Strategy

While Tyler was napping, I fixed four chicken nuggets.

He was in a great mood when he got up, and he was running around the living room having a grand time.

I nonchalantly walked into the kitchen and picked up one of the nuggets. I sat on the step between the kitchen and the living room and started eating it, without saying anything to him. He ran up to me and reached for it. I pushed him back a little and ate two bites. Only then did I offer him a little piece. He shoved it in his mouth, chewed for a second and demanded more! Together we ate two, and I'm sure he ate at least as much as I did!

This sounds easy, doesn't it? So what are these feeding problems I'm complaining about?

Keep in mind we've been playing with chicken nuggets for two weeks. Tyler has kissed them, and they've kissed him. He's never seemed to dislike the feel of them but he's never put even the smallest bit in his mouth.

But I have a new strategy:

1. When introducing a food for the first few times, Tyler will be in his highchair. (Otherwise, he just runs off.)
2. We will try to do a short "therapy" with a familiar food right after nap every day. In the past, I've always tried to plan therapy between meals. The timing is tough. If he's actually hungry (first thing in the morning), he just cries and gets frustrated. If it is too soon after he's eaten, then he just throws the therapy food because he isn't hungry. But if we do therapy at mealtime when he is reasonably hungry, then it reinforces the frustration and negative feelings he associates with feeding.
   
3. During this short therapy, I will sit in the floor to eat the food, and I will not push him to take it. (We seem to have more success when he believes it is his idea to eat a food. Just like a man.)

Seems simple, doesn't it? Wish me luck!

By the way, Tyler ate half a piece of garlic toast last night! (Again, he crawled up in my lap and reached for it. He thinks it was all his idea.)

Wordless Wednesday

Pretty Purple

I just found Tyler standing on the white carpet in my front living room (really his playroom), holding his Harvest Surprise grape-vegetable juice upside down and waving it around. He was watching the juice drip out of the straw and admiring the pretty purple pattern he was creating.

Let's Celebrate!

The floor strategy appears to be working. Tyler just ate two blueberries. Fresh, not dried.

Taking Therapy to a New Level

This last week, I've noticed that Tyler will eat his foods better when he's not strapped in his high chair. For example, he wouldn't eat apple for a while after I tried giving him a pear, but I got in the floor with him one day while I was eating apple, and he started eating it again with very little coaxing. Now he comes running if I ask him if he wants some apple. And he'll eat a piece and come back for more when it is gone.

Same thing with the little beans inside green beans. (He still won't eat the hull part.) Last Tuesday, he ate finally ate them late in the evening and then nothing for several days. Sunday night, after thinking about the apple thing, I got in the floor with him and he ate the first one immediately and asked for more. He ate about 12 before he got bored with it and ran off. (Which is, of course, the problem with not having him strapped into a high chair.) Yesterday I put him in the high chair, and he squished the green beans, kissed them and threw them in the floor. But he wouldn't eat them.

And he begged for a Junior Mint yesterday afternoon when I was sitting on the sofa eating them. (Of course, he wouldn't take one I'd bitten in half because he didn't like the mint inside touching his hands, but he ate a whole one without thinking twice about it.)

He's also started eating rice and french fries when he was either crawling around in the floor while Brian and I ate or crawling up in our laps.

So I voiced my concern that Tyler has negative associations for the highchair to Stephanie, Tyler's therapist. This morning, she took us to a playroom rather than a kitchen so Tyler she could see how Tyler plays with food when he isn't strapped into a high chair.

At first, he was too interested in the toys to pay attention to the food, so we had to put them up. We did get him to eat a couple of pieces of apple and three of the little green bean "seeds" (but not the hull). He played with the chicken nuggets but wouldn't eat them, and he didn't even touch the corn (which he ate last week).

Stephanie indicated that we should continue to have structured meal times so Tyler doesn't learn to graze all day, but she said we can start doing his therapy in more of a play atmosphere — in the floor rather than having to strap him into a chair. So I'm hoping that this is less stressful for both of us and more productive, too. But cleanup just got harder!!

Asleep yet?

It was just me and Tyler in the car on the way home tonight. And it was after dark. Once he got quiet, I kept trying to peer in the rearview mirror to see if he'd fallen asleep. I knew he was still wide awake when a fire engine passed us going in the opposite direction and then from my backseat I heard a ghostly little siren imitation!

Adventures in Reading

Tyler is slowly learning to communicate, and it is so much fun to get glimpses of how he sees the world and to giggle at his "mastery" of the English language!

One day Tyler pointed at a crescent moon in his story book and said "nana!" (as in "banana").

Another day, I pointed at a picture of a child in Tyler's book and said, "See that little girl?" He promptly said "squirrel"!

Two New Foods in One Day!

Tyler's OT suggested we give up on the peas & carrots and the scrambled egg since Tyler is not showing any progress with these foods.

The new foods we are introducing: chicken nuggets (the processed kind), green beans and firm fruits like pears, cantaloupe and watermelon.

At the first attempt he ate two small bites of pear, but then he was upset to realize it wasn't an apple and we haven't had a lot of luck since.

He doesn't seem to dislike the texture of the nuggets: he'll hold them, kiss them, and play with them. But he hasn't tried to eat them yet. He did the same with the green beans at therapy this morning. He'd kiss them, make them kiss his nose, he'd hold them, feed them to me, etc. But he wouldn't actually put it in his mouth.

This afternoon, we were playing with green beans and I was playing with the little seed things inside them. Now, I do not like green beans. So every time I put one in my mouth, it is an active act of love. Well, I was putting the seeds in my mouth and shooting it back out with great sound effects. Tyler loved this and would stuff them back in my mouth so I could spit them at him again.

Yes, I realized what a picture this must paint.

Just so happens his daddy comes home to witness the fun. His daddy suggests, "Why don't you put it in Tyler's mouth?" AND TYLER DID. Just like that. Stephanie and I had spent an hour trying for that same result and Brian barely had to make a suggestion. I swear.

Anyway, Ty loved it. He asked for more, so there I was dissecting green beans to find the seeds.

And this evening, Brian got Tyler to eat a few bites of roll (which he does occasionally) and then suggested he try a kernel of corn. Tyler loved the corn. (Del Monte's Summer Crisp, if you're interested.) He kept asking for more. I'm sure he ate at least 12 pieces.

The Tonsil Theory

Tyler's occupational therapist has been concerned all along about the way he throws up when he gags. He's gotten much better, and we know what foods will trigger the gag reflex and we avoid those.

But when he has a sore throat, he can't handle any solids and even some thick liquids make him throw up.

So I started thinking that perhaps his tonsils are affecting his swallowing. I looked online and found references to cases where enlarged tonsils do indeed cause children to gag and throw up solids. I asked Tyler's OT if she was familiar with this and she said that she had a patient whose eating improved once his tonsils were taken out. She suggested we talk to Tyler's pediatrician about a referral to an ear, nose & throat specialist (ENT).

So I called Ty's pediatrician, and they had an opening this afternoon. We went to the office, so I could hold him down while she looked down his throat. She said his tonsils are a little large, but not touching and therefore shouldn't cause the problems that we're trying to solve. (She added that is quite normal for children his age to have large tonsils. And she said it is normal for children to gag and throw up when they have sore throats.)

I wanted to cry. I don't know if I'm relieved he doesn't need surgery or upset that we still don't know what is wrong with him.

The pediatrician offered to send us to an ENT to have a OPMS (swallow study) done, and I told her that we have one scheduled through the gastrointestinal specialist for the end of March.

The good news is that Ty weighs 23 lbs, 15 oz. He's gained 15 ounces (almost a pound) since January 7, when we had his last weight check. The doctor was thrilled.

And now, a bath.

Our little piggy ate us out of house and home tonight. At the last feeding of the evening, he consumed some baby food and a dozen handfuls of Cheerios and then he downed his juice. I asked if he was all done and he did the signs for "all done" and "down."

He then ran to the gate at the bottom of the stairs, looked back at me and said, "uuh-stas." (That's Tyler-ese for "upstairs.") And he did the sign for "bath."

I guess he's ready to go to bed, huh?

Or maybe he just loves his bath. At any rate, it is so much fun to see him initiate "conversation."

Eating Apple

This isn't exciting. I'm posting it so Stephanie (Ty's occupational therapist) can see that he did eat apples in case he doesn't cooperate at our session.

"Woof!"

We've been trying to teach Tyler different animal sounds for months. He finally started getting a few recently. He sort of does "woof," "moo," "baaa" (sheep), "meow," and a very odd roar/growl for a bear. (But that isn't his fault. His mother isn't very good at roaring either.)

This morning at 5 a.m., I heard the neighbor's dog barking furiously. Because said dog occasionally wakes Tyler up, I was a little concerned.

Then I heard Tyler "woof" and snore. He's talking to the neighbor's dog in his sleep!

Look! Over There!

Tyler and I were playing in the front room. I'd given him a piggy-back ride and we'd collapsed on the loveseat. Here's what followed.

ME: Mama needs a kiss!

(Tyler leans back and rolls away while I'm tickling him.)

ME: Kiss Mama! Right here. (pointing to my cheek.)

(Tyler leans back and rolls away while I'm tickling him.)

ME: You better kiss Mama!

TYLER: Squirrel! (points out the window.)

(I stop what I'm doing and look out the window. I watch and watch.)

ME: I don't see a squirrel. I think you just don't want to kiss Mama.

Tyler giggles.

It was just like being at a restaurant when Brian comes up with some ridiculous thing for me to see. It is always behind me. And I turn around to see he's switched my full glass of tea with his empty one.

I'm even gullible when a 17-month old is pointing at a squirrel!

By the way, if you haven't seen the video of Tyler trying to say "squirrel," click here.

"Mama"

Tyler won't say "Mama."

He can, and he has a couple of times when I've asked him to, but he usually says "Dada" if I ask him to say "Mama."

Of course, when he's babbling, I hear "mamama" all the time.

But last night, when I was trying to put him to bed and he wanted to be held, he said "Mama," and my heart melted. Little stinker!

"uh-oh!"

So we've really been trying to get Tyler to stop throwing things while he's at the table. One of his feeding issues is that he HAS to have something to play with if we're spoon-feeding him. And he often throws the toys that he's playing with.

Today, he was playing with both of his toy phones. He was putting them in an empty soda cracker box and dumping them out.

When he threw a phone or the box on the floor, I scolded him. Once, I could tell it was an accident, so I said, "uh-oh" and picked it up. I said "uh-oh" a few more times as I was handing it to him.

He looked at me, repeated "uh-oh," deliberately threw the box on the floor, and said "uh-oh" again!!

Basketball Player in the Making...

What We Learned Yesterday

I learned that Tyler's arms are twice as long as I thought. And nothing is safe on the counter tops, even when Tyler is strapped in his high chair.

And Tyler finally learned some animal noises.

Puppy = We say "woof" and Tyler pronounces it "mmmfffff"

Cow = We say "moooo" and Tyler says "boooo"

Sheep = We say "baaaaa" and Tyler says "aaaa" (Sometimes. He's a little iffy on this one.)

But the best part is: He was "woofing" in his sleep a little while ago!!!!

Yay!!

Tyler ate two Wendy's french fries tonight. (He also drank a lot of my Frosty, but that isn't surprising.)

Seriously, I handed him a whole french fry and he gnawed on it until it was gone and he asked for another. He ate that one, too. He got cocky with the third one and shoved the whole thing in his mouth. I think that scared him a little, because he spit it out and didn't want any more. (But he didn't throw up.)

Seriously, does anyone expect to celebrate when their child eats very unhealthy (fried and VERY salty) foods? I'm ecstatic.

Doesn't this look like trouble?

Tyler almost lost a finger.

Tonight we were playing with peas and carrots, which we've done at least every other day for three weeks or so. It is Ty's therapy homework.

This week, the assignment is to try to get Tyler to put little pieces of the food in his mouth.

Well, he wasn't listening to my encouragement to lick the smooshed peas off his finger.

So I brought out the chocolate Jell-O pudding.

He quickly got the hang of licking food off his little finger. He was going to town! No way would I have gotten between him and his pudding. Nor would I let him eat any off my finger. I like my fingers the length they are, thank you very much.

He doesn't really know how to scoop much onto his finger, so he worked and worked without getting a whole lot, but he sure did enjoy what he was able to eat!

Half a Glass of Tea + a Toddler

Just now, Tyler was pointing at a teeny little bug flying about an inch off the kitchen floor. I used the only thing around to kill it. I smooshed it with my glass of sweet tea. What a Southern gal, eh?

But smart mother I am not.

I walked off to get a paper towel. And I left the half-full glass of tea (and the smooshed bug) sitting right there on the floor. Right next to Tyler.

He heeded the frantic, "Don't touch!" when I realized what I'd done. But I couldn't believe I did that, knowing the force the child is capable of putting into his throws.

Sometimes I wonder how either one of us survives the day, with his mischievous nature and my absent-minded parenting.

Good Morning, Sunshine!

Tyler woke up at 6 a.m. this morning. That is still the middle of the night in Jaime-land. (And, for those of you who want to make fun of me, keep in mind that we let Tyler stay up pretty late so he can see his Daddy in the evenings, so it is way too early for him to get up.)

Anyway, I expected Brian's alarm would probably go off at 6:15, so I had 15 minutes to get Ty back to sleep before he realized his Daddy was still home and getting up.

So I scooped Tyler out of his crib and carried him to the guest room. We snuggled down into the guest bed and we were both asleep before I heard Brian get up.

Tyler and I snuggled, and he tossed and turned some, until about 7:30. He's so sweet when he wakes up. He pops up on his hands and knees almost before his eyes open, and he's already smiling.

This morning, he crawled right over and planted a wet, open-mouth kiss on my cheek. But he didn't stop there. He started blowing his sweet, stinky little morning-breath zerberts on my cheek. And one cheek wasn't enough. He wanted both cheeks!