11 Months Old

It has been a crazy month to say the least.  After ten years of struggling with random vertigo attacks as a result of Meniere's disease, I decided to have surgery to have the balance center of my left ear removed (labyrinthectomy) along with it's remaining hearing.  Although I've been reading about the surgery for over five years and talked to several doctors about it, recovery has been more challenging than I could have imagined.  I immediately woke with severe vertigo (expected) and it has not totally subsided now over a week out (not expected).  The nausea is much better and I've now gone over a week without meds for it as well as for pain.  (I think I could work on a fishing boat now)  I've had to learn to balance (sit up, stand, walk) all over again and luckily I see improvements every day.  I have to push myself to do things and just pray that doing more helps and soon this will all be a distant memory.  I've had a great support around me.  My in-laws have helped with the kids.  My parents stayed some at the hospital and my Mom has been staying with me while Jordan works.  We've had our class at church bringing meals and several ministers visited us in the hospital.  Lot's of prayers and messages of encouragement.  In the midst of all of this, our little guy turned 11 months!  I took me a few days to muster the courage to stand on a chair to take his monthly picture, so here is his update just a little bit late.

Miles grew so much while I was in the hospital!  I pumped and he took bottles while I was away and really stepped up eating solids.  He loves everything!  I know it won't last, but he will eat anything you give him, veggies and all.  He is walking around furniture and standing on his own for little bits.  He's a crazy fast crawler and loves to get into things he's not supposed to like the books on the bookshelf, the doggy door, the toilet, and the dog bowl.  He has quite the loud squeal (amped up for my loss of hearing in one ear).  He now says "bye, bye" and can wave, clap, and pull his brothers hair really well!  He's a happy guy who will give a smile to anyone who shows him attention!  He likes being outside in the sandbox and LOVES water.  He went for his first "swim" last week in the kiddie pool Jordan bought over the weekend and loved it.