Knowing What I Don't Know

So today was a GREAT day. I'm sure most new parents look forward to check-ups to get some of our millions of questions answered, but to parents of preemies, I sometimes wonder if doctors appointments are more than that. I generally am chomping at the bit before our pediatrician check ups. I can't wait to see where we are on the growth charts, and I hold my breath for days waiting for the kind and gentle Dr. Biebel to test out that left side to see if we have any lingering tightness from our IVH (intraventricular hemorrhage--or Brain bleed). But today, ohhhh ho ho ho, today, we had our second NICU follow up clinic.

The follow up's come at our "adjusted age" milestones, so today was his adjusted 12-month check up (meaning, the age he'd be if he'd been born on time). However, we got into our appointments a little late and he's actually 13 months adjusted. My heart races for literally a week before these follow ups. We meet with Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, a Neonatologist, and my absolute FAVORITE, the Occupational Therapist.


This is where we bring out all her weird OT toys (which, can I just tell you, are mainly choking hazards) and we see if he can stack blocks, find the hidden car, get a teeny cube out of a little plastic bottle (I'm thinking, is this a test to see if we can open a bottle of Advil or something??).
I'm happy to report that Will is testing at or above his actual age level for all of his cognitive tests and for most of his physical tests he was at or above his adjusted age level. There was one exception, which was his gross motor and that tested at 12 months adjusted (and he's 13 months adjusted). We've been referred to PT next week to work on the "tight hamstrings" we discovered and bit of outward rotation of his hips. Nothing major, but things I hope that with work will expedite the whole walking thing.

So, now I'm sleeping more soundly. I'm beaming all day. I'm spreading the good word. We've been so blessed to have people who still remain interested in Will's progress, and, as any mother, I'm happy to oblige.

I spend so much time worrying about the things I don't know. Developmental milestones are such a tricky thing. I feel like the window closes so quickly, I'm so terrified to miss something I should be working on, so I love the NICU follow ups to finally know what I don't know.