The Journey We Are On.....

The overall theme of this past week was COLD! Ethan and I did our best to stay home and out of the nasty weather. Is it bad that I’m already looking forward to spring? On Monday our dietitian, Jen, came to our house. I am so thankful that our Early Intervention (EI) support team comes to us. This is so wonderful, especially now that it is winter. Ethan weighed in at 15 pounds and 1 and ½ ounces! He was 26 ¼ inches long! Jen was so pleased with Ethan’s progress – his weight is in the “average” range now. We are hoping that if we can keep him healthy and eating that he’ll be able to make it to 20 pounds by his first birthday. We’ve got seven months – I think we can do it. Since Ethan’s weight was so great, Jen even suggested that we could stop fortifying Ethan’s milk with the soy formula. I decided that instead of completely eliminating the formula that I would simply decrease it and see if Ethan continues to gain weight appropriately. Well, I guess Ethan must have known we were talking ...

Last week was not necessarily very eventful but it sure was stressful. I’m still battling the cold that I must have caught Thanksgiving weekend and Ethan caught from me. He seems to be feeling better this morning, but still seems rather tired. If I could make up the rules for the universe, one of them would be to make it impossible for moms to get sick. It just isn’t good when we don’t feel well, especially when others in our house our sick too! Monday we had our home visit with Ethan’s Hearing Specialist, Julie. Julie works out of the Illinois School for the Deaf’s Champaign office. She will meet with Ethan twice a month for the next few months and then her visits will increase to once a week. Julie was so excited that Ethan had gotten his hearing aids and was thrilled to hear that he has begun laughing! His laugh, although he doesn’t share it with us as much as I wish, is still contagious. Julie understands our commitment to seeking any means of communication for Ethan – American Si...

Last week sure was a busy one! Sunday Our church voted in our new pastor - Pastor Tracy will begin in January (this will let his kids finish the semester at their current school, get their house on the market and find a house here). The whole church is very excited! Sunday night was our annual church Thanksgiving meal. The food was wonderful and we always enjoy spending time with our church family. Monday Ethan had his 4 month pictures taken at JC Penney's. He sure didn't want to cooperate, and we only got one good smile out of him. :) Tuesday - Ethan's First Day with Hearing Aids Jeff took of work and headed to Springfield with us to the audiologist. Ethan's audiologists, Brittany and Anna, are wonderful - see picture :). They are so good with our little guy. Ethan didn't like it when Anna first put his hearing aids in, but once they were in he didn't seem to mind. Jeff and I were shown how to care for the hearing aids, the proper way to insert/take...

Another good week! Monday Ethan and I stayed home and tried to relax! Although this is impossible to do, since he's getting to the point that he doesn't want to nap. He must be afraid that he's going to miss something exciting when he sleeps - like mom doing laundry, dishes, or trying to tidy up the house. :) Tuesday Ethan and I went to our weekly Baby Talk Times. I must admit that I look forward to this each week. :) Wednesday Ethan had his monthly physical therapy appointment today. She said that if she didn't know his diagnosis she'd think he was a "normal" 4 month old!!!! Yeah, we are still working on head control some, and strengthening his core, but she was very excited about the progress he is making! :) She has also recommended that Ethan get a helmet, so we are going to begin that process soon. Thursday Ethan had a swallow study done at the hospital in the afternoon. I was glad that Jeff was able to take time off from work to come wit...

Overall we had a pretty good week! Saturday and Sunday we got to visit with Jeff's family. His brother and his wife and two kids were in town. It is always good to visit with them. My sister-in-law is a physical therapist (and used to work with Early Intervention) so I always ask her tons of questions about Ethan's development when I see her. :) On Monday morning Ethan and I got to meet with our new friend Vicky. Vicky and her husband have two beautiful children, the youngest has a PBD like Ethan. She lives about 2 hours away, but was in Decatur for a conference! It was a great visit and we both look forward to getting our whole families together sometime soon. Monday afternoon Ethan and I went to visit the Pittman family. I've been friends with them for many years and enjoyed catching up. There two and a half year old little boy is very precious and seems excited that he's going to be a big brother ;). Tuesday morning Ethan had his appointment with his Speech L...

It has been a busy week! Monday Ethan saw the dietitian and the developmental hearing specialist. The little guy weighed in at 12 lbs. and 3 1/2 oz. and was 24 and 3/4 inches long. YEAH! Ethan played with the hearing specialist and we are looking forward to meeting with her two times a month. She'll see him again near the end of the month after he gets his hearing aids. Tuesday Ethan and I went to our first Baby Talk Times (playgroup). This was great - something very "normal." We plan to go back. Wednesday We had a play date with friends! Yeah, I was so glad that we got out and did this. :) Thursday Ethan and I went to Springfield to see the Audiologist for another ABR and his hearing aid evaluation. He slept long enough to get another complete ABR!!!! This was so great, because it allowed them to get a more complete picture of his hearing loss. At this time, he has moderate loss in both ears (hearing loss is measured on a scale - mild, moderate, severe, profo...

So, last night our little guy suprised us! He rolled from his back to his belly, and we both missed it!!!! Jeff and I were both in the room - Jeff was watching T.V. and I was working on thank you cards, and Ethan was playing on a blanket on the floor. He was on his back, I looked away, and then he was on his belly!!! We were so shocked. We couldn't believe it! So, of course we spend the rest of the night staring at him hoping that he'd do it again, but of course he didn't. Ethan has now rolled from his belly to his back 3 separate times, although he hasn't done it in several weeks, and from his back to his belly once, yesterday. I know that I may not always be able to say this but --- "Take that PBDs! You aren't going to tell us what our kids can and cannot do."

Great news from the doctor today! Ethan weighed in at an amazing 12 lbs. 1 oz. Way to go, big guy! Okay, so we know that isn't really a lot for a 3 month old to weigh, but for us, its HUGE! Also, Dr. Smith feels that Ethan is doing so well that he doesn't need to see him for three weeks, not until his 4 month checkup! This is great! Next week is going to be a busy week. Monday we'll have our regular monthly visit from the dietitian and an evaluation from the developmental/hearing specialist. Tuesday we are going to go to our first Baby Talk Times. Wednesday we are going to try to visit some friends here in town. Thursday we have another ABR and the hearing aid evaluation with our Audiologist in Springfield. Friday we are going to go to our first infant play group at Pershing Early Learning Center. I'll let everyone know how the week turns out. :) Ethan is going to have a swallow study soon, since he's still having some difficulty with feedings, but that hasn...

Ethan and I were blessed to get to spend the day with Jeff. He took a vacation day to spend with us. :) We started out the day at the doctor's office for a weight check. Ethan weighed in at 11 pounds and 7 ounces. He gained just 5 ounces in the last 2 weeks, so Dr. Smith wants him to come back next week to check his weight again. We had just went to checking every other week.... We have to continue to monitor this because as with many PBD kids, eating/drinking and getting adequate calories/nutrition can be a huge challenge. After the doctor's office we went to CAT to introduce Ethan to Jeff's co-workers. Ethan seemed to enjoy being the center of attention, until he had enough, and then it was time to go! :) We then made a quick stop at New Life Pregnancy Center, where I used to work, and saw the ladies there. Then it was off to the pharmacy to pick up the prescriptions and then home. In the late afternoon we got to visit with our friend Sarah B. who was home visitin...

Today is going great! This morning Ethan had his monthly visit from his Physical Therapist. She is great with him and after playing/evaluating him today had great news - she said Ethan is making significant progress and that if she didn't know his background that she'd think she was looking at a "normal" 3 to 4 month old! YEAH, we are catching up! She has given me some new exercises to work with Ethan at continuing to strengthen his neck muscles which will help him with head control. Increased head control should also help him with his eating (he still has some difficulty with this at times). He is also supposed to continue LOTS (ideally 2 hours a day) of tummy time. The PT is also going to start the paper work with insurance in case Ethan gets a helmet. She said he still has a little bit of time before we would have to make a decision about the helmet and we will wait until he gets his hearing aids, so that way the helmet can be fitted around those. I'm jus...

I had several baths at the hospital, but here I am all wrapped up after my first bath at home. Mommy and Daddy seemed so nervous giving me a bath, but all I could think was, gee... I'm cold!