A Hairy Situation

Here we are again...T-minus 4 weeks until we head back to Chicago for our next round of expansion.  Ugh.  It seems like we just got back from the Windy City and although it was beautiful with the orange trees and gentle weather - stepping into March weather...I am not looking forward to.  Especially since Punxsatawney Phil went and saw his shadow.  For Arizona that's just fine....don't threaten me with 6 more weeks of 70 degree weather LOL.  But for Chicago...ugh...better bundle up.  Ok, I admit it...it's not really the weather I'm dreading...the grey cloud that hangs over me has nothing to do with snow - it has everything to do with an angelic little blue-eyed sweetie who is so lovable he can break my heart with just one smile.


This will be the third round of expansion so I now know what to expect...right?  This IS true... if what to expect is to expect the unexpected.  I have enough good nevus mommy friends to know that every round is different.  Just when you think you have it mastered...a complication that you have never experienced comes right along and puts you in a tail spin - flipped ports, strange bacterial infections, stitches that just won't heal, tissue expanders that leak...yep.  Although, there's a world of variables that can go wrong - I believe that the outcome is SO RIGHT!  So...cross your fingers, here we go again...


I was giving Zac a bath last night - because I see Zac all the time, I think I am blind to some of the changes that happen.  He has gotten so many spots since he was born that I definitely don't count them anymore, I don't even really think I see them until someone starts to stare.  But, I happened to notice that Zac's back nevus has gotten SO HAIRY!!  I mean like...need a good mow hairy!  So, I gave him a good trim...but not before I snapped a picture for you.

Not sure if the picture actually does it justice but if you look closely, you can see a lot of hair, especially up on the right shoulder.  Just one more reason that keeps me going forward on our journey of removing his giant congenital melanocytic nevus.  Zac has had a lot of itching these past four months and a lot of severe dryness. Though I cover him in Aquaphor daily, it doesn't seem to totally get rid of the dryness, scales and flakes.  I have had to switch to a prescription hydrocortisone cream a couple times a week.  I hate to use something that's not over-the-counter, but the itching is simply too much.  Hopefully we will be able to get two tissue expanders in this time.  I am hoping for one in the upper right shoulder and one on the left back to continue what we've done on the last two rounds.  It's double the work...but double the reward.  


There is one silver lining this round.  This round will only be 10 weeks.  This is good and bad....good because at the 11 week mark, Zac tends to get really uncomfortable; bad because...well, every fill counts when you only have 10 weeks!  That means it is more important than ever to keep Zac healthy this round, ensuring that we are able to do EVERY fill to it's maximum amount!  Here we grow again!


Our cookbook, Zac's Treats & Zesty Eats is under production and on its way!!  Pre-order a cookbook today and help Zac get out of this hairy situation!

Support Zac in his journey to remove his GCMN and reduce his risk of melanoma!  If you need multiple cookbooks or more information, you can email me at amie@checkingbackwithzac.com.