Linc's cyst and the future PT

Update: We found out last week that Lincoln's cyst is entirely enclosed in bone so for now surgery is not necessary. YIPEE!!!! They don't think it will grow anymore and just get smaller and smaller as his head grows. There is a possibility of it continuing to grow but it's not likely. They will check it again in six months just to make sure it's not growing. Again THANK YOU for your prayers. They were answered, I am sure of it!!! I was so worried about putting him under general anesthetic for the scan but was told it would be absolutely necessary. When we got there though, the nurse said we could try and get him to sleep instead of putting him under!! Lincoln never ever takes a binkie, but he did that day! We swaddled him up, stuck a binkie in his mouth and he went to sleep within 5 minutes. We laid him on the table, they did the scan and we were on our way!!! After that I thought I would maybe try to get him to take a binkie again but he has had no interest since!

Lincoln works so hard during therapy and Jezelle's new favorite thing is to play "physical therapist". Yup- most kids play house, mine plays physical therapist. She gets a piece of paper and a pen, and then likes Lincoln to sit in all of his adaptive chairs and equipment so she can tell me what exercises to do with him. It's pretty cute. She sounds exactly like Lincoln's real physical therapist- who comes to our house every week. Last week the PT gave Jezelle a real sheet of paper, from her work, that Jezelle could take notes on. Oh boy was she excited! Who knows- maybe she'll grow up to be a physical therapist!

Jezelle absolutely LOVES to make her little brother laugh.

Lincoln works so hard to do all of his exercises but when he's done,

he's D-O-N-E!

The Swing

When Lincoln started physical therapy his therapist, Katie, asked me what was most important to me right now for him to be working on. I told her I wanted him to be able to hold his head up. I remember with Jezelle life got much easier (and we were all much happier!) when she could sit up and hold her head up well ...and we have finally arrived at this moment with Lincoln! ...Of course now I have a much more extensive list of things I want him to be doing, but for now I'll savor this moment. And now finally he can enjoy himself at the park! He loves to swing.

And although a bit wobbly still, he can sit up!

CT scan

Tomorrow we take Lincoln into Children's to have the bump on his head looked at. He's getting CT scan done (update on this situation below). I worry because he will have to be put under general anastasia but have to keep telling myself that this is normal and "routine" for these doctors. No biggie, right?!! Sure.....

The other day we were driving in the car and out of the blue Jezelle said, "Mommy, is Lincoln growing better??" I forget sometimes that she's processing all of this as much as we are, just in a "almost 4-year-old" way. One thing I know for sure though is, these two sure do love each other! Jezelle has figured out how to make Lincoln laugh and loves doing it. He adores her. And I adore watching it!

Update on Lincoln:

(this photo was taken a month ago when we had to rush Linc to the ER because he was throwing up blood! For some reason they weren't too concerned.)

Most of you know the following info but for those of you who don't, here is the latest news on Lincoln:

Long story short: Lincoln has had a bump on the side of his head since he was born and ever since all the doctors have said it's a hematoma (just a cluster of blood cells- which is no big deal) and that it will go away. But it hasn't so my pediatrician (who is amazing, thank goodness!!!!!) sent us to the craniofacial clinic at Children's Hospital yesterday. The surgeon took one look at Lincoln and said 'that's NOT a hematoma!" He thinks it's a cyst or some type of a benign something, so we need to have a CT scan done to look at the actual bone before a plan is made (since all we have right now is an MRI that doesn't scan bone very well). Depending on what TYPE of cyst it is he will have to have surgery. The surgeon said it might not be a big deal and we would just keep an eye on it (if it's IN the bone), a little minor surgery if it's above the bone (outpatient, one day...) however, if it's below the skull than we will have to involve a neurosurgeon since they would have to DRILL a whole in Linc's skull to get it out.

We have been so incredibly blessed with amazing friend and family and since everyone is always asking us what they can do to help, for now, all we'd love are prayers sent Lincoln's way! I hesitated to even send an email out or say anything, since it might be nothing at all, but I thought twice when I have seen such incredible progress from Lincoln recently and I KNOW it's not by chance, but because of all the thoughts and prayers from you! And, let's be honest, regardless of how "serious" the surgery is, as a mom, I think I'll have a freak out if there is ANY surgery involved really. So for now, we're just not going to worry about it until we know if surgery is needed or not, and just pray that things will go as they are suppose to! Thank goodness the doctors don't think at this point there is any concern of the bump being cancerous! Again, we thank all of you for your love, support and prayers. We are so blessed!!!!!!!

love, Joie and Shane