Well, yesterday was J.Tom’s check-up at the neurosurgeon.  Not good.  He will be having back surgery Monday, December 6 to repair the damage caused by the tear in his spinal cord.  Apparently this tear caused a sack to form and this sack is putting pressure on nerves which is causing the pain in his back and numbness everywhere else.  So, they will cut through fat and muscle, remove some more bone, and put a drain in this fluid-filled sack.  It is also possible that the nerves have herniated through the neck of the sack (think of a balloon), in which case they will stick them back in the spinal cord canal and seal it up so they cannot come back out.


This surgery will last about 1.5 hours, possibly longer, and he will be in the hospital for 3 days while the sack drains out through the catheter.  Then once home, J.Tom will be off work for 2-3 weeks.  I guess we will know more about his recovery later, when he is recovering.  I am asking for your prayers regarding his safety during surgery, the ability of the surgeons, and an easy, full recovery.  We are still looking at a possibility of permanent damage to the nerves causing the numbness-this is not good.  So, just keep thinking about us, please.


On another note, Lexie appears to be on a nursing strike.  She has done this before, but never this much or for so long.  Today is the fourth day, so let’s hope she isn’t trying to stop completely!  (Formula is awfully expensive).  Everyone says to pump to keep my supply up, which I do, but I don’t get nearly as much as she does when she nurses.  So, I am not sure how long I can keep my supply by just pumping.  She will nurse for about 3-5 min then just doesn’t want to anymore, but cries because she’s hungry! 


Her upper GI test went good the other day.  She does have reflux, but all babies do (apparently) and the doctor said she should grow out of it by 6 months.  My only concern is that the reflux could be why she isn’t nursing and I know it hurts her because she cries when she gets it, but the doctor doesn’t want to do meds.  I dunno though, we will see how the next few weeks go and I may ask for medicine.  I really hate to put her on anything though, hopefully we can tough it out.


Tomorrow my mom comes in town!  We are looking forward to seeing her.