Thursday, April 29, 2010

17 months

I guess I should have seen it coming since Joshua has been less and less interested and nursing for shorter and shorter times but it seems that we are done now. It is very bittersweet for me, another one of those moments to remind me he really isn't a baby anymore. In so many ways he still is but this is one more way that he isn't and I'm adjusting to it, slowly. I was always the one to offer, but then again I'm not sure he's at the point when he could tell me he wanted it yet. He would only nurse for a few minutes so I knew he wasn't getting much but I wasn't ready to give it up yet. Last weekend he bit me and drew blood on one side. Then on Monday it happened again. I tried to pump for the first time in 5 months and got less than an ounce. That's when I knew we were pretty much done. He fell asleep Tuesday night laying in bed with us watching tv, poor baby is dealing with the same allergies we are and has been congested since Sunday. It was so rare for him to fall asleep like that. It was another way I knew we were done. I always wanted to go the baby led weaning route and I think we have to some extent, there has been no trauma to him, it's been harder on me for sure. I'm so proud to have made it this far.

I can remember back to the early days of nursing him as a newborn and not thinking I'd ever make it but I did and wouldn't change it for the world. I know I did my best and gave him the best start. It's hard but worth it. The pride I feel knowing that I nourished him before and after he was born, that he only needed me to survive his first year isn't measurable. There was a study done recently that said that if 90% of US women breastfed thier babies for the first six months it would save $13 billion dollars (not including formula) and 900 lives of babies, I can only hope more women try because it's worth it, our babies are worth it. 75% of women start out breastfeeding at the hospital but only 14% actually make it to 6 months.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Hearing Test etc.

Yesterday was Joshua's hearing test. An Audiology Intern did the test so when we had questions she had to go ask someone else. She also didn't explain what she was doing but she did two tests; a pressure test and another one where she put a probe in his ear (she did one ear at a time) and it was connected to the computer. Not sure exactly what it was but she said his hearing checked out fine except he had some fluid in one ear. Since we weren't satisfied with the results being fine due to our observations of his hearing we are going to their hearing center to have him tested in the sound proof booth. She said she wanted his ear clear of fluid first but when we took him to the pediatrician she said that the little fluid in his ear shouldn't affect his hearing. He doesn't have an ear infection so he is on children's claritin 1/2 tsp. per day for two weeks and then we go back to have it checked.

We briefly discussed the Greenville Developmental Pediatric visit with her and she agreed with the nurse that he doesn't fit the mold of a child with a sensory problem. She was concerned and wants to get to the bottom of what's going on. We told her that we found out it's a 3-4 month wait for a genetics appt and she said that it's the only place in town but they are very good and thorough so we are going to make the appt.

Earlier this week we met with the speech therapist to go over her evaluation and set up goals. It was hard to hear again how he is delayed and she put him at a moderate to severe speech delay (both expressive and receptive). So we have a lot of work to do. I was a little (ok a lot) overwhelmed by this and the dozen goals she has set up for him. She did say that we don't have to work on them all at once although during her sessions with him she will try to work on as many as she can but we should focus on 1 or 2 at a time. He starts next week so I will get more details about how to work on each individual goal and which ones she thinks we should start with.

We are also getting an occupational therapy evaluation but I'm afraid that starting that right now as well will be too much for both of us. It's not yet set up so it's just as well, we have to get adjusted a little to the new schedule before we start something else.