Another nasal stint in

Sorry it's been so long since my last update. It's been very busy for the both of us as I returned to work on Sunday so we are trying to get used to our schedules. I'm so thankful for my parents who have been watching Riley so much lately while Tony and I are going to and from work. I really don't have much of an update as far as Riley goes. The second nasal stint was placed last week and the orthodontist also anchored the stints down better so they won't come out. It has made a big difference because now the stints don't move around. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find our camera again so I don't have an updated picture of his progress but he is looking very good and responding well to the treatment. The orthodontist (Dr. Glick) says she is really impressed. She says Tony and I are doing a great job with handling the Nam device and all of the taping. We went again to the orthodontist today and she just adjusted the stints a little bit. She didn't even have to take the NAM out which was nice. Tony and I were told today that she would like to see Riley on Jan 5th as Cindy McCain (Senator John McCain's wife for those of you who don't follow politics) to tour the facility and Dr. Glick wants to have some of her patients there as Cindy and John have a daughter with cleft lip and palate. So we are hoping that works out. I think that would be a facinating meeting.

Kudos to my husband. I returned to work on Sunday. The night before, Riley would not sleep. He would cry as soon as I put him down and I could not calm him. Tony was at work so I had no help. I got 2 hours of intermittent sleep so I was dead on my feet on Sunday. Sunday night Tony was such an awesome husband and let me sleep through the entire night so I could be somewhat alert for my shift on Monday. What a great husband!!

Stents are in, getting ready to return to work

Poor Riley. At our last week's orthodontist appointment the first nasal stent was put in. Needless to say, it did not go well. He was fine with it in but as you can see from the picture, its got the perfect space for a little baby finger to pull on it and pull it out which he did both. He had the stent on for 2 hours and he had already moved it. The first thing the orthodontist told us not to do was to bend it back ourselves. Well we broke that rule. How could we not when this became a popular thing for Riley to do. Yes we actually taped socks around his little wrists but he managed to get those off. He won't even stay in Tony's super swaddles anymore. And we had to start the taping. The stent is pushing up on his nose where the tape is pushing down on this premaxila area. His skin is tolerating it a bit better but still not great. And he continues to cry when we apply the tape. The first picture you see above is to show what his premaxila looks like after a week with the NAM in.

To change the subject, my FMLA is up at the end of this week. It's bitter sweet. I love my job but it is also very difficult to leave my baby at home. I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom but know it is very difficult in today's economy. Its very stressful to put together a work schedule for both Tony and I as Tony works nights and I work days. Its been very stressful and as I look at our schedules, I feel like I'm saying goodbye to Tony in a way because we won't have much time together. Its bee very hard and I've been very tearful about the whole process but understand that I need to help be a provider as well.