossed to have openings in their skulls so that mommies can push them out and the new brain can grow very fast. Part of my skull closed too early. So my brain was pushing on the other side of my head, making a bump. The doctors explained that this is not going to hurt me for now, but that it will have to be fixed. They also told us that this happens more often than people realize--about one in 1000 births. I will have surgery in January to reshape my forehead and my left eye. The kind of craniosynostosis that I have is called unilateral coronal, which means the suture (or natural opening) that runs from the top of my head to just behind my ear is the one that fused too quickly. My doctors are from New York University Medical Center. They think that I will only need this one surgery (maybe one other minor one if I get a crossed eye from the first surgery). They are going to use reabsorbable plastic to keep my bones in the right place--after one year, the only thing left will be my own hard head! For now, I'm having a great time with Mommy, Daddy and brother Chuckie, and getting smarter by the day! Mommy has even collected lots of hats for me to dress up in. And while this whole thing may make everyone a little worried, I'll only be in the hospital for 5 days and I won't remember it in a few months. ;)
