Torta What???

Erin had her first therapy session today.  She has been officially diagnosed with Torticollis.

Torticollis: an abnormal position of the head, usually with the neck bent to one side, caused congenitally by contracture of muscles, muscular spasm, etc

The therapist is of the opinion that Erin was cramped in the womb.  (Really?  No kidding!)  She said it can happen with bigger babies or multiples.  She said the broken collarbone made it worse because she probably was guarding that side. 

Basically it's a condition that she'll outgrow with the therapy.  They did exercises on her today and gave us instructions on what to do with her at home.  Erin was a champ.  She just smiled and laughed her way thru it all.  Miss Penny had her on her tummy and was turning her neck and massaging her.  Erin just took it all in.  Miss Penny was impressed by how good natured and happy Erin is.  She put her on this ball thing too and said she saves it for last because most kids don't like it.  Erin just rolled with it - literally! 

She is already responding to the things we've been doing at home.  We now have a standing Wednesday appointment booked thru January.  They'll continue to assess her, but it all sounds like it's something we'll have to work on but will get better with the therapy.  We have to buy a special pillow to use in the car seat.  The whole trick to it all is keeping her head straight in alignment with her bellybutton.

I'm sad that she has to go thru all this but I'm positive because it is a very minor case.  The therapy didn't hurt her and she seemed to kind of like it.  There were kids there in wheelchairs and kids with cancer there.  In the end, a little tilt of her head is very minor compared to what some of those kids and parents are dealing with.  I don't want it to be that way, but I can't help but be thankful it isn't so much worse.

And yes, she did wear her fabulous pink leopard track suit.