And she will be called "Beautiful, Tender, Soft."

 On Tuesday, March 27th, my dear mother-in-law passed from this life and into the arms of her Heavenly Father after a lengthy battle with cancer. Words really cannot express the void in our lives now that David's incredible mother is with the Lord.

I knew Linda for only seven years; I can only imagine the sorrows of those who knew her for their whole lives and for her whole life. She leaves behind her husband, her two sons, a grandson, a daughter-in-law, five older sisters and an older brother and their spouses, many nephews, nieces, cousins, and countless friends.

Her husband Don embodied the vow "in sickness and in health" and personified faithfulness to his wife as she weakened over the years. He very literally loved and served her until her dying breath, and in doing so he honoured his wife and brought glory to God--and set a beautiful example before his children.

Her two sons, David and Sean, are both mighty men of God who have inherited Linda's passion for her King and her gentle spirit. These men are courageous spiritual leaders who are strong in their convictions, raising the sword of justice to defend the weak and encourage the lost; and yet their hearts are tender. They have understood that Christ is both Lion and Lamb, and they strive to exemplify his character in all that they do. Linda was so pleased with her boys! She never ceased to remind them that she was praying for them and she was quick to tell them how much she loved them.

Her grandson, Judah Hawk, will remember his dear Grandma through pictures and stories. During his last visit with Linda he sat and played quietly on her bed for over an hour without a single fuss. When she picked him up to give him a goodbye kiss, Judah latched onto her cheek for dear life and gave her the biggest, gummiest baby kiss he could. It was perfect, wonderful... unforgettable.

I did not think it possible for a woman to be blessed with an incredible mother and incredible mother-in-law... but the Lord delights in giving good gifts to his children! In the seven years I knew Linda, never once did I ever feel like the daughter in law. In fact, Linda always addressed cards to me as her daughter, thanking God for bringing me into her life. I was always so humbled by how quickly she opened her arms to accept me as one of her own children. I was always made to feel special in her presence! It didn't take much for me to realize that Linda saw each person as a beloved child of God; she in turn loved everyone more fervently and enthusiastically than anyone I have ever known.

Linda was a generous and joyful giver of gifts. She never sent me home empty-handed: whether it was a batch of cookies, a plant she chose from her garden with me in mind, a trinket she saw while shopping that reminded her of me, or even just a little packet of chocolates ("I know how much you like these!"), she always had a way of making me feel like a princess. To top it off, each of her gifts were always carefully wrapped in beautiful paper, and she would watch in eager anticipation to see my reaction to my special surprise. Truly she knew the verse "It is more blessed to give than to receive" for she delighted in showering me with gifts of all kinds.

Linda also knew how to serve whole-heartedly - and always with a joyful heart! Even "simple" family meals showed evidence of the time and care she put into preparations. From the adorable little place settings, to the special salt and pepper shakers, to the whimsical napkin holders, the flowers, the linens, the china... no matter what was served we always enjoyed an extravagant feast of love! Even long after her stomach allowed her to enjoy certain meals and delicacies, she continued to selflessly prepare the dishes her family loved and those she had established as holiday traditions over the years.

Linda loved her garden, organic coffee, Mennonite foods, "Survivor" and "Dancing with the Stars", baking, reading, going for walks, and relaxing in the sunshine... but most of all she loved people. She loved visiting her family and friends, engaging in delightful conversation over coffee, tea, fruit-filled or caramel-y desserts, and a good board game. I could never come close to beating her at a game of Scrabble! :) Some of my favourite memories of just Linda and I involve going to farm markets, visiting fields of flowers, picking fruit, spending a weekend away watching movies, walking in the sun, having picnics, going to Starbucks, and making strawberry jam. Our birthday gatherings were always filled with so much happiness! Speaking of birthdays, Linda enjoyed the longest birthday celebrations of anyone I have ever known... they lasted days, if not weeks! What a testament it is to how many friends and loved ones you have if you need to enlist multiple venues and parties just to be sure everyone feels like they had the opportunity to spoil you and lavish you with blessings! (And imagine all that cake... yum!)

Linda's faith in the Lord was strong and steady throughout her physical decline. Even when she knew she was unlikely to have much time left on earth, she remained in cheerful, hopeful spirits. When I would call to ask her about her day and remind her that we were praying ceaselessly for her, she would rarely let the conversation rest long on her struggles, but always was keen to enquire about our lives and about how she could be praying for me. Her strength will forever be an inspiration to me, especially during times of hardship.

The name Linda means "beautiful, tender, soft." Has anyone ever fit a name so perfectly? Indeed she was beautiful! Looking through the multitudes of pictures of Linda I realized there were very few where she wasn't beaming the biggest, most joyful and beautiful smile! Her exuberance for her Lord and for life shone through her, and she was a clear example of the godly woman spoken about in 1 Peter 3:3-4:

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight."

Seven years is a very short time to know someone, and my heart is grieved that I won't be making anymore jam with her on this side of heaven; but Linda left a lasting legacy that will not be forgotten, and I pray that I might grow to be such a servant-hearted, tender, gentle and loving woman of God--just like she was.

I love you, Mom. I miss you dearly already and I wish you didn't have to leave us so soon. I am excited to dance with you in Heaven one day and for you to show me your favourite fields of flowers! Thank you for raising such a wonderful son who would in turn become the best husband and father to your dear little grandson. I will miss you forever, but whenever I think of you my heart will be filled with joy and thankfulness that the Lord allowed me seven years with you.

Your daughter,

Janelle

The Littlest Sheep

Judah has started to do this new thing. It is awesome. WAY better than what he used to do.

He used to roar like a dinosaur. And not even in a cute way. In a really loud, really forceful, really assertive kind of way. He did it when we were in the library last week, and it was SO LOUD that we got a few good stares. I was embarassed and felt the need to do... well, something. So I leaned towards Judah in his stroller and said, "Judah! You are being rude!" while shaking my head and wagging my finger. I secretly hoped that people would assume I was speaking to a toddler and not a seven month old.

In turn, Judah looked at me blankly and growled again. And grinned like a maniac and drooled everywhere. Because he's a baby. A baby that sounds like a full-sized Tyrannosaurus rex.

Sometimes his growling is cute though. But the really loud ones? They usually happen in church while the pastor is praying, when I'm on an important phone call, while guest speakers at the ladies group I attend are sharing their heart-wrenching stories, or when I'm leading bible study. Cute for a bit, but definitely distracting.

So when Judah started to make this new sound we were delighted. It kind of sounds like a little lamb learning how to bleat crossed with a fish gently smacking its lips together.

Ok, worst description ever.

Imagine a quiet "buh bup bah" repeated over and over. It's actually adorable and a welcome reprieve from the yelling.

I lie. It's really stinkin' cute.

It reminds me of the analogy Jesus used about the good shepherd and his sheep... "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice...I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." (John 10:3,4,14)  Maybe Judah is just talking to Jesus in his own little voice :). So this morning when I had to rouse Judah an hour and a half before his usual wake up time in order to make the rush-hour commute to BC Children's Hospital for his helmet re-scan, I cannot describe just how cute it was to watch him open his eyes, smile up at me and start his little sheep babble! I was tickled to listen to him "bap buh baa"-ing for the entire drive. I wasn't even upset that he wasn't sleeping!

And the rest of the day was just as delightful! I can tell you were praying--thank you! Neil was the orthotist who did the scan and the entire process was quick, seamless and (most importantly) painless for Hawk. Neil even commented on how impressed he was with Judah's progress. His head is already showing improvement, in spite of only being Helmut-ed for a couple weeks! Praise God!

We went from Children's to Eagle Ridge Hospital for Judah's physio, where our therapist expressed how impressed she was with the flexibility and range of motion Hawk's neck is showing since Friday! Again, praise the Lord and thank you for praying! 

New Helmut arrives in a couple weeks, and as long as Hawk's rash remains stifled then we can keep him in current Helmut to allow for a seamless transition to the new headgear.

It was a gorgeous spring day so we spent some time in the grass and in the sun. There's something about a warm, sunny afternoon that makes things seem one hundred times better :).

All in all, the day went great! We're currently praying for an all-over rash that has broken out across Judah's legs, tummy, back, neck and face. It could be anything from eczema to an allergy... Both of which do NOT run in David's or my family--so I'm at a loss as to what to do or expect. My doctor wasn't much help, unfortunately. I've ordered a hazelwood necklace because I've heard they're meant to be helpful for rashes and eczema. If any of you lovely readers have any suggestions feel free to post them in the comments or message me on Facebook. Thank you! We'll get through this too :). Thank you also to all of you who have been praying for David's mom and our family. She is ready to meet Jesus... Please pray He would bring her home soon. Love to you all!

Layin' out the fleece

"Here goes."

Those words tumbled through my head this evening at 7 pm, mere seconds before removing Helmut for the final rash check--which would determine whether or not we would be going back to Children's tomorrow for a re-scan to get a NEW Helmut. 

David brought Hawk into the kitchen (where I was mopping up "Hulk Punch" that I had spilled from a small Avengers party we had for David's birthday this afternoon) and we prayed once again for his rash. 

This morning I "laid out a fleece" before the Lord. This phrase comes from the book of Judges where Gideon was seeking to determine God's will for him in regards to going to battle...
"36 Then Gideon said to God, "If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said,
37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said."
38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water.
39 Then Gideon said to God, "Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew."
40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew."

Our "fleece" was that if Judah's rash wasn't completely cleared up by 7 pm then I would take him in tomorrow.

So we took off Helmut. And Rash was dim... But still present.

So in we go. And we trust this is God's plan for our little Hawk :)

And Now I Count My Blessings

We saw Alan the orthotist again today for the new rash that has developed under Helmut. He removed Helmut, made a few more ventilation holes (speed holes for crawling, right, Hawk? :)), and checked the fit once again. Alan popped Helmut on but removed it immediately because it wasn't sitting centered on Judah's head. During that seven second action a large, red welt appeared on Judah's forehead. Alan looked at me with raised eyebrows and commented, "Wow, he sure does mark up quick."

It's true. Judah often has red cheeks (well, he seems to be perpetually teething) and one thirty second bout of crying leaves him with big splotchy blotches of red that hover across his face and head. David and I don't have skin sensitivity, eczema, asthma or allergies--all which are hereditary. We're not sure why Judah tends to have really sensitive skin and is prone to rashes and eczema... but I'm inclined to blame Monsanto.

All to say, Alan suggests that we have Hawk re-scanned at Children's Hospital and fitted for a NEW Helmut. This one will be made of softer material which, according to OrthoAmerica, causes less skin irritation. However, it's thicker and denser... which leads to excessive sweating.

Hey, this kid is gonna be naked this summer. Accept that.

So Alan made us an appointment next week at Children's for the scan. BUT! We have until Sunday night to decide whether or not we actually go. If Judah's rash clears up by then we will not need a new Helmut. Please join us as we pray for God's will to be done and for grace to accept his plan!

Now for the goodness...

Life. It IS good. Sure, there are crappy moments. Some really crappy moments at the moment. But overall? We're BLESSED. In fact, the blessings far outweigh the trials. Let's see...
1). We are so loved by our King!
2). For the most part we are all healthy, strong and filled with joy
3). I am married to the most loving, kind, funny, caring, protective, honest, hard-working, servant-hearted man of God - and he just happens to be the handsomest man on earth!
4). We've been blessed with a bouncing, bubbly little Hawk who brings us joy every second of every day
5). We're surrounded by compassionate, helpful, loving family and friends
6). We're a part of a vibrant, Christ-centre church community
7). David has a great job and I get to stay home and care for Judah
8). We live in a safe, beautiful country
9). We have the opportunity to learn, grow, explore and delight in the great outdoors
10). We have a funny little hunter cat and delightful clucky hens (and a wee fishy)

So all in all, we're doing fine--heck, better than fine! For
"22Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

23They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.”

25The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him;

26it is good to wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord."

(Lamentations 3:22-26)

Amen! 

Helmut: The Sequel

It
has
been
a
long
week.



.... And it's only Wednesday.

But! We're hanging in there, we can feel that people are praying for us, and God has been loving on us in spite of some stormy weather.

Monday:
I took Judah for his 6 month check-up (a month late...) but mostly wanted to discuss Judah's skin rash that first appeared about 6 weeks ago. My doctor says it's eczema and she told me to pick up some Glaxal Base for it - something my dear friend Anne already suggested but I had yet to actually purchase. I haven't had too much success with it yet, but I really don't love using cortisone cream, so I'll give this a good try!

(For those of you who are interested in stats... Judah is just over 7 months, weighs 16 lbs 8 ounces and is 26.5 inches long.  He's on his own little [literally] curve, falling between the 5th-10th percentile for both height and weight.  But he's got cute little fats! :) )

Later that day we went to the orthotist to have Helmut adjusted. Alan the orthotist suspected that Judah's infection was actually the result of an allergic flare up. After making the appropriate adjustments, we left the clinic, Helmut firmly in place, with instructions to monitor Judah's carefully in next few days for a reaction. But here's the kicker: IF Judah's rash were to return we would need to head back to Children's Hospital for another head scan, another two week wait, and a brand new helmet crafted from a different material. This new helmet would be softer and denser - resulting in a helmet that is more difficult to work with, causes worse sweating and has the potential to be less effective than the regular Starbands.

So off we went, praying that his rash from last time was just a fluke and not a predisposition.

We arrived to find David home very early and packing his overnight bag. His dear mom has been battling cancer for a few years and it looks like she'll only be with us a few more days. David, being the wonderful son he is, decided to go to Abbotsford to stay with his parents and spend precious final moments with his mom before she heads home to Jesus her Lord. We are so grateful for the family and friends that have prayed, encouraged and supported us during this sad and difficult time - thank you!

That same afternoon it was evident that Rash was returning. Rash is not our friend. He is sneaky and fiendish and downright cruel. I sent a few pictures to Mel and Alan at Valley Orthocare, and received a call almost immediately. Alan wants to see Judah again on Thursday of this week - and we're supposed to leave Helmut on as long as possible to see to what extent Rash peaks. That... Well, it seems somewhat like child abuse to me! I've been taking Hawk's temperature frequently and removing Helmut to check for abrasions. So far it's not nearly as bad as when the infection set it, but a persistent Rash it surely be.

On top of that we've been told that Judah's monthly physio appointments may not be aggressive enough to witness any significant progress on Judah's neck strength. So I'm waiting for a call back from a children's physiotherapist who specializes in torticollis cases. Hopefully we'll be able to tell after the initial appointment whether or not her methods are superior to our current treatment.

Babies are great for your prayer life, eh? And I seriously don't know how people get through life without Jesus.

You hear? If you're not living for the Lord then go get your butt in gear in gear! Life is fragile, finite, and uncertain. God is real, loving, merciful and offers the only hope humanity has ever known.

Rant over. Wanna talk more? Call me.

Grateful for your prayers :).
Heading to bed.
Will update soon.

"The Lord grants sleep to those he loves." Psalm 127:2

INFECTED: Helmut fail. Jesus win!

So! We made it through the five days of slowing acclimating Judah to wearing the helmet for 23 hours per day. He did so well! No fussing! And it didn't even keep him from doing the same ol' 6 month type things like rolling, sitting, assisted standing, etc. Proud mama!

(Addendum: I'm tired of calling it "the helmet" or "the Starband". I christen it HELMUT, pronounced "Hel-moot" which is a popular German name meaning "spirited helmet." Fitting. Also, Judah looks a bit like a German soldier in the helmet. Thus, Helmut it is!)

Tuesday was the first 23 hour day. I didn't think it would be absolutely necessary to bathe Judah's head EVERY SINGLE DAY (he has a dry scalp, after all), but after Helmut has been on for 23 hours, WOOOO-EEEE, does his head SMELL! His hair gets all slimy and curly and reminds me of what he looked like à la fresh from my womb-io. Cute on a newborn. Kind of nasty on a 6 month old.

Anyway, so Tuesday went well! We noticed a couple of red patches when we took Helmut off, but they faded pretty quickly back to his normal skin pigmentation. The orthotist warned us that this would be a natural response to the pressure caused by Helmut. However, he did caution us to keep him informed if he broke out in a rash, if the skin was broken in any way, or if there was any redness that didn't subside after Helmut had been off for an hour. But because Judah had no indication of irritation, we popped Helmut back on and put him to bed.

When he woke up Wednesday morning his head REEKED. I don't mean old-sweaty-hockey-pads kind of stench... I mean... something smelled like it was rotting. Even though we weren't close to the 23 hour mark yet, I knew I had to take that baby off! I had ladies coming that morning for a prayer gathering and I was pretty sure they would be able to smell Hawk's head from across the room..! So I bathed him, bathed Helmut, let them both air dry and popped it back on. During that "naked time" I noticed that those same two red patches from the day before were present, and a bit more angry looking. There was also a bit of matted hair, which seemed a bit "oozy", but it washed out and he didn't seem bothered when I touched it. Within half and hour, the marks faded, so back on Helmut went.

The ladies came around 9:00 to pray while Judah napped (*sidenote: Yes, he's up early enough that he needs a nap by 8:30 or 9 am. That is why it's nearly impossible to get a hold of me after 9 pm. A girl has got to sleep!*). He roused at about 10:00 and right away I could smell his head again. It was a strangely familiar smell...

When my little brother, Paul, was a toddler he was prone to ear infections. I remember the smell of the fluid that would seep out of his ears when he was battling an infection. THAT was the EXACT smell of Judah's head.

So off Helmut came, and this time I could tell that it wasn't going back on any time soon. His left side of his head was red and he had an abrasion above his ear that was oozing this smelly stuff... and he was burning up.

I got my friend to hold him while I took pictures of the redness and rubbed skin so that I could email them to the orthotist. At this point I wasn't sure if the fever was due to him coming down with a virus or actually related to Helmut. It happened SO fast that I couldn't see how Helmut and the symptoms of infection were connected. But within about an hour he went from a low grade fever to being completely red-faced, swollen, having a temperature of 103, and discharge that continually leaked from his abrasion. He was so tired and lethargic that he actually passed out on my shoulder twice - something that he's never done before.

So off to the clinic we went! When we walked in the receptionist looked up, took one look at Judah's extremely red head and immediately asked, "How high is his temperature?" He was clearly burning up!

He sat very quietly for 45 minutes while we waited to see the doctor. No fussing, no squirming, no problems. I let him pet a fuzzy book and then he watched the ceiling fan for a while. Ah, the joys of being a baby :).

The doctor checked Judah's throat, ears, lungs and declared them all to be clear. He concluded that Helmut must have aggravated his head enough to cause broken skin, bacteria sprinted in, and infection settled in for a long winter's nap. Poor little Hawk!!

So it's ten days of strong antibiotics - so strong, in fact, that the pharmacist was reluctant to fill my prescription before checking references and making a few calls... that always sets a mother's mind at ease. He needs them 4 times at day, which means waking him twice at night. Boo! Just as he's on a happy nappy sleepy time schedule I am charged to wake him to squirt sugar juice down his throat? Let's just say that he did NOT like the procedure last night... and in the morning he had a good dollop of bubblegum coloured sticky liquid next to his head..!

Also, I sent the pictures to the orthotist who called and told me to keep Helmut off for two weeks. He will see us again once the antibiotics are finished and hopefully he can adjust it so that this doesn't happen again!

I'm certainly disappointed in the setback... two weeks seems like forever.

I have a love-hate relationship with Helmut. I love that it is helping Judah's head be symmetrical. I hate that it is causing my son infections! And other griefs. And that Judah even needs to wear it in the first place.

I dislike that this could mean that Helmut sticks around into the Fall. The FALL.

I almost titled this post "Expect Delays". But then I realized how defeatist that sounded!

Expect delays? Expect delays?? EXPECT bad, negative things to transpire? 

No. Way. 

That's not what I believe! That's not the kind of God I serve! Where's the faith in that?!

Just because Helmut is being uncooperative, that doesn't mean squat. In fact, this just leaves more opportunity for the Lord to swoop in and astound us! If God cares about the sparrows how much more does he care about my little Hawk? So much more! 

So will you join me?

Join me as I brush off the disappointment that has settled like dust.

Join me as I turn to praise the Father for his great love for my son.

Join me as I confess my lack of faith... 

Join me as I recall the words of Jesus: "Everything is possible for one who believes."

Join me as I declare, like the father whose son needed healing, "I do believe; help me with my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23&24)

Join me as I ask him for the impossible - a completely, miraculously healed head for Judah Hawk!

Join me as I pray that Judah and Helmut would part ways by his birthday (August 16th) - earlier than we've been told to expect.

The Lord has been teaching me a lot about prayer. He's been encouraging me to pray continuously and fervently and passionately. And we in turn have been utterly blessed by the prayers coming our way! If you are not yet convinced of the power of prayer, then I am convinced that you are not praying! Our Father delights in hearing our prayers and giving us good gifts! So let us be a generation that seeks His face! May prayer reign in our lives, our homes, our workplaces. 

We will be praying for you. THANK YOU for praying for us! 

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:7-11)

 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!" (Psalm 103:1)

The One With Too Many Pictures

Spoiler Alert: There are a LOT of photos in this post. I will recall the day's events via captions (with a few interspersed explanations :)).

HELMET DAY!

In the waiting room with Sophie le Girafe

On Friday we drove to Valley Orthocare in Surrey to get Judah's helmet. We were seen by Doug, who spent the majority of the appointment putting the helmet on Judah, listening to him scream while measurements were taken, removing the helmet, cutting, snipping, trimming, shaving the helmet, putting the helmet on Judah, listening to him scream while measurements were taken, removing the helmet, cutting, snipping, trimming... etc. For TWO HOURS! That's a LONG appointment for a 6 month old (and his mama!). During the parts where Doug was making adjustments in the Starband, Judah and I ate and read.

Pureed zucchini! We were given a Baby Bullet (the baby food making version of the Magic Bullet) and it's THE BEST! I mean, the blender itself is pretty cool and really it's just a green version of the original MB, but THE CONTAINERS are so neat! And the recipe booklet! And the freezer tray! I particularly love that you can adjust the dial on each mini container to display the date which the food was made. That's cute organization, friends! And doesn't that little face make you so happy? Judah recognizes these containers already and goes bananas when I pull them out of the fridge :).

This picture is the result of me attempting to take a picture during lunch time.
"Priorities, Mum!"

There were lots of "Wear and Care" instructions for me to read

Judah's reading was more fun than mine... he was enthralled with this National Geographic! Note how he gently "pets" the bear on the page, and then pets Moose. He's so cute!

He learned all about the Calgary Stampeded

"Wait..."

"...This seems interesting."

His "teethy" cheek - it regularly gets rosy and then goes away

This Mickey Mouse toy also lives in the occupational therapy department at BC Children's Hospital. When you squeeze Micky's hand the phalanges on his head whir and spin and light up in an obnoxious but very distracting way - it's the perfect thing to keep a baby's attention on you!  

The Micky toy only worked a bit on Judah. He was more interested in putting the phalanges in his mouth.
After this point there was a lot of crying...

At the very end of the appointment! We're done, Little Man! He had cried for a looong time.  Now it was time to go home and try wearing the helmet. After the meltdowns that ensued every time Doug placed the helmet on Hawk's head I was convinced this was going to be very, very difficult.

I have some experience training horses.
I have very little experience training babies.

If I were to introduce a horse to a new contraption that he had previously had a negative experience with, I would let the horse sniff and play with the item for a bit.

It couldn't hurt to try it the same way with Hawk, right?

"Hmm..

"But can I eat it?!"

The playing went super well! At the appointment he was getting so worked up that when Doug would come back into the room after making a size adjustment, Judah would scream.
After he and the helmet "played" I figured it was time to try it on.

And...

... HE DID AWESOME! He didn't care at all!

I put him on his tummy to take a picture, but he was too fast for me and rolled right over!

Finishing up his roll! Not even an issue! 

So we did more playing! Tummy time, sitting, jumping... it was all a breeze! And he didn't once seem perturbed about his new Starband. Praise God! :)

For the first 5 days we follow an on-off rotation with the helmet to check for rashes, rubs and general irritation. So far his head is looking fine and his demeanour is just as jolly as ever!

David thinks Judah now looks like Mega Man!

Thank you for your prayers! The transition has so far been 200% better than we could have hoped for! Our God is so so so good :). 

Here's what our little Hawk has been up to since getting his helmet...

This is Sophie! Judah "rode" her in utero for months while I worked at the ranch. She's super sweet and totally safe :).

My little cowboy!

Helping select the best produce

What an adorable little trooper!