Split Rock

This spring, Daddy found out that he was selected as a candidate at a special school for work. After our Myrtle Beach trip, we had just a few weeks at home before Daddy would have to leave Charleston until just before Christmas (that's right over 5 months!!).  Unfortunately, work took him away for a week during our final days together at home. Fortunately though he was able to take a few extra days off work in addition to his travel days before starting school so we loaded up both cars and headed north.  The drive wasn't too bad.  We followed each other and took lots of breaks.  Colin wasn't too fond of the whole experience, but hung in there till we finally made it to New Freedom.  We stayed the night and woke up the next morning just to get back in the car and drive some more.  Our excitement helped us get through the three hour drive since we knew once we got to our destination we'd be able to get these three together again....

The Derry clan had already been at Split Rock with Nana and Grandpa since Sunday when we showed up on Thursday afternoon.  We had four days together with the Goodwillie side of the family before having to leave and say bye to Daddy.

It didn't take long for Liam to begin sharing everything and anything with Colin.  He was so sweet and caring with him the entire trip. 

Soon after arriving we drove to the lake where Joergen and Colin spent some time getting reacquainted.

Colin got his first feel of the lake.

Grandpa was anxious to get Colin out on the boat so we suited him up and piled in.

The whole experience was nerve wracking for Mommy who couldn't help envisioning Colin flying out of the boat the whole time.  Daddy and Grandpa on the other hand were much more laid back.  Colin even got a chance to drive the boat. 

He survived the ride and was all smiles with Grandpa and Daddy afterwards.

Colin's new favorite place to be: on top of Daddy's shoulders while playing with his ears...

For our first night, Nana made an awesome meal which we ate on the veranda.

Lately, Colin's nightly routine is to crawl around for a good half hour following dinner.  On our way back to the room Liam joined Colin on his evening crawl. 

Later, Aunt Jen caught this sweet shot before bed.

The next morning, Colin chowed down on some eggs (that boy seriously loves eggs!!).

After Colin took his naps we spent another day at the lake.  Can you tell he was excited?

Swimming in the lake with Nana

The resort was having fireworks on Friday evening so we headed down early to get a good spot.  There's Colin on his favorite spot again holding on tight...to Daddy's ears!

Love this one of brother and sister with their little ones.

It was a gorgeous night so we used the opportunity to take some family photos.

Nana and Grandpa love.

Three generations.

With the grandkids...Liam and Colin are so funny together.

We also passed the time listening to the band.  Liam had no trouble getting in on the action...

While Uncle Anthony helped Colin sway to the music.

Turns out the fireworks didn't start till after 10:00pm.  Our 7:00pm on the dot sleeper was exhausted! After the first firework he started crying.  We tried to stay but ended up leaving before the finale because Mommy just felt so bad feeling Colin's little heart beat so fast. 

It must not have tramautized him too badly because he was all smiles with Aunt Jen the next day.

On our last full day, Colin and Joergen really started warming up to each other...well, sort of...

Joergen wasn't too sure what he thought about Colin sharing his toys...

After some deliberation he decided he definitely didn't like it!

It didn't take long for them to make friends again and check out their reflections together in the door.

Back to eyeing up what the other has...

And making up again with hugs (This is how Joergen hugged Colin the whole time, it was adorable.  I didn't quite catch the shot but he would lovingly lay his head against Colin's)

Our last day was hard on Daddy who was beginning to get depressed about leaving us for so long.

Colin made sure to give Daddy lots of lovin and let him know we'll be just fine while he's away.

What a sweet boy he is!

After having a little pity party for ourselves over our situation, we enjoyed another day at the lake and lots more cuddles with Nana!

Daddy's cousin, Anne, and her family visited for the day. It was great to see her and her husband along with their sweet girls.

It just so happened to be Nana and Grandpa's anniversary as well.  After a long day they finally had a few moments at the end of the night to relax together and open some presents.

Thank you Nana and Grandpa for providing yet another awesome vacation for all of us! 

Colin's Nursery

Better late than never...some photos of Colin's nursery:

A painting by Mommy for Colin of the C17.

Chiropractor

While working on the scrapbook for our blog I spent a lot of time looking over photos of Colin from the first few months of his life.  I cringed every time I saw pictures like these:

Which was pretty much all of them.  Colin spent a lot of time in his carseat or swing at the beginning since he seemed happiest and most content when in them.  Looking back, I wish I held him more, had him sleep flat more, and made him do more tummy-time (just for you Aunt Sis) but then I remember how he was uncomfortable when held and was impossible to get to sleep without the constant movement of the stroller/car/swing.  I didn't realize it then but it all had to do with his poor little neck. We often tried to move his head but he would cry and fuss till you let him put it back.  We tried to use a few contraptions to whole his head straight but he just got upset.  Luckily we did finally find the noggin nest which made me feel much better (remember this?) 

We discussed Colin's neck at every doctor appointment, we even saw different pediatricians at the practice we go to along with a pediatrician down in Alabama when we were living there and they all said he was perfectly fine.  Their suggestions were unhelpful and weren't going to make a significant difference.  In October, when Colin was three months, Nana's cousin, Sister Mary Anne suggested we take him to someone who would do CranioSacral therapy. She really felt something should be done.  As soon as we got back to South Carolina we made an appointment with Colin's pediatrician, who guess what?  assured us yet again that he was fine and suggested the noggin nest (which I had already bought - no help!).  We listened to the doctor and sort of let it go....

We should have listened to Sister Mary Anne because meanwhile Colin continued to be uncomfortable in certain positions, cried when he was on his belly, and still wouldn't lay his head on us when he was held.  Jump forward to January, Colin is now six months.  Tim and I go out for the evening and get a babysitter (a sixty-something grandma who was formerly an early-childhood teacher).  She had never met Colin before and he was asleep when she arrived.  We crossed our fingers that he would stay asleep the short time we were gone like he had for the nights before.  No luck, he was up within 15 minutes.  She went into his dark room, rocked and comforted him back to sleep (over an hour and a half later).  When we came home she wanted to talk with us...?? We thought ok...and she proceeds to ask about Colin's birth experience.  She said she didn't want to seem odd and intrusive and had contemplated even saying anything thinking we may never ask her back but she decided the child needed to come first.  She explained how she could tell, even in the dark, when holding him that he just could not get comfortable.  She was concerned with his neck and strongly suggested we see a chiropractor (her grandson went when he was having trouble and it helped him greatly).  We really had stopped worrying about it and figured like the doctors said that it would get better.  My chiropractor had done some work on Colin but nothing significant. I was never fully comfortable with her working on him and wanted to find someone who specialized in children.  We were able to find someone the next day and set Colin up with an appointment.

Colin immediately warmed up to Dr. McCoy but some of the things she did in the beginning hurt and he wasn't a happy camper.  We saw changes in Colin within a week of starting and it just got better from there.  Colin went several times a week at first and now (5 months later) we are down to every two weeks.  Colin's head is reforming nicely and he has a lot more ease in his movements.  To think that his pediatrician said "Oh my nephew is eleven and a genius with a very misshaped head. It doesn't have an effect on anything."  Ok so it may not effect anything in your brain but do I really want my son having a huge flat spot on his pretty little noggin for the rest of his life? No.

These days Colin look gets excited when he sees Dr. McCoy.  You can actually see the look of "Ahhh that feels so good" when Dr. McCoy is readjusting him.  Sure sometimes he still cries a little but for the most part it's all happy faces.

"Look at me mom! I'm a pro at being readjusted!"

I strongly believe Colin would not be moving like he is today without chiropractic care.  It has made all the difference in the world.  I was already a believer in chiropractic for myself but now I am for Colin and our future children as well.  It's done wonders for my back, reduced my spine curvature from scoliosis, and gave me a great pregnancy and delivery minus the whole Colin's head/neck being totally smashed in the womb and when coming out.  For Colin, it has given him significantly more movement in his neck, readjusted him to support crawling, and helped to reshape his head.  Oh and one more thing, at Colin's last visit he had a cold and had coughed all night the night before. At the end of his appointment Dr. McCoy asked if he'd been coughing and said she could see the effects and did some things to help.  No lie, Colin didn't cough all night that night or any night since even though he still had his cold!  Have a sold you on chiropractic yet? :)