Week 2, Day 2

Well, our day was a little thrown off by today by some unfortunate circumstances.  The first session went reasonably well.  They have been pushing the broccoli still, and it has gone okay.  Gavin doesn’t shutter as much as he used to so that’s good, and I was able to successfully feed it to him for the second time!  Then, the first unfortunate event happened during the second session.  Gavin bit his cheek while practicing to chew on an animal cracker at the beginning of the session.  Poor kid was so upset!  He spent the entire 25 minute feeding session yelling “mommy please hold me” in between sobs.  While it was so sad to hear his little cries and have to act like everything was okay and encourage him to keep eating, at least he wasn’t showing his feisty side!  He finished that meal with only consuming 1.5oz. L  The other unfortunate event was in the last session.  There is an antihistamine, Cyproheptadine, which has a side effect of making people hungry, and can be used to help increase appetite when people are feeding/eating poorly.  Gavin seems to be coming down with a little cold, so it seemed like a winner all around today!  I gave Gavin a half dose at lunch time as Dr. Clawson recommended to see if we would notice any change in the afternoon.  Well, we saw a change, but unfortunately not in his appetite.  Poor Gavin fell asleep in the feeding chair halfway through the last session!!  It was so sad!  They tried to wake him up, but he was OUT!!!  That ended our day at the clinic.  Going forward, we are going to try the drug at the beginning of the second session, hoping the drowsiness will kick in just in time for a little nap between our 11:00 and 1:00 sessions.

I have enjoyed our downtime in the playrooms at the clinic and here in the house mainly because it has given me an opportunity to meet other parents of kids with feeding struggles.  It is nice to be able talk to people who also live the long battle every day and really understand.  It will be nice to keep in touch with some of them and have a little support network.  I am amazed at the different issues that bring these kids here.  I met a seven year old girl who has trouble eating since she was four.  Apparently, at that time, a glass ornament fell and broke right next to her.  She still to this day is convinced there is a piece of glass lodged in her esophagus, despite all tests and x-rays showing she is fine.  Crazy how psychological feeding can be!

Eric comes Friday night, and we are so excited to see him!!!  We are hoping to make it to the Children’s Museum here in town.  It’ll just be nice to finally all be together againJ