'tis no toddler, 'tis an eating machine

To the alien baby snatcher who took the old no talking, no walking, no eating Ben and left behind this new and improved, walking, talking, eating machine...you can keep the old one, we'll keep this new model.

Ben EATS. He eats a lot. He eats a variety of things. Wow. I seriously was wondering if this day would ever come.

Ben didn't walk until 18 ½ months. He didn't say his first word until 19 months, not even Mama or Dada. And he didn't start eating, really eating, until Monday. This Monday.

So here is the back story since I didn't have this blog until after this all started (though I have started to try to add it in here). Ben was born 7 weeks early with Wolfe Parkinson White Syndrome. The really short story is that his heart rate was 323 beats per minute on the fateful day I went in for my routine check up at 33 weeks. He was far enough along that this meant c-section. Now. He was born with loads of complications. The short list included organ failure, heart failure, fetal hydrops (defined as abnormal accumulation of fluid in 2 or more fetal compartments – this is BAD and usually fatal), the WPW I mentioned earlier and an Apgar score of 1. Miraculously he only had three lasting complications, the WPW, chronic lung disease (which is bad but not nearly as bad as it sounds), and an extremely sensitive gag reflex as a result of the numerous tubes and ventilators that had been in his throat.

So what does all that mean? It means as Ben grew he had issues with his heart (and while he hasn't had any in a while there is potential for it), he was sick a LOT, and he had trouble eating. When most babies were eating finger foods Ben was eating purees that I made in our blender (you try blending a hot dog or lasagna – it's not pretty). Added to that for what ever reason was a delay in gross motor skills and verbal skills.

As of Monday, Ben is officially normal. Not a spec of delay in sight. Every single thing about him is caught up. Even more astonishing is that he seems to have started to surpass normal to be an over achiever.

In one month he is walking and as of today, running. He spoke his first word and his first sentence “I get it.” He started counting...un, TWO, ee. And his is eating more than my 4 year old at dinner. Tonight he had baked beans (a new favorite for sure), au gratin potatoes (from scratch, none of that box stuff), and peaches.

Holy cow, little man. I can't express how amazed I am at your achievements. You blow me away.

Comments

[MekhisMom]

Jen,
I am so happy for Ben. He was just taking it all in until he was ready!

[Kimberly]

Wow...what a lot to have gone through, Jen, I had no idea!

I'm just blown away by those blue eyes of his - incredible!

[crookedeyebrow]

wow, those blue eyes.

[Not Just Any Jen]

You must be so proud of how far your have all come. I can't imagine how hard that would have been. Glad he is taking such gainful strides! He is beautiful!

[nic]

he is so precious. i'm so (SO) glad he's doing so well these days. go, ben, go!

[erin {thevintage pearl}]

What an amazing story, I had no idea. He's so handsome, his blue eyes are gorgeous! You are such a strong Momma to have gone through all of that! So happy for your family and especially Ben!

[Linda]

Way to go BEN!

[Cree]

Jen! I started to cry reading about Ben and his (over)acheivments! Go Ben you little STAR!!!!!!
Cree