Our world is abuzz with the tidings of spring. Just a few weeks ago we still w
ore long sleeves and heavy jackets. Today my kidlets are roaming around the house in shorts and bare feet.
Benjamin will soon be out of school. He will "graduate" from his Pre-K class on the 23rd and next year go to the "Big K".
Through my eyes Benjamin will always be ten feet tall ... even when standing next to his much larger peers. Likely he will always be on the small side. So what. He is alive. Something I once constantly worried he would not be able to achieve.
There are still some preemie eccentric behaviors that make him stand out in a crowd. If the crowd is really paying attention.
Of course he is legally blind. Again, so what. This is just one small part of who "Big Ben" is ....
Due to a still touchy nervous system he covers his ears when overstimulated. Not bizarre looking. He just covers his ears and moves along.
Sensory issues are sometimes still apparent. Some foods he prefers not to eat because of a dislike of texture. He loves to wear belts, hats and blankets (tied like superman).
So what. So what. So what.
He thrives. He is alive. He is hilarious!
There were five times Ben overcame dying.
1) Being born at 1 pound 4 ounces and a quadruplet. He was just 25 weeks gestation.
2) On day 3 when the blood in his lungs reversed.
3) When he acquired a bilateral Grade III brain bleed. Without warning it grew to a Grade IV on one side (the highest severity of bleed). This caused hydrocephalus that resolved without a shunt.
4) Projectile vomiting from terrible reflux caused him to weigh just 13 pounds on his first birthday. This resulted in surgically getting a g-tube and fundo. There is no doubt this saved his life.
5) He stopped breathing the evening of day 3, after discharge from the NICU. Brett and I performed CPR on him. He spent two week more in the hospital due to pulmonary edema.
Yesterday his Pre K teacher was sharing with me how far Ben has come since being placed into her class in the middle of the school year. "He has just blossomed. Playing with other children, participating in activities and giving us lots of information without being prompted .... He is a smart little boy filled with questions and answers."
So I asked a few questions.
Me: Do you think he needs a neurological done? Any strange behaviors or learning problems.
Her: No
Me: Do you think he is ready for kindergarten?
Her: Absolutely.
Me: Is he enjoying school?
Her: Yes. Very much.
Me: Do you notice his vision issues holding him back when in the group?
Her: No. He goes for it.
Me: Do you notice his size making a difference?
Her: No. He just asks if he needs help due to being a little smaller.
I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. Can you see me jumping up and down? For the first time since his birth I exhaled. All the while I did not realize I was holding my breath.
ore long sleeves and heavy jackets. Today my kidlets are roaming around the house in shorts and bare feet.Benjamin will soon be out of school. He will "graduate" from his Pre-K class on the 23rd and next year go to the "Big K".
Through my eyes Benjamin will always be ten feet tall ... even when standing next to his much larger peers. Likely he will always be on the small side. So what. He is alive. Something I once constantly worried he would not be able to achieve.
There are still some preemie eccentric behaviors that make him stand out in a crowd. If the crowd is really paying attention.
Of course he is legally blind. Again, so what. This is just one small part of who "Big Ben" is ....
Due to a still touchy nervous system he covers his ears when overstimulated. Not bizarre looking. He just covers his ears and moves along.
Sensory issues are sometimes still apparent. Some foods he prefers not to eat because of a dislike of texture. He loves to wear belts, hats and blankets (tied like superman).
So what. So what. So what.
He thrives. He is alive. He is hilarious!
There were five times Ben overcame dying.
1) Being born at 1 pound 4 ounces and a quadruplet. He was just 25 weeks gestation.
2) On day 3 when the blood in his lungs reversed.
3) When he acquired a bilateral Grade III brain bleed. Without warning it grew to a Grade IV on one side (the highest severity of bleed). This caused hydrocephalus that resolved without a shunt.
4) Projectile vomiting from terrible reflux caused him to weigh just 13 pounds on his first birthday. This resulted in surgically getting a g-tube and fundo. There is no doubt this saved his life.
5) He stopped breathing the evening of day 3, after discharge from the NICU. Brett and I performed CPR on him. He spent two week more in the hospital due to pulmonary edema.
Yesterday his Pre K teacher was sharing with me how far Ben has come since being placed into her class in the middle of the school year. "He has just blossomed. Playing with other children, participating in activities and giving us lots of information without being prompted .... He is a smart little boy filled with questions and answers."
So I asked a few questions.
Me: Do you think he needs a neurological done? Any strange behaviors or learning problems.
Her: No
Me: Do you think he is ready for kindergarten?
Her: Absolutely.
Me: Is he enjoying school?
Her: Yes. Very much.
Me: Do you notice his vision issues holding him back when in the group?
Her: No. He goes for it.
Me: Do you notice his size making a difference?
Her: No. He just asks if he needs help due to being a little smaller.
I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. Can you see me jumping up and down? For the first time since his birth I exhaled. All the while I did not realize I was holding my breath.
1 comments:
Ohhh Melissa,
How exciting! Benjamin is such an amazing little miracle, not to mention quite the little cutie. I'm so happy for him...and you.
Congratulations Graduate!!!
Love,
Julie
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