Upcoming Checkup!

Tomorrow is Ari's second CranioCap checkup!

I am really excited about it. It has been two weeks since his first followup appointment, and I really do feel like I can tell a difference. I am hoping that the specialist will confirm that she also sees an improvement!

Helmet wearing has been going pretty well. Ari still doesn't care about the helmet. He's indifferent to it being on, and simply rubs his forehead a lot when it's off. He uses his hands, the netting on his crib, my shoulder or any other surface he can find, which is kind of funny. I guess it does itch under there, but he never complains.

Ari's forehead rash had gone away after we started only washing his head every-other day and his helmet out once a day with rubbing alcohol, not soap. But, the past few days it has resurfaced, and brought along with it what looks to be some eczema on the right side of his head above his ear. That got really bad at one point. The skin was raw, and I couldn't figure out what to do about it. Every time we would take the helmet off, his hair would be crusted onto his head in that area from the fluid accumulating over the raw area. And I wasn't supposed to wash it, so I was stumped. Then Drew suggested putting gauze on that area under the helmet. I had thought about that, but didn't think it would work since the helmet fits so snugly. But with our powers combined, we were able to figure out how to get it under there. It helped a LOT. I've actually been considering putting some gauze under the helmet on his forehead too, to see if that makes any difference with his forehead rash. I need to buy more gauze today.

So, it has been about 3 weeks now since Ari got his helmet... one week short of a month. I am surprised with how quickly the time has gone by, and very thankful. It gives me hope that the next month to three months will go by quickly also. = )


*Above right is a fun photo of Ari playing with my sister's dog Choshi's collar, while his cousin Caleb plays with the velcro on his helmet. Helmets provide fun times for all! ; ) *

Udi's Gluten-Free Breads!!

Oh my goodness.. I have just discovered a new favorite gluten-free bread! I guess this is just a weekend of discovery for me! = )

So, Cub Foods apparently just switched gluten-free bread brands on me. I have been buying Food For Life- Almond & Brown Rice Bread. It was quite tasty, but definitely had a more pound cake texture, and was best when you toasted it. Well, I went shopping this past week and they didn't have it. I was like, "ARG!!, now I can't have sandwiches this week..." when I noticed that they had a different brand of gluten-free bread, so I picked some up to try.

Udi's Gluten-free Whole Grain Bread is AWESOME! You don't even have to toast it if you don't want to! It's has a much more "normal bread" texture. Toasted, it even reminded me of a bread you would use for bruschetta; very light but moist! (I am currently envisioning using it to make croutons so that I can have stuffing for Thanksgiving!!...)

This bread is not only gluten-free, but it is also wheat-free and soy-free. It does contain eggs though. Although I am sensitive to eggs, I have never had a problem eating the small amount that is in most baked goods such as bread.

Buying gluten-free bread is pricey, but I have decided for myself that the standard of living I experience by getting to eat sandwiches daily is very worth the cost, because even though I would like to think I'm domestic enough to bake my own gluten-free bread on a regular basis someday, the reality is that I probably won't. = )




Also, check out Udi's Gluten-Free Bread Products at their website here, because they have a handful of other products that look amazing, and you can order everything online!