Ear Infection

It was a great weekend!  We did so much together as a family.  Samuel practiced walking, he learned to clap, and he held almost every bottle we gave him. We spent a lot of time in the sunshine, laughed a lot, and got out of the house!  I didn't want it to end.

Nevertheless, Monday morning came anyway.

The last couple of weeks, Samuel has slowly (but obviously) stopped responding to his name.  If that doesn't drive a first time mother crazy, I don't know what will.  I was encouraged by others to explore the possibility of autism - even though I realize it's a bit early to be considering it.  Samuel is delayed in a few areas that are the supposed tell-tell signs at this age.  He's not pointing, he's not raising his arms to be picked up, and now he has stopped responding to his name.  Thankfully, he has recently begun to clap, wave, hold his own bottle, and grab our hands when we reach for him (which are good signs.)  He also smiles, laughs, babbles, and makes good eye contact.

I was primarily concerned about him not responding to his name.

I took him into the doctor this morning and it looks as if his ears are slightly fluid filled.  He may even have a small infection (his first.)  He will begin yet another antibiotic...which brings the grand total up to three.  She said that if he doesn't begin responding to his name in about a month that he will need a hearing test.  If it looks like his hearing is good then we will discuss autism.  She seemed fairly confident that he is just delayed because of his extreme prematurity...and it's probably not autism because he is social.

However, it bothers me that autism has been brought up a lot recently.  I'd like very much to take a deep breath and stop worrying.  But it's so hard.  Will you join me in praying that the antibiotics will take care of the issue with his hearing (ie. responding to his name) and for his social skills to continue to improve with great leaps?  I know it seems like we always have something to pray about - you are probably sick of hearing it.  I keep thinking that one of these days we'll have less to worry about!