Vacation Day 5 (the Final day)

We were up early this morning to get everyone showered, packed up and in the car so we had plenty of time to get across Portland for Xander's doctor appointment.

We said goodbye to Aunt Esther and hit the road towards OHSU and Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

Xander and daddy ready to go inside

Checking in at the Cranio-Facial Rehabilitation Clinic

(at the purple chipmunk)

Getting some pictures taken of his noggin

Gabriella reading books in the exam room. This was about 30 seconds before she started in on a HUGE meltdown (screaming, crying, yelling, body-flailing, you name it! Matt and I are both pretty sure it was from too much vacation)

We were SO relieved to hear that Xander's metopic suture line was normal (Matt actually has the same ridge that you can feel under his forehead) and that he would grow into it. Praise Jesus!! I didn't want him to have a pointy head his whole life!

Here is the exact wording from the official doctor's report:

"Xander is an 8 month old male with a history and physical exam consistent with a metopic ridge. This is a normal variant when the metopic suture normally fuses between 2 months old and 2 years old. He has no signs of craniosynostosis - no trigonocephaly, bitemporal narrowing or hypotelorism. His dad also has a ridge on his forehead that is palpable but no longer visible. Lastly, Xander's head size has crossed over two percentiles on the head growth chart. Again, Dad has a very large size head and it is most likely familial."

So, basically, he will grow into his ridge line and it will fade away from being visible as he grows. We just have to watch his head growth and make sure that it is growing evenly because jumping up and down head sizes can be dangerous too. But we are SO relieved to know that he will not need surgery on his head right now! Woo hoo!!

After a quick lunch at Chipotle (which by the way, is coming to Medford in October!!!) we looked up a gluten-free and vegan bakery. The kids both fell asleep within two minutes of being back in the car. 

 Here I am with my carrot cake! Mmmmmm! Matt got a mini lemon bunt cake thingy. 

Of course we stopped at Trader Joe's in Eugene (for a nursing break, and shopping!). I'm so excited that the Medford store will be opening up next month as well!

Xander discovered himself in the mirror. It was hilarious! He was jabbering away and laughing at himself. Too cute!

At home and asleep in their own beds. Both kids were such good sports on our long trip. 

We had so much fun on our vacation! It was great to spend so much time together with just the four of us and seeing some great friends that we don't see often. We already can't wait to get back up to Tacoma to see Emily, Ryan & Victory again!

We feel so blessed to be able to have such a great time together and to get such awesome news that Xander doesn't have to get surgery on his head! God is good ALL the time!