MJ is ONE!!!

Merritt James "MJ" Whitt is ONE!! 

I cant believe that he is one already! Time flies... 

He is so much fun. He is a ball of energy and always on the move. He cant stop moving and every day is getting closer to walking but he is a darn fast crawler. lol

Everyday he finds he can do something new like close his eyes, hide from us, blow kisses, clap his hands, and the Indian noises lol. He loves to eat he would just sit and eat all day if it was up to him. He loves everything there isn't a food he really doesn't like and don't try to eat in front of him and not give him any.Some of his favorite foods are watermelon, blueberries, turkey, and avocado. I know this kid is a healthy eater.  MJ loves anything with noise and any type of truck or car. He is such a little boy he loves his play tools and pushing trucks around. He just started swimming lessons (thank you GG & Grandpa Merritt for that Birthday gift) and he loves it. He likes to put his head under and knows how to hold his breath! He is such a little fishy. 

He also LOVES mickey hints the theme of his Birthday. We also got to go to Disney for his actual birthday. (thank you Great Grandma & Grandpa Merritt) They helped make his birthday so great. Mickey mouse sang happy birthday to MJ is was one of the coolest things seeing his face. He really couldn't believe that mickey was in front of him talking to him. 

MJ had 2 birthday parties I know he is a popular kid! We had a Party in FL and in VA. Thank you to everyone in mine and Nicks family that helped put the parties together. 

Also thank you to all of our friends and family that came to the parties!! 

We had a BLAST!

MJ's 6 Month post opp check up

MJ recently had his 6 month post opp check up!! I cant believe it!! Its so crazy to think that it was only 6 months ago and he is doing amazing. He is such a curious and active little boy. He is trying his hardest to walk right now which is a little scary, but I'm trying not to be paranoid about him hitting his head on everything. He is so tough he usually falls and bounces right back up. I'm the one that is freaking out lol. 

The doctor said everything is going great with his head! YAY! There are a few bumpy spots and his soft spot is still open but they are going to keep an eye on it. MJ goes back in 3 months for another follow up visit.

Here are some pictures of his visit. :)

MJ's Hospital Packing List

Here are some items that were so helpful in the hospital. When I was packing it was hard to know what to pack I just over packed. I brought everything I thought we would possibly use. I wanted to but a few posts together to help others going through cranio surgery. This will help you to know the top items we used and the links to purchase them. 

My biggest tip would be to hold your baby right away. I was encouraged by my doctor to do this. When MJ got fussy or was crying we got him out and held him. This helps because in our case his eyes were swollen shut and then he could feel, smell, and hear us. He calmed down so much when we would hold him. It is also good o he can move around and not just be in one or two positions. 

1. I-Pad Mini -  We used our iPad so much we had music playing non-stop since he woke up from surgery. He has always listened to these CD's so we created a playlist just for him to listen to on repeat. It was a mixture of instrumental music and christian lullabies that we had since he was born. The music calmed him so much. Also make sure you bring your charger we just left ours plugged into the wall. Once he opened his eyes on the 4th day in the hospital he watched Mickey mouse clubhouse which he has always liked. Also make sure you know how to work the guided access mode this is so amazing it locks the iPad so MJ can hold it and he can touch the screen. 

2. Hidden in My Heart: A Lullaby Journey Through Scripture by Jay Stocker - This album is amazing it sings the bible. MJ has loved this since he was born. It calmed him so much when he was in the hospital. 

3. Cloud B Sleep Sheep Sound Machine - MJ has also used this since birth when we were traveling it helped put him to sleep. He loves the ocean sound on this sound machine. I was given this lil sheep as a shower gift and I have used it so much. In the hospital I had the music on and I had this sound machine on his bed playing. When he would fuss we would turn the sound machine back on and he would calm right down. 

4. MAM Anti-Colic 9oz Bottle - Make sure to bring your own bottles to the hospital. When MJ was ready to drink liquids he started on pedialyte. The nurse brought in the bottles he wouldn't take it. I was so happy that I brought his from home he took it right away. Why make him more confused after the surgery give him a bottle/nipple that he knows. 

5. MAM BPA-Free Pacifier -  This is a life saver the sucking was so soothing to him right after surgery. It took us a while when he was born to find the right pacifier. He would gag with most of them when we tried MAM he it was natural to him. Make sure to have a few in case they hit the floor. 

6. Burts Bees Baby Essential Kimono - In the hospital MJ went from hot to cold to hot a lot it was the pain meds that made him like that. He also hated the hospital gown he would pull it off. I wouldn't like it either it was itchy and so awkward to wear. We used this Kimono top it was nice because it doesn't go over their head. Also we didn't put pants on him so we could change his diaper easier we just put a blanket over him. Make sure to have a lot of tops. MJ would throw up when we tried to get him to drink formula. So my mom washed our laundry every night because we went through all of our clothes everyday. 

7. Pedialyte - MJ went through a lot of this. Its all he would drink for the first 4 days. We had to ease him into the formula/ baby food. He would throw up every time we fed him for a bit. The hospital did supply the pedialyte but once we got home we needed a lot of it still. 

8. Similac: Sensitive - MJ has used this formula since he was a baby he only breast fed for a month. 
(thats a whole other story lol) He only likes this formula I have tried to change but he loves this one. I brought it to the hospital just in case and good thing that I did they didn't have this formula. So make sure you bring your formula just in case the hospital you go to doesn't have it. 

9. aden + anais Muslin Swaddle Blanket - These blankets were soooo helpful to have. The blankets in the hospital are so rough and thick. MJ was hot most of the time. These blankets are so nice and soft and thin they are perfect to have just a light cover over him. I had the shirt on him and covered the lower half of him with the blanket. 

**Another useful tip is after surgery in the hospital MJ had to be elevated. He kept sliding down the bed and every time we had to push him up to readjust him he would cry and moan in so much pain from being moved. We had an amazing nurse that showed us a trick to keep him cozy and up on his gel pillow the doctor wanted him to use so he wouldn't get a flat spot on the back of his head. She took a large hospital blanket and rolled it up and wrapped it in a U shape around him. We would rotate him from his back to his side in this U shape blanket. He really relaxed in this compared to just laying in the bed and sliding down. Such a good trick. 

MJ's Check-up 2 months post op (4/2/15)

MJ had a check-up with Dr. Maugans on Thursday April 2nd. He said that MJ is doing great his head is growing like it should be and the shape looks great. MJ's head has a few bumps and lumps that we were concerned about the Dr. said that we shouldn't be concerned about it. The lumps and bumps are to be expected when the skull is growing together and getting thinker. He said most grown adults have lumps and bumps on their skulls but they are not noticeable. We are so pleased with the results of MJ's surgery since the surgery he actually naps. Previous to the surgery he never napped maybe if he did it was 15min or so. Now he is taking 2hr naps 1 to 2 times a day. The Dr. said he hears this a lot with this surgery. MJ is healing so great he is even swimming now. He is such a water baby. Swimming post to come!! The pictures below are from his check-up with Dr. Maugans. They had to measure his head and check his vitals. He goes back for another check-up in the beginning of July. 

Thank you for all your continued prayers. 

MJ and his Lion

We want to say a HUGE thank you to the Callahan Family!! Ben, Blanca, and London Callahan we are so thankful and grateful for you. They dropped off this stuffed lion and ballon lion with such a sweet card. MJ is loving his lion's I think that is his new favorite animal. Thank you so much to Chloe for doing this cute photo shoot of MJ with his new lion's. 

Proverbs 30:30 ESV 

"the lion, which is mightiest among beasts

and does not turn back before any;"

2 week Post OP Check-up (2/19)

We had MJ's first check-up since his surgery. He is doing amazing we go back in 6 weeks (4/2). He loved taking a ride in the red wagon. The doctor measured his head and said that his head is right were it should be. The Dr still wants us to be careful with him as much as we can. In other news MJ has FOUND HIS VOICE!! He loves to yell and scream which is so cute. He is trying his hardest to talk back to us. He also is working on crawling we have the army crawl down and are working on pushing our body up. The walker is his thing he has figured out how to maneuver it around the house and trying to run the dogs over. Everyone thank you for all the prayers.