to helmet or not to helmet

I go back and forth over this dilema daily.  Our HTC does not advocate helmet wearing as in having to wear a helemt from morning to night.  The idea that the helmet is more hindering to a child's ddevelopment than helpful.  I do agree with this.  I know this is probably controversial for folks in the community.  To me wearing a helmet all the time would be a crutch and eventually keep Will singled out from other kids.  I don't want either of these things.  On the other hand, now that he his walking around and toddling here and there and pretty much looking to bug his brother and find trouble (ie climbing on things) I do wonder if there are times during our day that this might not be a bad idea.  When I'm in the shower he has, until lately, been just fine sitting in an exersaucer, but he is getting too big and just doesn't want to be contained.  When his brother was his age, I would just let him play in the bathroom while I kept an eye out from the open shower door.  Everything is child proof so no big deal.  With Will, I just don't want him falling and banging his head on the toilet, the tub, the floor, etc.  maybe he could just pop on the helmet during this time.  The other worrisome time is when we play outside.  On cement.  We love to play with outdoor ride on toys in the driveway, but there is going to come a time when I can't have my hand on him at all times.  His brother is eventually going to do some daredevil trick that I will have to rush over to and leave Will managing on his own.  Maybe this is where a little bike helmet will come in handy.  His brother likes wearing his helmet.  Sometimes in the car and around the house.  For no reason.  I am thakful that we've made it through Will's first year without any joint bleeds.  I would love to do this one more year.  (Crossing fingers)  Can I do this without a helmet or will my sanity just go to pieces?  I knwo we can get him treated at anytime for anything, but since we don't treat at home, it's kind of an ordeal.  Maybe weraing a helmet on a few occasions will save us an un necessary trip.  Hmmm.....think I'll sleep on it.

where did I leave off??

I haven't been very good about blogging lately and last week pretty much wore me out for awhile.  We spent a week in CA near the end of Feb and all went well.  My mom has a lot of hardwood floors but Will didn't get anymore banged up than usual.  The trouble started after we got home.  That weekend Will woke up with a swollen forehead and eyes.  He looked like the weird guy out of the movie "Goonies."  I called the nurse who was some random hematologist that I haven't had the best luck with but we headed over to childrens hospital ER.  UGH!!!  almost 4 hours later and pretty much our Sat. shot we were done.  Somehow they didn't get the message that we were coming and we got triaged as if we were just some random people.  The doc was asking me questions like "how was he delivered, etc."  I gave answers but kept asking when we could get treated.  They wanted to do a CT and we questioned that.  I still was asking when my son would get treated.  I had factor with me and just wanted to get it mixed and an iv going.  It was frustrating!!  Finally I asked to speak to the hematologist.  I was not going to have anything done until he came down!  He was furious as well.  Long story but we finally got treated and were on our way.  The nurse did a hep-loc and we had set up an appt for Sun.  unfortunately Will pulled his IV out during nap time.  His crib looked like a murder scene!  Blood on his face, his crib, etc.  We ended up treating him for most of the week.  Driving to childrens hospital everyday.  It about ba 1/2 hour drive so it's not terrible.   Tues. we thoguht we'd try the hep-lock again.  I even had the nurse shave his head a little since the scalp veins are pretty much the onlyplace we poke these days.  He slpwt through the night and didn't seem to be bothered by it.  Our nurse practitioner showed me how to mix his factor and away we went.  Well Wed morning after flushing his IV and waiting for a phone call, the kid pulled out the darn IV!  Back to the hospital for a couple more days...Somewhere in there I was in a car accident with the kids, although minor, still another stress to the system.  This week so far so good.  Will still has a black eye but pretty much back to normal for now!  What I learned?  Stand your ground and advocate in the ER.  Ask for the IV team if the the other nurses can't get the job done, they are the most awsome people on the planet.  Last but not least, a drink after the kids go to bed somehow helps get through another day!