E.T.'s Beginning

Although born second, E.T.'s story comes first. My handsome little man was not what you might call planned, although that did not make him any less wanted. I was slightly terrified because my first pregnancy had not been the easiest, my first delivery had been something I feel could have been in a horror film, and my first baby was not the happy, cooing, nothing but giggles child I had signed up for. However, that is L.M.'s story, so I will save it for later. This pregnancy went as expected until around 37 weeks when I came down with a severe sinus and upper respiratory infection, and developed pre-eclampsia. My routine weekly check up had turned into my delivery day.

E.T. Born 1-28-10

Surprise number two came just after delivery, when my beautiful baby girl, Olivia (according to THREE ultrasounds), had some unexpected parts. My little girl was actually my handsome boy, and other than some minor redecorating and a closet overhaul, he fit in quite nicely. Our first night in the hospital, after the nurses had taken him to the nursery for the evening, a haggard nurse came back after a few hours with a very upset baby. She said that he was restless and keeping the other babies awake, and that she thought maybe he was hungry. I tried nursing him, but he just didn't seem interested. After what seemed like an endless line of nurses trying to coax him into latching on, they admitted defeat and suggested that we try giving him formula just to get him through the first night. I agreed, but unfortunately formula was not the answer. The doctor was paged, and  E.T. was whisked away to the NICU.

He ended up being put on an NG Feeding Tube, and IV antibiotics (as a precaution in case he had my infection) and put in one of those terrifying baby bubbles. I wasn't allowed to visit him until I had received a full 36 hours of IV antibiotics so that I would not be a danger to him or any of the other NICU infants. I'm not sure that any diagnosis was ever made, but we were told that it is common for babies born before 40 weeks to have initial adjustment issues. Everything was fine at his follow up pediatrician appointments, so I never thought twice. E.T. had some minor colic and reflux issues, but otherwise he seemed to be developing right on schedule.

At his 12 month check up we expressed concern because he was not speaking yet. Not even trying really, just normal baby babble. We were told that second children, and especially boys, develop speech more slowly and he would catch up. We expressed the same concerns at 15 months, and were told the same thing. At 18 months, our new pediatrician said let's just wait and see. Finally, in Arizona, at his newest pediatrician's office for his 24 month check up someone finally suggested that we have him evaluated just to be safe. Instead of the 50 - 200 single words he should have had, he had roughly 5. He had zero ability to put two words together, he could not point to any parts of his body when asked and he could not follow simple commands.

This was in February 2012, which is when our journey into developmental delays began.