The Developmental RN has come and gone. She is the one who evaluates Eric and decides if he needs to see a specialist. Since Eric is having serious issues with his eating habits, DevRN is going to start the process of Eric seeing a feeding specialist. This person will help Eric eat better and overcome his hyperactive gag reflex.

We had inadvertently started the process already when we purchased the vibrating teething star. There is also a vibrating spoon that we can purchase that will help. Also, because Eric is teething early, we have been massaging his gums with a baby toothbrush that fits on your finger. The point is for Eric to get used to having things in his mouth so that when we get to the solid food stage, we won't have so many problems.

The problems stem from having been intubated. This leads to the hyperactive gag reflex and the oral aversion. Oral aversion means that Eric dislikes anything in his mouth and will avoid it when he can. This would include the bottle and breast. If untreated, it will lead to texture aversion where a child is unable to eat certain textures of food. This can lead to a lifelong issue. I've finally gotten his father to eat vegetables and fruits, even somewhat spicy foods. I really do not want to deal with another fussy eater!

For Eric, it is not just a matter of calories. It is also a matter of hydration. Since he only eats about 20oz (on a good day!), when he is sick or teething, he can drop down to 14 oz. Continued low feedings can lead to dehydration and another ICU visit.

These are the tips I was given by the EIS Development RN:

1. Tap around the mouth with a finger or your mouth (kisses).
2. Use a vibrating teething star.
3. Start your child with a vibrating teething spoon. This is not for feeding but to get your child used to something in his mouth.
4. Make a blanket with several ribbons of different textures. The ribbons should only be and inch or two long. This is to expose your child to as many different types of textures as possible before solids are introduced.

A few days ago, it was time for Eric's flu and Synagys shots. Anyone who says that babies do not have memories, did not see Eric's face as soon as we walked into the building. His eyes welled up with tears and he cried when he saw his nurse. Poor little guy was just not happy.

Eric was weighed at 12lbs 5oz. He seems to only eat 20 oz a day. He has an overactive gag reflex which we will have looked into so that he is able to eat more and gain weight more quickly. His development nurse comes on the 20th and we will talk to her about it then. The pediatrician was not too concerned about his weight since he is still progressing nicely. He reminded us that it usually takes 2 years until a preemie catches up to his full-term contemporaries. We have to keep reminding ourselves that, especially when we have a friend with an 18lb six-month old. (seriously woman! what do you feed that child. lol)

However, the gagging needs to be looked at and taken care of. Eric is almost six months adjusted and it will be time to start solids soon. The last time we tried yogurt and cereal it was a dismal failure. Hopefully the development nurse can give us some pointers as well as start a new therapist that works specifically with eating problems. It is not all uncommon in preemies that have had tubes stuck down their throats since birth.

Besides the eating problems, Eric is doing quite well with his developmental milestones. He is rolling over, sticking out his tongue, walking with assistance, and holding his posture better. He can also scoot along the floor very quickly. He even scooted off his activity mat and tried to scoot under the couch! Or the couch just stopped him. Either way, it is best not to take your eyes off him for a moment.

Here's Eric in his Around We Go play center that Cris and I got him for Christmas. His feet do not yet touch the ground so we will have to wait a bit longer for him to use it.

This picture is better than the first time we put him into it, about a month ago. His little arms would not even reach the edge, much less the toys. He also bored with it and seemed more interested in gnawing the seat.

I have noticed a misconception among those who have seen Eric in person or in just his pictures. There is a tendency to think that Eric is a normal healthy baby and won't have any problems in the future...that now that he is home, he will be a normal 3 1/2 month old, only smaller. Unfortunately this is not the case. A preemie usually does not catch up to their peers until about 18 months or more. Usually a preemie will need physical (PT) and a occupational therapy (OT). The OT/PT areas of assessment are the oral, fine and large motor skills that Eric needs to develop.

They will also check for any delays and for cerebral palsy. Right now these are our biggest concerns. Even though Eric's brain hemorrhages were minor, they can still influence Eric's later growth and development. Micro-preemies such as Eric, are at high risk for CP. Research has shown that developmental problems can appear later, especially for micro-preemies and extremely low birth weight children. Just because a Eric has "caught up" now doesn't mean that he will not have any problems later.

It is bad enough that I couldn't be pregnant long enough and now I will have to watch my son struggle with tasks that other children don’t even blink at. It is another waiting game to see what other problems he might have to endure in the future. This is not to say that we will love Eric any less if he is considered less than perfect by society's norms. We think Eric is perfect and wonderful and nothing can lessen our love and delight for our precious miracle. He is our greatest joy and biggest inspiration. If anything we love him enough to not put our heads in the sand and pretend nothing is wrong or can go wrong. By being diligent in his care, we are increasing his chances at a more "normal" life.

Micro-preemies are considered "at-risk" children and we have accepted that Eric will be so for many years. We will be putting our son in OT/PT because there are subtle clues that we could miss, but that the therapists will recognize as potential issues. We are hoping that he continues to progress well, but in the event that they don't, we would like any issues to addressed as quickly as possible. It is reassuring that there are so many resources out there.

It is just one more thing to be aware of. It will not be an easy road at all times, but Cris and I were aware of this when the hospital asked us if we wanted them to resuscitate Eric when he was born. It may not always be easy, but it is always worth it.