I Could Cry Tears of Joy!!!

So today was the first appointment with the feeding clinic. Ayden woke up on the wrong side of the crib and asked to be nursed so we had a nursing session this morning. The feeding clinic wanted him hungry, so he didn't have anything to eat before we left.

When we got there, Ayden seemed nervous. It wasn't his normal doctor's office and it wasn't his normal routine. We were seen first by a nurse practitioner. She was really nice and she took Ayden's weight and height (he's still on the charts and his weight is proportional to his height! :) ).

The NP asked us some questions about routine, techniques, history, etc. Ayden continued to be nervous and was really shy.

Then the dietitian came in. She asked us some more questions and stressed the importance of routine and not eating/snacking outside of scheduled meal or snack times. She also suggested that I cut back on nursing... she suggested I not nurse Ayden in the morning or after daycare. She also suggested that we move the bedtime nursing to a different room and eliminate nursing in the middle of the night (that one is not going to happen... we've tried). The after day care one won't be too hard; he doesn't always nurse then anyway. The morning one... he only does half the time anyway...

After the dietitian, the Occupational Therapist and Speech Therapist came in. They did some sensory tests with him: rubbed his legs, arms and back with a soft brush, rubbed lotion on him and tried to brush his teeth. He continued to be really shy but tolerated most of it well. We sat down at the table and the eating experiment began!

Zelda, the speech therapist said that his chewing and swallowing was great so that wasn't of concern.

Katie, the OT made him some sliver dollar pancakes and put one on a plate with yogurt on the side. Ayden was REALLY happy to see the pancake and proceeded to gobble it up. When he was down to the last bite, she dipped a little into the yogurt. Ayden cried and tried to hand me the pancake. Katie tore the bit of pancake with yogurt on it off and gave the rest to him. He ate it. Of course he asked for more. The next one she dipped in yogurt right away. He started whining right away but she told him it was okay and after a little hesitation, he started eating it from the other side of the pancake. Katie moved the plate out of the way and put some yogurt on the table in front of him and spread it around. She was showing him how she was playing with it and drawing in it. He ignored it and ate his pancake. She said it was good that he was able to tolerate it being in front of him while he was eating. Then she put his hand in it and he cried. She wiped it off. He ate more pancake (I think he ended up eating four all together). after she wiped it off... she put his hand in the yogurt again. He started whining again, but she busied herself with preparing the next thing... he continued to eat pancake with it on his hand. They also gave him some sweet potato chips, which he brought to his mouth, but didn't like. They also gave him these veggie chips that looked like french fries. He liked those. Katie made him some ravioli and made sure there was sauce all over the plate. She put some of the veggie chips on top of the sauce and he tried one or two but wasn't happy about the sauce. She then gave him some Goldfish and put THOSE on top of the sauce. He was a little hesitant again, but he ate them... then she made a pile of sauce and started dipping the fishies into the sauce. He was NOT happy about that. He would eat them if they had a very little bit of sauce on it, but wouldn't if they were coated or dipped.

Then they let him eat some more fishies and gave him some water and that was it.

Over all I was encouraged and just about cried when he ate the pancake with yogurt on it... and again when he ate the veggie chips... and again when he ate the fishies with sauce on them. Everyone was REALLY nice and were great with Ayden. They recommended ongoing therapy. We're going to make sure insurance covers it and try to find a place close to home for the weekly therapy.

Anyway, I shared this info with the daycare too, and they're also encouraged. They also said that yesterday he ate all his cereal (usually he just eats the dry parts on the top - I assumed the gave it to him separately). :D

I feel so relieved and excited! I hope things continue to improve!!! <3

Tomorrow is the Day!

Our first appointment at the feeding clinic is tomorrow! I am excited and a little nervous.... I'll post tomorrow with news of how it went!

Quesadillas!!!

He ate QUESADILLAS!!! For lunch today at daycare they served quesadillas. Usually, he asks for just plain tortillas but he asked for MORE CHEESE!!!! Then, as his teachers watched in stunned silence, he tried a few bites of shredded LETTUCE!!! I think this is the first veggie he has eaten in nearly a year! I am so happy and excited and he hasn't even had his first feeding clinic appointment!!!

Eggs!!!

He ate eggs today!!! Today they served egg "patties" with english muffins at daycare. And he ate THREE egg patties!!! They had to ask him to eat some of his MUFFIN before he could have more eggs!!! I am ecstatic!!! For lunch they had chicken nuggets and he ate that of course. So he's a happy guy this afternoon!!! And I'm a happy mommy!!!!

A few small victories....

This week/weekend, Ayden ate a bunch of blueberry pancakes (probably 4 or 5) and fish sticks. I know he's eaten fish sticks before, but only one other time that I know of. So this is good!!! Granted, these are food TYPES that he already eats, but I'll take victories any way I can get them! Go Ayden!!!

The First Appointment....

...has been scheduled. He will be going into the feeding clinic at Children's in mid-July. Even though it's a month away, I'm excited to be moving forward.

Last night Ayden went nuts with nuts! He was gobbling up pistachios faster than I could get them shelled and chopped! He even tried to put a couple in his mouth with the shell still on! He won't always eat them, but when he does, he REALLY eats them! He also ate some Texas toast. Nuts and bread for dinner.... At least he ate something. And nuts are good for him!

Unless there are huge strides taken before his first appointment, I probably won't be back to add more. I'm kind of a slacker like that. :)

I'm a Slacker

Oops! I forgot to get on to enter the last two days of Ayden's food journal:

Friday, June 4, 2010

3am - Breastfed
15 minutes

Snack - 6:25am
1/3 c organic cereal snacks
1oz water

Breakfast - 8:30am
4oz milk

Snack - 10:00am
handful of Goldfish crackers

Lunch - 12:00pm
2 slices of white bread
4oz whole milk

Snack - 3:45pm
8 organic graham cracker sticks
6oz water

Breastfed - 4:40pm
5 minutes

Dinner - 5:10pm
2 chicken strips
5 french fries
6oz water

Breastfed - 7:45pm
20 minutes




Saturday, June 5, 2010

Breastfed - 12:15am (ugh)
15 minutes

Breakfast - 7:30am
1 waffle
2 oz whole milk

Breastfed - 10:20am
10 minutes

Lunch - 11:05am
1 1/2 chicken nuggets
3/4 waffle
3oz water

Breastfed - 12:20
20 minutes
1oz water

Snack - 3:20pm
11 organic graham cracker sticks
6oz water

Dinner - 6:20pm
2oz whole milk

6:30pm (after refusing to eat pizza)
5 3/4 chicken nuggets
2 oz whole milk


So, everything is all filled out and I'll get the packet shipped back to the Feeding Clinic first thing Monday morning. Keep your fingers crossed!