First Day of Physical Therapy

No pictures for this entry... sorry about that.

Renee started her physical therapy for her Torticollis this past Monday. Everyone was shocked at how she slept through the entire session, and didn't care about us stretching her neck at all. However when we got home and started her stretches at home, she cried the entire time. I guess it hurts worse than she made it look like when we were at the therapist.

For those who are not aware of why Renee has to go the physical therapy, let me explain. When Renee was in my belly she positioned herself in a way that caused one side of her neck muscles to become elongated, thus making the opposite side constricted. When this constriction happens to the neck muscles, it causes her to become unable to hold her head straight. With proper therapy, we should be able to relieve this crick in her neck and allow her to hold her head straight.

Along with physical therapy, Renee also had to go get her eyes checked this week because her Torticollis was causing one of her pupils to dilate larger than the other. This appointment was by far the hardest thing for me to watch. It made shots look like going to get ice cream. The doctor had to dilate her eyes, then have four people hold her down while forcing her eye open so they could check her eye sight. She is farsighted, but no glasses just yet; they will monitor this as she gets older to see if they are actually needed.

Renee is doing great with all these doctors, and knowing that we are going to be able to help her get rid of this Torticollis is a great feeling. Once this is fixed she will not have any problems with her pupils, no risk of scoliosis, or flat spots on her head!!!!


-Rachel

Note to any mothers out there who have to take their baby to get their eyes checked:
Take tissues because you will cry when you are watching your child being held down and screaming.

My First Halloween

I thought I would send a little post Halloween cheer to everyone reading my blog! Renee had a good time celebrating her first Halloween with us; even though she couldn't have the candy. I was able to take some cute pictures of her throughout the day and figured everyone would like to see some!

When it was time to get ready to go to Grandma and Grandpa Barnes' house, she got all dolled up as a ballerina! I had to stop and snap a few pictures of her before we took off. It was not long until she realized that the tutu was itchy.... and then.....

She wanted out of her outfit NOW!!!!!

Overall, we had a nice relaxing Halloween passing out candy at Scott's parents house and had 48 tricker treaters roll by the Barnes' candy jar!!!!

Grandmommy!!

This past weekend my mom came to see us three! I know she was just here for 2 1/2 weeks when Renee was born, but man o man did I need some mom time!! It was so great to see her and to be able to share all of Renee's new personality traits with her. I was so excited that she was here, that I let her take all the pictures, so of course I have non to post. :( I will have to post some when she emails them to me. (hint hint mom!)

While she was here we went to the annual Barnes' Pumpkin Carving party, where I took 1st place in the carving contest!!!!!!! The first time I have ever won!! Renee wore the cutest outfit and was actually able to spend a little time with her cousin Ella, who was in a good mood that night!

We also got to treat my mom to our favorite tacos from Bobby's, and then took a lonnnngggg walk with Kristen in Woodward Park!

Overall, my favorite time was just being at home watching her play with Renee. you never know how much you mean to your own mother until you see her hold your daughter. I truly hope I am half the mother that she was for Stephanie and I. I learned from the best and I hope she is proud of me so far.

I love you mom and can't wait to see you and the whole family at Christmas!!!!

51 days and counting!

Tummy Trouble...

This picture explains what Scott and I have been dealing with for the past three days. Something has caused our well tempered Renee to become an unhappy baby. The word all infants dread... GAS.

Poor thing has had the worst indigestion and can't seem to work it out. After throwing out all the milk I pumped for those two days, giving her mylicon drops, putting a warm towel on her belly, giving her warm baths, swaddling her, and letting her sleep on my belly, we FINALLY figured out what it was; the bottles! Thank you again to Stephanie who reminded me that these stupid Dr. Brown bottles have a bad reputation for giving babies horrible gas.

I want to send this picture to the makers of these bottles and show them that they are false advertising. These bottle claim to help with colic and gas; YEAH RIGHT!!

They should advertise this picture and say "Want gas, use Dr. Browns."

Kink in the Neck

Ever since Renee has been born she seems to have a favored head position. She always looks to her right. Being the hypochondriac that I am, I have been obsessed with her head shape since day 1. When we took her to the doctor for a weight check the nurse gave us some exercises to do with her to try to stretch out those little neck muscles. We have been working with Renee for a month now; and although she seems to be getting better with moving her head around and holding it up, she still seems to be favoring the right side.

Stephanie is awesome and has done some research on some free physical therapy that could help out. I have found some more exercises and plan on looking into all of this. I don't want Renee to have a crooked neck her whole life. (I know I am over reacting) I just keep getting these dreams that she is going to be 16 and only able to look at people who are sitting to the right of her. ha ha ha

If anyone has anymore suggestions on how to help stretch those muscles, please feel free to send them my way, because I want to get this kink out of our little girls neck.

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!

I thought I would post a few new pictures of Renee! Hope you enjoy!!!

It's been a crazy year!

I thought that now we officially have a baby, I should start this blogging thing up again. Since my last post, I graduated college, started working for Scott's family, then got pregnant! We welcomed a healthy baby girl into the world on September 5, 2010. Renee was born at 1:59pm and weighed 7 pounds and 14 ounces.

My whole family was here for the birth and I could not thank them enough for all the help and support they gave to Scott and I during the first 2 weeks of parenthood.

We are having such a wonderful time getting to know her and watching her grow.

She is now 1 month old and proving to be quite the GT baby. She is already holding her head up on her own and smiling at you whenever you talk to her. We are so lucky to have such a well tempered baby and I hope she stays that way.

I hope my friends and family enjoy this blog. I am looking forward to posting pictures and updating all of my family on what's going on in our lives. More pictures to come!

Thank you for all the love,

Rachel