9 months old!!! Already!!!!!

Austin is lovin his puffs now (which is a nice surprise since he's really just not that into food...he loves his bottles but food is like "eh" to him).  And big bro is always there to help out (and eat even more of them than Austin does).  Funny to watch.  (Don't mind the big 'ol trash bag in the backround, it was garbage night)

(Video was actually taken two weeks ago, but couldn't get it to download.  Now, Austin has completely mastered this task, and is really developing that pincher grasp!!)

Austin's other new feat for last week was to wait until just before the flash goes off on the camera and then scream out (flail out) in joy as the picture is taken.  One happy lil goose I have....

And of course, the moment we have been waiting for (not really, haha)....the HELMET arrived on monday.  Went better than I thought it would go.  George (our cranial tech) put the helmet on Austin and he just looked at him...no tears.  It was almost as though he was like "what are you doing to me guy?"  George went over all the basics with me and then had me take it off Austin while he made a few adjustments.  Within 10 minutes, we were done.  Got out into the lobby of the office and the tears started to flow. I was able to head them off with his "passy".  We got out to the car, got in, and headed out.  Got about 1/2 mile down the road and the tears began again.  By the time we were a few minutes down the road, Austin was screaming!  Of course at this point I'm on the highway and there is nowhere to pull over, but after about 10 minutes, I'm able to.  I give Austin a bottle (he was hungry on top of it all, so that didn't help).  After the bottle, we headed home, with just a few more whimpers before he fell asleep.  Got home and he has done great ever since. 

And the biggest worry of mine was the shunt...which I'm happy to report they carved out a section for the shunt in the helmet, so it doesn't rest on it directly.  It is a little big though, so it tends to move slightly when Austin is resting his head on something.  But, so far so good.  Took 5 days to get him up to the full wear of 23 hours a day.  He had it on all day today (closer to about 22 hours, but still....)  And he has turned into quite the dare devil.  Its like he knows the helmet is protecting his lil noggin, so he'll just thrust his head full force forward, fall backwards, sideways, you name it...he's doing it now!!!  And he's laughing.  Keep him in your thoughts throughout these next few months of molding.....he's a GOOSE alright!

And last week, the gooser turned 9 months old.  Gosh, where did the time go?  Seriously.  Just goes so fast.  He is clapping and babbling and we are loving every minute of it.  He's soooo nosy too, just makes me laugh.  And boy oh boy has that separation anxiety kicked in, especially with me.  I get home from work and if I don't go over and pick him up immediately (because I do have to come in and wash my hands :)), he's crying hysterically.  I can't leave the room without him crying.   Its cute, but its been hard getting any mommy time lately.  I'm not complaining though.

Had our second snow storm of the winter today.  First one doesn't really seem like it counted though because it was in October.  Jake had an absolute blast playing in it...Austin, not so much.  I'm not sure if he was too cold or if he just didn't know what to make of it, or if he was tired, or what...but he was very quiet and just kinda hung out.  But the Goose wouldn't be the Goose if he wasn't smiling, even when he's cranky...

And the aftermath of a hard days play in the snow...

 Good day in Weyville.....

Happy New Year (and Merry Christmas)

Happy New Year to all of my blogger followers!  And while I'm at it, Merry BELATED Christmas.  This holiday season just came and went like a flash this year.  But it was a great holiday nonetheless.  Jake was so excited for Santa this year and really into Christmas and New Years.  And of course, it was a first for Austin with both, so it was extra special. 

As for Austin, he's doing great.  He's sitting all by himself, making great progress with physical therapy and gross motor skills, eating "Puffs" and textured foods and growing like a weed (he's up to 20 pounds).  We made a tough decision this past week...Austin will be getting a cranial helmet for the shaping of his head.  With Austin's Torticollis, he tends to favor one side of his head, especially with sleeping.  This has unfortunately caused a flat spot on the back left of his head.  Its nothing major, but its enough that its started to become noticeable and had caused his ears to be slightly off center.  Getting a helmet in and of itself certainly isn't a huge deal, but when you add a cranial helmet into the mix of a child with a shunt, it can get a little tricky.  I'm still super nervous about it, but they have assured me that there will be a cut out so that the helmet doesn't apply direct pressure on the shunt.  Austin has a very mild case of plagiocephaly (flat head), but because he is almost 9 months old already, he is most likely going to be in the helmet about 4 months.  He is expected to get it in about 2 weeks.  Please keep him in your prayers for a smooth transition and only positive effects. 

Now before the montage of pictures, I leave you with a funny video.  Jake is singing his "Sleigh bells" song, which he knows every single word to, however because Austin is distracting him, he is like a broken record and just keeps singing the same lines over and over.  I think I even caught a yawn in there.  All the while, happy head lil Austin is just doing his thing....fun stuff!!!  No words for how awesome their interaction together is.

Jake's new Spiderman Bike

New Years Eve!