Bouncy, bouncy, bouncy

Miles having fun in his "Bouncy Chair".....

Miles having fun...(dad and mom also)

enjoying a little wind in his face. He makes the greatest faces!

2 months later...

It's been 2 months since I posted the last photo of the kids at our play group. It's amazing how quickly they are growing up. The moms are still having conversations about sleeping, naps, feeding, and boobs, but the kids have changed dramatically! They are noticing the world and each other a bit more, and can sit up a bit better!!

Sleep Progress?

Miles has been sleeping really well lately. Last week we were having a hard time of it until I stopped taking Ibuprofen for my back. As soon as I did, Miles started sleeping about 8 hours straight. Last night he slept 9 hours straight, but didn't go back to bed. Instead, he took 2 naps that were over 45 minutes (huge milestone for him) and 1 for 30 minutes in the stroller as we ate lunch.

Tonight, after feeding Miles downstairs at bedtime, he fell asleep nursing as usual. Tim then accidentally woke him up as he went to bring him upstairs. Tim then tried to rock the fully awake little man to sleep, who would just have nothing of it. After about 30 minutes, Tim tried just putting him to bed awake. After he came back downstairs, we literally haven't heard a squeak from him, though we have heard his occasional lip smacks to know he is awake. Tim just checked on him again, and he is asleep. The little man did it himself! Go Miles! I am hoping tomorrow is more of the same routine as today with long naps and relatively easy soothing.

...can you tell I am a bit sleep obsessed? I can't help it, when he sleeps well, Miles is a much happier little guy.

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...