My Story- Condensed Version

I got pregnant with my first child when I was 19. Jeremy was born just after I turned 20, weighing in at 8lb 9oz and 19 inches long. I started noticing delays when he was around 4 months old. He wasn't holding his head up, he couldn't roll over and he had very weak muscle tone. So I contacted our local early intervention group and he started receiving infant education and PT by 6 months. As he got closer and closer to 2 and wasn't talking and showed delays in all other areas he was referred to a specialist at Kluge Childrens Rehabilitation Center in Charlottesville VA . The Dr's first thought was Autism, but they took one look at Jeremy and said no way he was way to social, next guess Fragile X Syndrome (FX). They said they didn't see many FX cases and that most likely he would test negative, but he didn't. I was already pregnant with my second son at this time. My family was very supportive of me when it came to Jeremy's diagnoses but only my husband (then boyfriend) was supportive of my continuing my second pregnancy. My mother and father both thought that I should terminate the pregnancy. Which never even crossed my mind. Dr's wanted me to have an amnio but I refused , my feelings were that it didn't matter if he tested postive, I was going to give birth and raise him no matter what. William was born when Jeremy was about 2 1/2 yrs old, he weighed 8lbs 4oz and was 18 inches long, gorgeous. He failed his hearing tests in his left ear, but regained hearing a few months later. He tested positve for FX at birth. He said his first word, sat up on his own and started walking all on time. He has global dealys but they aren't severe. When William was 18 months old I gave birth to my third son James, who is 15 months old. James was recenlty tested for FX, his results were negative. I get the "why'd you have more" reaction from people all the time when they know that my children are special needs. I respond with I had more because I was blessed with beautiful loving boys who make me smile a million times a day and laugh more than I smile. Sure there have been trying times but I wouldn't change a thing. I love all my boys. I did have my tubes tied after James, but have had second thoughts since it was done.