Eating Grasshoppers

What wold you say if I asked you to eat a grasshopper?

I just saw this post on the Food Chaining blog. The writer references this story: "Everything is a Grasshopper."

This is the best explanation I've seen to illustrate how Tyler can be scared of trying new foods.

(If you are a family member that babysits Tyler or if you are a person that has even thought about blaming me and Brian for Tyler's feeding problems, please read the grasshopper story. It will really help you understand Tyler and what we're going through.)

What if I put the grasshopper in front of you and told you that you have to eat it in 5 seconds? (Assume that I have some authority over you.)

What if you saw me eat a grasshopper? I dip it in chocolate or mix it in crackers or something. I obviously enjoy it and I offer you some of my prized grasshopper. You notice that it makes a crunchy sound like your favorite chips. You may touch it or even smell it. Eventually, you might be curious enough to taste it? Maybe? (Me neither.)

Anyway, if I made you eat the grasshopper, how would you feel the next time I called you to say dinner is ready?

I admit that I have had a few instances where I pushed Tyler, even tricked him to get something in his mouth. And he always regressed. He's what the grasshopper-lady calls a "cautious eater." He has to be comfortable with food before he tries it. And he has to be comfortable with meal time and the table setting. And he has to trust those of us that are feeding him.

It kind of breaks my heart to realize how difficult eating is for him.

But he ate a pop tart this morning. You should've seen him trying to say "pop tart." I told him that it had blueberry jelly in it. And he pointed at the middle and told me all about the bbbbbbb jelly.

What a Day.

I had a lot of work to do today, so Tyler was kind of left to his own devices for longer than usual. He was right with me, so of course, he was closely supervised. Right.

Let me tell you about the child and his own devices.

One cup of milk, left on the couch to leak. Not on one cushion. Not on two. No, on THREE cushions. He's very talented. So I had to take time out of my work day to dab at sofa cushions with water and vinegar solution. Does anyone know how long the lovely aroma of vinegar will linger?

Two ink pens. I don't know how long he had them or where he found them, but when he showed up offering them to me proudly, his little knees were covered with blue lines. I haven't found any scribbles on the walls or the sofa cushions. At least, not yet.

But at least my patience is paying off. A few weeks ago, I rearranged the kitchen to make a cabinet for Tyler's food. In this cabinet is a variety of mostly healthy foods — some he likes and some I would like him to try.

I have child-locks on the doors because I don't want him to get in there without supervision. But when he pulls on the doors, I usually open them to let him in the cabinet. I count to 10 silently or inhale deeply as he pulls all the foods out. I've even stood back and let him dump a half a box of cereal in the floor, hoping he would be inspired to taste it.

He hasn't been inspired. Until today. Today, he pulled out a box of his daddy's Oatmeal Crisp. I opened the bag and pulled out a few pieces. Tyler inspected it and popped it in his mouth. And he reached for more. He had several bites! I kept telling him the name of the cereal so he'll be more likely to recognize it tomorrow or the next day.

After he was done, I dutifully stacked up the boxes of cereal, crackers and dried veggies that had landed in the floor. And I returned to my Hershey bar. Tyler was also interested in that, so I handed him a small piece and said, "chocolate." He studied it very seriously. I was afraid it would melt and I would have to wash the still-damp sofa cushions again! But he popped it in his mouth.

He's a big fan of Hersheys. He quickly ran back to the Hershey bar. After I wrestled it away from him, I offered him another small piece.

And I quickly ate the rest. It was nap time, he didn't need any more chocolate! But I did, after such a busy day!

Three New Foods in One Day!

Yesterday was huge for us. Tyler tried three new foods in one day.

I posted about the Food Chaining book a few days ago. At first I focused on the basics:

• I stopped asking Tyler to eat foods. I just put it in front of him and let him eat if he wants.
• When the meal is over, I clean off the table. No more leaving cereal sitting on the table in case he gets hungry.
• I've been working hard at sticking to a schedule for meals. This is soooooo hard for me.

Well, yesterday, I decided it was time to start introducing new foods. You're supposed to start slow, but I got carried away.

In the morning, I put a few soy nuts on the table with his peas and corn. I made sure that he saw them come out of the same type of packaging as all of his dried fruits and veggies. He popped one into his mouth with little hesitation and chewed it up. He then spit it out. But that is okay. He spit out peanut butter crackers a dozen times before he decided he liked them.

At the next meal, I got out the dried blackberries. He loved them even more than he loves blueberries! (I tried one and I think the texture is just weird, but whatever works!)

And later in the day, I decided to try Froot Loops. Keep in mind that this child wouldn't eat the darker Cheerios from the multi-grain Cheerios a few months ago. He picked out the ones that looked like the original Cheerios. And he still won't eat the broken Cheerios.

Anyway, I've resisted giving him these sugary cereals in the past because I worried that he would stop eating the healthy ones. But the Food Chaining book really stresses that you need to try foods that your child will like -- things that are similar to what he already eats and that will taste good to him. You should set the child up for success so you can praise him for trying foods and so that he learns trying foods is fun.

He didn't try the Froot Loops until I walked away from the table. He licked one, and the sugar hooked him! He didn't like the powdery residue on his fingers, but it wasn't enough to make him stop eating them. He also likes naming the colors. I wish I could spell his pronunciation for "yellow"!

This morning, Tyler found the little box of Apple Jacks cereal and opened it so I offered him a few, and he liked them too!

Now, these foods are the same texture as the foods he's been eating. In the past, I was so focused on introducing the new textures that this wouldn't seem like a big deal. But now, I'm just focused on the fact that Tyler tried four new foods with little hesitation (and no prodding) and he liked three of the four foods!

A Sensory Child and His Napkin Issues

My child often won't eat when his fingers are dirty. He doesn't like puddings, mashed potatoes, or anything else that might stick to his fingers. He likes the taste and texture of Cheetos but strongly protests the orange stuff that sticks to his fingers.

Early in therapy, we were encouraged to keep a napkin beside him at the table so he can wipe his hands off.

My child often throws napkins on the floor.

Early in therapy, I got tired of picking up napkins.

I started encouraging him to wipe his hands on his shirt.

Yes, you may laugh in 5 years when I scold him for using his shirt instead of a napkin.

But I think he'll outgrow the bad habit on his own: On Tuesday, he threw a salt shaker while we were at a restaurant. He got upset when he put his hand in the spilled salt and it stuck to him. I instructed, "Brush it off on your shirt." ... He promptly wiped his hand on his daddy's shirt.

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.

The Other Benefits of Therapy

When we went to Tyler's first OT appointment, Stephanie (the therapist) taught Tyler to squish peas with his finger. And then we played with pieces of an apple.

Tyler doesn't like anything that squishes or sticks to his hand. So he doesn't really like peas. At the time, he didn't like apples either. I assume he doesn't like the wet cold feeling.

At his second appointment, he played very well with the apple. And when Stephanie asked him to "Kiss the apple," he obligingly made little kissing noises by smacking his tongue against the top of his mouth but he didn't put the apple anywhere near his mouth.

A little embarrassed, I explained that he once mimicked me when I made kissing noises at him.

Brian and I loved that he would sort of blow us kisses, so we went with it. We taught him that was a "kiss."

"Can I have kisses?" I'd ask. "Give Daddy kisses," I'd say. He'd grin and *smack, smack, smack* at us.

Well as soon as we got home from therapy, I started teaching Tyler to give a "real kiss." I would kiss his toy and say "real kiss." And then I'd say, "Tyler's turn! Give it a real kiss." And I'd push the toy to his mouth.

When Brian got home that night, he got a real (slobbery) kiss on his cheek.

This evening, when we were playing with peas (our OT homework), I was teaching Tyler to brush off the "pea crumbs" that stuck to his hand. He still felt some imaginary evil pea juice on his finger and he held it out for me to clean it off.

I just kissed his finger and then put my finger to his lips for a kiss.

He held out his finger again, and I puckered up again and leaned forward.

Instead of pressing his finger to my lips, he put a chubby little hand on each side of my face and pulled me forward. He leaned as far forward as the high chair tray would allow and he pressed his sweet little open mouth against my lips.

It was the best kiss ever, except that I got a little pea juice in my ear!

A Little White Lie

Tyler just ate a chocolate Jell-O pudding.

I told him it was chocolate yogurt.

I had asked him if he wanted some yogurt and he ran to the fridge. When I opened the fridge, I realized we were out of YoBaby yogurt. But I saw the Jell-O pudding and thought it was worth a try. (Not necessarily the healthiest snack, but it does have calcium -- and anything new is good!)

He tried it even though it was from a container he's only seen when we play with regular Jell-O for therapy exercises. (He's been known to refuse foods based on the container/packaging.)

He had a hard time with the first bite. I think it is thicker than his baby foods.

But he adjusted quickly and finished off the whole thing. He looked cute with his little chocolate goatee!

GI Specialist

We had an appointment with the pediatric gastroenterologist today. The doctor and his nurse took a full history of Tyler's spitting up and gagging problems while Tyler ran circles around the exam room.

The doctor seems inclined to believe Tyler's problems are behavioral and that the occupational therapy will help. He mentioned putting Tyler on medicine for reflux. However, once we clarified that Tyler does not throw up or spit up if we avoid the foods that we know cause him to gag, he said that reflux is probably not the problem.

Just to rule out the possibility of some physical problem, such as a narrow esophagus, the doctor wants us to set up appointments for two tests:

The first one will involve X-rays of Tyler's upper GI tract. We should be able to schedule this one within a few weeks.

The second is called an OPMS (or Oropharyngeal Motility Study or Barium Swallow Study). For more information on this test, click here and here. This test is done by a radiologist and a therapist who specializes in feeding issues. This test may take months to schedule. Sigh. Maybe the therapy will solve all of Tyler's problems before we even schedule this test.

Depending on the results of these two tests, Tyler may have to undergo an endoscopy, where they put a camera down his throat. However, the doctor does not seem to think this test will be necessary.

Sensory Therapy is Delicious!

So, Tyler and I are working on his therapy. This is a picture of my favorite. Can you tell what is in the bowl? Orange Jello and whipped cream. Yummy!

Orange-flavored Cheerios were not so yummy. I had to bury Cheerios in the Jello and beg Tyler to feed them to me so that he would stick his hand in the Jello. But we had fun!

We also played in a rice box. I filled a fairly large tupperware bowl with rice and buried some items, like a small bath toy, some cotton balls, and some plastic bottle tops. (Please note that I mean caps to his bottles, not something small enough for him to swallow!)

We took advantage of the great weather and played outside with the rice box. Good thing as Tyler really just wanted to throw the rice.

I cleaned up as much of it as I could. How much uncooked rice does it take to kill a bird? (I've heard they eat a lot and it swells in their stomachs and kills them. That is why people don't use rice after weddings anymore. Is this true?) We have beautiful red birds on our back deck all the time. I am very concerned about them.

Speaking of ingesting uncooked rice, Tyler ate a few pieces. He loved chewing on them, crunching them between his front teeth. Really, it is hard to believe he doesn't know how to use his tongue if he can keep a tiny rice kernel in between those tiny front teeth. How much rice do you think would be harmful to an adorable bird-killing toddler?

He ate the rice and yet made no attempt to taste the Jello or the whipped cream (even though I sampled them extensively). However, that wasn't the purpose of the exercise. We were only playing with the textures in our hands. I wasn't trying to get him to eat anything.

The tongue exercises, on the other hand, are not going well. He's supposed to chew on a carrot to learn how to use his tongue and teeth. He only wants to throw the carrot. He refuses to put it near his mouth. And if I put it in my mouth, he tries to shove it down my throat!

But he's learned two new words. (As in, he recognizes the words and comes running. He can't say them yet.) "Chocolate." And "Vitamin." He loves both.

And we ordered pizza tonight. I took some of Brian's pepperoni, dried it off and toasted it in the toaster. Tyler LOVED it. Seriously, he gobbled it up. Brian has no pepperoni on his leftover piece of pizza.

I can't believe I fed my child pieces of pepperoni, but the nutritionist suggested it. She also suggested we add a teaspoon of sugar to his food twice a day, a teaspoon of olive oil to his food three times a day, a tablespoon of dry milk powder three times a day, a tablespoon of half and half once a day, a tablespoon of polycose powder four times a day. She also gave us some suggestions to make sure he's getting enough iron and recommended we keep giving him Carnation Instant Breakfast. If we can get him to eat an extra 300 calories/day, he should gain a half a pound each month.

And now, want to see what the monster was up to while I was taking pictures of Jello? Please note where his hands and feet are in this picture. So far he's only made it up two steps, but you can tell he wants to keep climbing.