“So essentially, I’m making him the smartest he can be…”
I’ll never forget talking with the Methodist Women’s NICU dietician and nutritionist when the Littlest was in for less than ideal weight post-birth. She was explaining to me that research has proven what little brains need most to form the right pathways and develop the right stuff in a premie so that their brains are not left behind as they start to grow.
He had been 3 lbs at birth. His feeding and gaining were our primary focus for the first year. And honestly, that is a job in and of itself. Other premie parents, can I get an amen?!
He took a combo of Breastmilk+pumped breastmilk supplemented through a bottle and calorie dense Elecare for the first 7 months. Then we were able to kick the Elecare to the curb. That was certainly a huge day.
He was one faster than I thought it would happen. But just like that, he’d been around the sun one time in 365 days.
And then, two came and went. As mama was doing cancer, the wee one was growing into a toddler. He was passed around and around to whomever would help between mama surgeries+treatment+exhaustion. He was becoming a little person with a huge personality. But much like his bro who came right before him, speaking proved to be extra effort on his part. And I knew that one of the first things on my list post-radiation would be an Early Intervention Evaluation.
On the first pass-through of the papers, at 2.5, he had 4 words. And even those were approximations.
So, into speech he went. Thank the Lawd almighty. Because while we could have waited for him to talk on his own timeline… while we could have banked on the fact that he’s just a third child and his bros were speaking for him… while we could even waited for kindergarten to see if he was still delayed… welllllll… we are too lucky to stick with any of those plans.
We have already been fortunate enough to have an insanely fantastic outcome with the Elkhorn Early Education program. We went from 0 to 100 with the Middlest in 2.5 years with speech services. And so we know why it’s available to families… so kiddos aren’t starting Kindergarten behind.
The wee one started receiving Speech services in-home (provided by the district under an IFSP — individual family service plan) after his evaluation process proved a significant delay in the speech area. Miss Kathy, who was The Middlest’s in-home therapist as well, spent one hour a week working with Harrison and then, as his 3rd birthday approached, we discussed our options. When a child is three years of age, they transition from an IFSP to an IEP (individual education plan). If there is availability and apparent need at this point for the child, then he/she begins attending an early education center for pre-school. If the need is not as dire or if there is no space at the “home school” for your address, then the child can do walk-in speech services or continuing receiving some services in home.
Luckily for Harrison as his need is to have more intensive speech focus, there was a spot for him at our designated center. Unfortunately, it was only available in the afternoon section. We tossed and turned on it, deciding if forgoing nap for speech would be the right way to go and ultimately decided that it would.
Sooooo… the Little HarBear starts afternoon pre-school TODAY!
And… mama starts with a four month stint of The Pick-up Trifecta! One post-school pickup at 2:30, one at 3:05, and one at 3:30! My car and I will soon be besties.
I used to get so nervous and frazzled over change. Now I just feel so happy to be here to experience it all. And while I do find myself wondering as I am a Muber Driver (mom+uber), “why exactly did I get a college degree?!” I count myself excessively lucky to have the option at all to stay home.
And to answer your burning question… “what on earth will you do with ALLLLLLL your free time?” Watch soaps, of course. Just kidding. I plan to write. And do some side work. That’s all I have on my plate for now and I will take it.
It’s a new change for a new year and mama is so grateful for cha cha cha changes and growth and all the good things.
As usual, if you have any questions about early intervention screening, I am happy to help! It’s made a tremendous difference to our family to have “free” (tax payer dollars) educational options for our pre-prime peanuts to get them right where they need to be.
And with any luck, the wee one will soon meet his “NICU goal” of being as smart as he can be;).
