Drum Roll Please...

Here it is!!!  Henry's new helmet!  I have to say, since my last post about how much I despise the dreaded thing, my feelings have softened a bit.   The helmet is stretching a bit, which makes it easier to get on and off.  Henry no longer sweats the way he did when he first got it, which, coupled with the fact that I now use a LOT more alcohol to clean it, has made the sweaty smell go away.  Or am I just used to it?  I can't say for sure, but I have learned to kiss Henry around the helmet.  And they did grind the face opening larger (believe it or not) so I can see him better.  And best of all, we can already see an improvement in the shape of Henry's head!

And YES... it really is that big!  I have to admit, the whole process of making the helmet is really fascinating!  Really!!!!  There is a laser that takes topographic measurements of his head, and the computers generate a 3-D image, all of which is sent to the Star Band company, who makes a sculpture of Henry's head in all its lopsided perfection.  Then they use plaster to build up the sculpture in the necessary areas to achieve symmetry, and make the helmet to fit the modified sculpture.  So basically, the helmet is not changing Henry's existing structure at all. Rather, as he grows, the already large areas of his head will meet with the resistance of the helmet, and he will grow into the cavities instead, filling out the helmet.  I actually think it is pretty ingenious, and feel really grateful.  Especially after talking to a woman at the pool, who said when her daughter's was done "in the beginning" of cranial molding the process including slathering dripping plaster all over her furious and uncooperative baby's head... yikes.  

One more surprising thing: everywhere we go, we are inundated with stories of people whose children had to wear one of these things!  Is it just because of the town we live in, and the simple fact that they are available here?  It truely seems as if all of a sudden everyone has or has had a helmet!  Anyway, my fingers are literally so cold that it is impossible to type accurately or quickly because we have no heat... it is in the teens and bitterly cold and windy outside, and a brisk 48 degrees inside (well, it was "brisk" about thirty-something-hours-ago, now it is just "get-the-friggin'-heater-fixed-already" cold) and I am getting too frustrated with deleting and retyping my sentences to continue!  Enjoy the pics!