WOW! I feel terrible that it has taken me this long to blog about our last week at our Children's House. After returning home, it was just a whirlwind of trying to get settled, get back into a routine and get ready for me to start my new job and Eli ready to start back to school! So FINALLY.... here is how our last week went...
Monday, August 27, 2012 - Eli tried mandarin oranges and steel cut oats today. He wasn't too sure he liked them. At his 4:30 meal, we had a minor set-back. One of his black beans was not blended; he threw up everything he ate as soon as that bean touched his tongue. Unfortunately, during his weight check today, Eli has only gained one ounce during his stay here.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - I got to feed Eli alone this morning, without the therapist in the room! She watched from the observation room and said we're doing great!! Eli is scheduled for two speech therapies today. So I'm hoping that means they will finally be introducing another new food. I talked to Dr. Austin (the psychologist) today and she thinks we will get to go home on FRIDAY!!!!! I am so excited! I'm also sitting in on speech therapy now to learn how to introduce new foods and I will get to start learning how to make and prepare his foods soon! Eli ate too fast again and threw up his 1:30 feeding. Gotta slow it down a little more.... Eli ate 6 bites of blended creamed corn. We made sure he only got the liquid and no kernels, but he did great!!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012 - Eli had Quinoa Blended Gluten Free Oat Cereal with Mandarin oranges (all blended together) for breakfast. Then at speech therapy, I introduced NeoCate Nutra (tasteless yogurt/whipped cream consistency fluff) to Eli, as well as Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal baby food! We had our final care conference today. They suggested coming back in 6 months for the 5-week Day Program to work on feeding and chewing. This would be out patient. They said that once kids start eating, it normally takes about 3 years to master chewing. So since Eli is just starting.learning to eat, we can estimate that it may take 2-3 years before he is able to chew foods. They also said the corn was too high on his allergen/reaction list to introduce, so we're going to try carrots. They also suggested rice, tomato and potato, but to avoid dairy, soy, corn, wheat and (of course) egg. We scheduled an additional speech therapy today to pull the corn from Eli's diet and introduce the carrot. He seemed to like them! We will introduce chicken tomorrow!
Thursday, August 30, 2012 - ADAM FLIES IN TONIGHT!!!! YEAH!!! Eli ate blended Mandarin oranges and oatmeal for breakfast again today. He seemed to like it a little better. Then, while Eli was in occupational therapy, I learned how to prepare his foods for when we return home! Eli had blended green beans and NeoCate Nutra flavored with vanilla Elecare for lunch. I think the Nutra is going to be a great substitute for yogurt! We introduced CHICKEN in speech therapy!! It was blended with Hemp milk and Neocate Nutra. Eli actually seemed to like it! YAY! He had it again for dinner! About 8:30 tonight, Eli just told me, "Mom, I think I'm hungry!". he said he wanted applesauce, then he fed himself the ENTIRE CONTAINER!! YAY!!
Friday, August 31, 2012 - Eli had breakfast this morning and did wonderful!! We are all loaded up and headed home!!!!
Well, we've been home fore a couple of weeks now and things are still going really well. In a few days, I will try to sit down and blog an update from the past few weeks since we've been home. Thank you to everyone for being so patient with us as we re-adjust to normal life again! We also want to say another huge thank you to everyone who called, sent care packages and prayed for us while we were in Dallas. We can't thank you enough!
