Two Month Checkup

Collier had his 2 month check-up this past Friday, even though he is closer to 3 months old (we had to cancel his original appointment because of the cold he had and this appointment was the soonest they could reschedule). He checked out healthy as can be and was really charming Dr. Huffman-Parker with lots of smiles, giggles and cooing. He weighed 14lbs 8oz (75%) and was 25" long (90%). She told me that I could start rice cereal at 3 months (which I thought was odd because I've always heard 4 months); however I plan to wait until 4 months. Our little man is such a joy and is the happiest baby! He smiles and "talks" to anyone that gives him attention. Life with two kids has gotten much easier these days because Collier is sleeping 8 - 9 hours at night (10 - 6/7ish) and is finally taking better naps (some days). I finally feel like life is back to normal and we are out of the hard newborn stage. Last Monday evening, we were doing tummy time and he rolled over! Completely out of the blue, however, I think it was a fluke, especially since it's a 4 month skill and he hasn't done it since. But it still went down in the baby book! :) Another trick is that he has figured out how to wiggle his little body OUT of his bouncy seat! So looks like we will have to definitely begin buckling him in. Collier is beginning to figure out how to use his little hands too. The only paci he will take is the Soothie paci that they gave him in the hospital; well, I bought him a WubbaNub, which is a Soothie paci connected to a stuffed animal so he can hold on on to the stuffed animal while sucking on the paci. He will turn the WubbaNub around and chew on the stuffed animal! Ours is a puppy dog and he sucks on the puppy's ears. Hey, whatever keeps him happy! Looks like he will be a thumb-sucker too, because I find him sucking on his thumb and fist when ever he has lost his paci. He gets it honestly, as I sucked my thumb until (gasp!) kindergarten, at which point I was embarassed of my "babyish" habit and had a thumb-crib inserted in my mouth (a device the dentist uses to prevent one from being able to suck their thumb.)

Dad had his port inserted on Monday and his first chemo treatment on Tuesday. Everything went well and they are giving him a medicine to prevent nausea and so far, he hasn't gotten sick. They did a body scan on him last week to see if there were any lesions, tumors or areas of concern (weakened bones) and got the results on Tuesday. The only thing they found was a compression fracture in his lower back, which is a vertebrae that is basically crushed, however they aren't for sure if that's a result of the cancer or something he did a while back. So DEFINITELY no picking up Noah. Needless to say, he's having alot of back pain. But other than that, it's going as well as it can so we're thankful for that. And to be honest, things aren't gloom and doom. Sure cancer is apart of our lives for now, but it doesn't define us. Life does go on and it's best we act that way otherwise, we'd all send ourselves into a depression if all we talked about was cancer. One things for sure, through all of this, we have the boys to help raise our spirits. A sweet smile or a cute giggle out of Collier, rubbing noses with Noah (which he loves to do with all of us), or watching Noah play his new xylophone toy or to see him get excited as he plays with his remote control car... all of these things help put a smile on our faces. And to be honest, that's all anyone can ask for!


...happy baby talking with his daddy


...Collier's new trick of scooting out of his bouncy seat


...and here's a precious picture of Noah & Dad at Lindsay's wedding this past August