Back Update

So we have been to see Dr's both yesterday and today. The good news is that we've heard the same thing. I have one more test to go through on Friday to see the state of the nerve. I have numbness and weakness in my right leg. Apparently the numbness is an inconvenience, but the weakness is something to stay on top of. If the nerve health is more or less okay, then we will proceed with a dose of Cortisone (steriod) shot directly into the back and physical therapy. If the cortisone will work, we should see some positive progress within the first couple of weeks. If we do this a couple of times and have no luck, then we move into surgery. There is a surgical option called a microdiscectomy that is the least invasive and is our first approach. They basically go in with a scope and cut off the part of the disc that is herniated and pressing on the nerve. It doesn't sound too terrible, but we still want to avoid it.

Otherwise, I have been getting better. We went for 2 walks today downtown and it was nice to get outside and stretch my legs. We're walking slowly these days, but that is fine by me as there is a heat wave out here this week. I hope the pain continues to lessen, but we still need to stay on top of what is going on with the nerve.

Welcome Mary!!!

My brother and his wife Melissa are parents a second time over! They welcomed Mary Loren Chickering into the world early Monday morning. Unlike her older brother who is a major toe-head, she has a full head of brown hair and resembles her dad. Miles can't wait to his cousin!

Laid back - I mean out....

So Thursday morning we woke up with Soda Springs visions in our head, but they never came true. As I was changing Miles in the morning before Tim went off to work, something tweaked in my already bad back and I have spent every moment since on my stomach on the couch.

I had gone to a spinal specialist on Wednesday who thought it was likely a herniated disc with a pinched nerve -- but Thursday morning, I really pinched the nerve. After the major spasms subsided, I have been left even less mobile and with a numb foot and calf. We had an MRI on Saturday that confirmed the diagnosis. I have several more appointments and tests this week to figure out what to do. We are really hoping to avoid surgery, but are concerned at this point with permanent nerve damage.

The good news is that Tim has taken a new job which he hasn't started yet and has been able to help on Miles duty as I can't lift him. I think he has been a little alarmed how hard and long a day can be when it is scheduled around feedings and naps, but he is such a great dad, he's done it seamlessly and Miles has really enjoyed his time with Dad. Needless to say, it has not been the best 4th of July weekend ever...

Week 0 - 15 :: Visually

We've updated the weekly photos of Miles - see how he grows.

Nap Training

Miles and I are getting into a pretty solid rhythm for napping - and it's making him a much happier little man. He has gotten good at putting himself to sleep - I can put him down awake and he can fall asleep. More often than not, he wakes up after 45 minutes and can't put himself back to sleep. When this happens, he wakes up cranky. If I catch him in time, I can help him fall back asleep with a finger in his mouth and some gentle shushing. If not, we start the feed, play, sleep cycle again and I hope that a couple hours later he is more tired and will sleep longer than 45 minutes. Sometimes this works, others, not so much.

I have also started tracking volume of sleep. He typically sleeps around 15 hours a day. Some days, the ones when he doesn't sleep well, he may only get 14, but that is still good. We've made a ton of progress on this front in the last 2 weeks, but we still have a little ways to go.

15 Weeks!

Miles is seriously growing up fast!!! These past 2 weeks have been pretty amazing in terms of watching our little man grow up quickly.

1. Below are recent pictures of tummy time. We hadn't done it in a couple of days, and were SHOCKED on Sunday night when we put him on his tummy in the living room and he could pick up his head high enough to watch TV. Crazy.
   
2. He has also taken to reaching out for toys. It started with the little blue elephant we put in his car seat with him, and now it is everything... and it all goes into his mouth. As I sit here typing, he is grabbing all the toys on the activity mat and pulling them.
3. He discovered his feet! The day of his weekly photo, we put him in red and black socks, and could hardly get his attention as he was staring at his feet. He talked, clapped, rattled some toys, but he was intent on focusing on his little tootsies. Too cute. We finally got a good picture for the weekly aggregate, but some of the foot-fascination ones are pretty cool too... if you know what you are looking at.
   

Tummy Time!

Mom works with Miles daily on his exercises during tummy time. He is almost able to roll over. He gets all they way over to his side but has a hard time pushing over his down hill arm. We've had him successfully roll from tummy to tushy, which is good from a sleeping on stomach at night perspective.

We're still working on sleep regimen and self-soothing.