Austin and Ashli, Three and Four Years Old

By April of 1997, when Austin and Ashli were three years old, they had just decided to participate in the terrible 2's, so we renamed them the terrible 3's. This was the year that we said goodbye to Early Intervention. The twins had been receiving services from them from them since 1994. During the last two years, they received speech therapy, physical therapy, and attended play groups to help them with developmental delays. At this point, speech seemed to be their biggest delay. At the new age of three they talked equivalent to a 2-year-old. Upon leaving E.I. meant venturing into another world of special services. The twins tested eligible for services through the Board of Education. This meant the Board would follow their needs through to kindergarten and beyond, if need be. It was decided by a team, that the best way to meat Austin and Ashli's needs would be for them to be around other typically-developing, same-aged children. So on September 5, 1997, they both started a Head Start Preschool Program. At this preschool they would have a special education teacher come to work with them set hours a week along with their Head Start teacher. Also, a speech therapist would come twice a week to work with them on their speech delays. I really wondered how Austin and Ashli would adjust to this weekly routine of four, half days of school. They had been isolated so much for most of their lives. And to WANT to go to preschool on a daily basis would seem to be asking to much. But, Austin and Ashli proved us wrong. I stayed with them for two weeks, then began a phase-out period. I think it was harder on mom then on them. Preschool was a hit! They were slow to make friends and actually play with other children. But this was expected. During their first year of preschool, they grew and changed so much in knowledge, personality, and character. I came to see that our goal of Austin and Ashli starting kindergarten on time, was a goal that was not out of reach.

In the summer of 1998, Austin and Ashli seem like typical four year olds. Austin finally had to get glasses which had been anticipated for over a year. Yet, his pediatric ophthalmologist can't determine if his need for glasses is entirely related to his Retinopothy of Prematurity. He got little gold rimmed glasses with colored choo-choo trains on each side of them. He seemed to take to them fairly well, and only time will tell if we will conquer, yet another battle, a battle with a lazy eye. Ashli, still has BPD, but in the winter she was not hospitalized for oxygen. This is a sign that she may be outgrowing it. But for now she is diagnosed with seasonal, childhood asthma. Austin and Ashli still have speech delays, but they seem to be diminishing. And finally, we can travel without taking diapers with us. For the most part, they are completely potty-trained. They are still small in size and weight, around 28 pounds and 37 inches tall. At four, they are so fortunate to have so few permanent reminders of their beginning. Guardian angels, they have had. When we were released from High-risk clinic, a year ago, a Neonatologist said to us, "To have one micro-preemie do this well is a miracle. But to have two, I have no explanation. You simply beat the odds twice."

I look back on how they had to fight to be where they are today, and tears form in my eyes every time. Austin and Ashli, in 1994 were born 15 weeks before their time. They conquered every statistic. Each time they were expected to have a setback, they leaped forward. I still remember our Neonatologist saying to us within the first two days of birth, "These little babies know only how to fight. "Giving-up" is a learned process that, fortunately, they have not been taught yet! And our twins must have heard him say that! Because fight after fight, now at four years old, their prematurity has very few lasting effects on them. I say, "on them." As for their parents, the fact that Austin and Ashli were born so premature will NEVER leave us completely. The tiny scars, on their feet and hands, are just ONE daily reminder of their early beginning. And for the roller-coaster we stepped on, in 1994, we have gotten off. I smile and think to myself, "We got off the "prematurity" roller-coaster, just in time to step onto the "roller-coaster of life." I am so thankful we can do just that. I will end Austin and Ashli's story, for now, with our own personal quote:

"Prematurity is a world you never know exists unless life takes you there."