The Saga of the Big Head

Ok guys, I know I've mentioned Eli's recent head trauma, but I can't remember if I have given all the details here or on Facebook or what. And to keep people from worrying, here's the scoop. It's really not a big deal.

So, since he was a wee bean in my belly, he's been a bean with a giant noggin. His head always measured a week older than his body and gestational age on ultra sound. Then, I gave birth to him, and I can attest, his head was large then too.

Every pediatric visit since his birth has gone like this:
~The nurse takes us back and does all his measurements (he hollars).
~The doctor comes in and whips out the laptop to show us his growth charts. He gets to the head growth chart and says, "This can't be right."
~The doctor measures his head again and sure enough, it's really that big.
~We discuss further testing. It goes a little something like..."His head is crazy big, but his development is right on...so...let's wait until the next appointment and see if his growth curve actually begins to curve."
~And we go in every 3 months (instead of every 6) to have his gourd measured.

All this extra attention has made him super anxious around anything medical. He freaks out at his appointments, my ob appointments, and even haircut appointments. If someone even looks like they might want to touch his head, he has choice words for them.

So, at his last gourd measuring appointment, the jump was too big to ignore. His growth "curve" is a straight line, and he has gone from being considered "99+ percentile" to "100+ percentile". So, his doc scheduled a CT scan, looking for mass, cysts, or fluid, but expecting to find nothing but brain in there.

CT attempt #1 went as we expected. He screamed, he flailed. They rescheduled us at the Children's hospital for a sedated CT.

CT attempt #2 was a dud. The sedation order never made it to the hospital, so they attempted it awake again. It was just like attempt #1, except he's getting smarter, which basically means he starts freaking out sooner (in this case, at the admission desk, when the lady tried to put his hospital bracelet on. She had to put one on Harry Elephante just to talk him into letting her put one on him).

Today was our third attempt and I almost blew it! I followed the order that he could have nothing but clear liquids this morning. BUT, I forgot to cut him off at 9:15. Thankfully, they were able to shuffle some things around to push ours back a bit. We went back to the waiting room for about another 45 minutes and then they got him prepped. Whew!

It was a little dicey while they took his vitals and prepped him. Then it was real dicey when we all went to the CT room and they administered the happy gas. But it was quick. I held him while they put the mask on him (and he screamed) and in a minute or two he was out. Eric and I waited about 10 minutes in the waiting room and then they came and got us and he was awake and content. He named all the animals on the door to the room where he was prepped. We made glove ballons.
Isn't he cute in his little gown!
Hangin' in there.
Taking a little pre-sedation nap.
This school bus was a hit.

So, it is finished! Thankfully. We expect results in a day or two and we are really not worried at all. There are no other concerns that would point to trouble in his head. He's developing beautifully - some days, in fact, he's too smart!

Here is a fun one of Eli as godzilla destroying tokyo while we waited for the gatorade to clear his system. Good times.

Since they were able to do the scan with just the gas (they were ready with an IV and IV sedatives if needed), the rest of our day was normal and nice. He was not groggy or "floppy" as they warned he might be. He was a total trooper and does not seem any worse for wear.

Thanks for all your support and well wishes. We'll let you know what we find out.