For so very long, it felt like we were stuck in a rut with our little man. By the time March rolled around, the isolation of "winter quarantine" was getting very old, behavior issues seemed to be getting worse and new words were not appearing very often. I realize, in retrospect, that I was feeling very withdrawn from the world. Play dates were few and far between and I found myself not wanting to take Noah anywhere at all. I was too afraid of him getting sick or getting so out of control with his behavior that we'd have to leave anyway. Either way, it was a rough time.
Then April came with ear tubes and the behavior analyst. And things started to change....finally! Noah sailed through the little surgery to place the tubes and was making new sounds and attempting new words and hearing all kinds of new things immediately. The second night after the tubes were in, he had a rough night and had not slept well at all. I was sitting on the couch with him early in the morning and he suddenly sat straight up, with a very perplexed look on his face, and asked, "choo choo?" He had heard the train whistle that we hear off in the distance in the early mornings! I don't think he's ever heard it before. I could go on and on with examples of all the things he's hearing now that he never heard before and the adorable and SPONTANEOUS speech that is erupting out of him every day.
The week after he got his tubes, we were able to start treatment sessions with a behavior analyst who had been to our home three times in February assessing him, his behaviors and our family dynamic. I must admit, it was really hard for us to ask for help and be vulnerable enough to allow someone into our home (think "Super Nanny" with less drama) and observe what was really going on. I don't know why, but it almost felt shameful that we needed help, like we had failed him. But, only a few weeks in, I am more grateful than ever that these services are being provided for us and am truly amazed at the difference. Not only are his speech and behavior so much better already, but he has been really healthy! He was at Caleb's birthday party a couple weeks ago, and although he was overstimulated with all the noise and kids, he didn't get sick!
It is amazing to finally be seeing big progress and feel like we can take a deep breath and ENJOY the gifts both of our boys really are!
