Dh and I are both EXHAUSTED right now...that was such a stressful 2 hours!!! I was not prepared for that!:shaking: :shaking: :shaking: :dizzy: :dizzy: :dizzy: :shaking: :shaking: :shaking:

First off, our therapist is AWESOME:thumblef: :thumblef: :thumblef: ...so nice, young and friendly, and Ava really liked her...most important!!! She had me bring some snacks that Ava "usually likes and will take a few bites of"...ok. I came fully armed...Teddy Grahams, vanilla wafers, string cheese, and a veggie chicken nugget, along w/ a bottle of her water (the little ones w/ the spout) and some (very, very watered down) strawberry banana juice. We started off w/ the sting cheese and just started talking about history, my pregnancy, etc., and just let Ava do her thing. She shaved off a tiny bit of the cheese w/ her front teeth, and then did it again, so I had high hopes that she might actually eat a little bit of it...right. The next bite was about a 1 1/2 inch piece, and as soon as that happens, it's pretty much a lost cause...it came back out unchewed and the whole thing hit the floor. Same deal w/ a teddy graham...bit one ear off, spit it out, and crumbled him up. She did drink almost an ounce of water however, before biting the side of the bottle and spraying a fountain all over the room.

She brought out some of the little Gerber dried fruit things, put a pile on Ava's tray and the went back and forth taking turns eating them...Ava ate 2 of them, but only swallowed one. Then, she decided that it was a much better idea to rehydrate them w/ her water bottle...yum!:sign11: What a mess! She's getting really, really fidgety and more agitated by the second, until finally I realized what was wrong...something had gotten stuck in the fundo...not sure what, but she was completely inconsolable. Of course, when this happens (which really isn't often at all...this is maybe the 5th time), there's absolutely nothing I can do for her, it just has to work it's way down. I've gotten things stuck (like big ol' horsepill prenatal vitamins) and it's a really crappy feeling...no matter how much you drink, it doesn't move and the water hurts even more. I figured out that that holds true for Ava too, so all I could do was hold my screaming, shaking, sweating baby, while the therapist looked at me in horror, asking if this happens every time Ava eats. Um, no! TG it doesn't...she'd never eat again! It's just so sad to see...there's literally nothing at all that I can do to help her. :sob: This went on for almost a full hour...she finally started to calm down, and played w/ a little farm set while we finished up.

Here's the plan for the time being:

1. Stop worrying about eating...period. B/c she's getting perfectly adequate nutrition thru her tube, they want us to forget about eating orally for the time being and just focus on even seeing/being around/touching food.
2. Set, and stick to, regular "meal" times, where Ava must sit in her high chair or booster for at least 5 min, working up to 20. We basically do this already, but it just doesn't work out...she freaks and I end up giving in...especially when the food flinging starts. The difference is that they want us to just get her accustomed to being around food and at least watching us eat. She also doesn't think Ava will be a "3 squares" kid...she's always been a snacker, so she said our goal will be to aim for 6 tiny meals a day.
3. Build a better relationship w/ food...we're going to start slow...smell, then lick, then bite, chew, and eventually work up to swallowing it. I was glad to hear that she considered the chewing and spitting a good sign, since they said it means Ava isn't completely opposed to tasting things.
4. Attempt to curb the food throwing by starting and "All Done" pile...Ava can chew and spit until her heart's content, but cannot throw...she has to either give it back to us (:sign11: ) or place it (nicely!) in her pile. The poor dog will lose some weight this way and won't be too happy, but I really like this idea.

She wants to see us twice a week, so it's going to be Tues. and Thurs. at 1:15, right when I get home from school. She told me we've got a LOT of work to do, but she really thinks we can eventually work thru this...I was too chicken to ask about a time frame. I'm taking Becky's lead,
(:-) :hug: Thanks Becky!!!:hug: :-) ) and trying not to focus on the when, when, when? and just focus on now...one step at a time! We'll get there when we get there, and that's that. As long as the tube is keeping her well hydrated/nourished, we're fine...we can relax and get her the help she needs.

I know we've got a long hard road ahead, but I'm so glad we're getting started...but man, I'm exhausted and that was only my first appointment of the day! I've still got one more, plus school!:sleepy4: :sleepy5: :sleepy4: :sleepy5:

:sleepy1: :sleepy2: :sleepy1: :sleepy2: Is it bedtime yet???:sleepy1: :sleepy2: :sleepy1: :sleepy2:

Wow, sounds like quite a day already Linds! Sorry she had a rough time poor kiddo! I can't imagine how much that must hurt when something gets stuck! I'm happy though that you like her therapist and it sounds like she has a really good plan in place already! Like you said, just try to take it day by day and not concentrate on the when. She will do it!!! I hope the rest of your day goes well! IT's so hard after having any kind of appts to not just want to go home isn't it! I like what the therapist said about a spit pile (LOL) That's pretty much what Connor does all day with his food, he has actually learned to throw a lot of it in the trash when he's done chewing on it or sucking on it (LOL)

Sounds like you got a good therapist.:yahoo: It must feel good to at least have a plan. I agree with the one day at a time method. With the tube keeping her nourished you can really take you time and do it right.

(((HUGS)))!!!! Sounds like you are carrying a lot of the load right, Lindsay, and I hope things let up soon!

The good news is that Ava is doing well with her tube. So, just take it one step at a time, enjoy your little girl and keep working on things.

I guess we're lucky that we don't have to deal with the stuck-in-the-fundo problem. But sort of the same thing will happen to Daniel. One good gag or choke and the meals's over. Luckily we're seeing that less and less.

The plan seems very reasonable and very familiar! Except we've got D's spit cup -- sooo much better than spitting all over himself or the floor. And now when I think he's working on a food he could swallow, I just don't give him the cup. Usually he'll ask for it, but sometimes he'll swallow.

Good for you for not asking WHEN. I used to, and then I'd find myself all frustrated because we weren't meeting goals.

Is the therapist going to come to your house? That'd be really nice -- and helpful, since Ava will be learning to eat in her own environment. When we went to feeding therapy, it'd make me crazy that D would climb up into his chair, but at home, sometimes it's just a huge fight (that I lose) to even get him to the table.

Ditto what Katey said, about it must feel good to have a plan. I was thinking the exact same thing while reading your post. W/ a plan there is hope and it sounds like the feeding therapist does think there is hope.

It will be a lot of hard work I am sure but it's not like anything has been easy for you guys w/Ava's eating, at least you have a professional now to help you guys work through this.

The fact the plan you have is so meticulous speaks volumes of the professionalism of the therapist. I'm so glad that you like her and especially that Ava like her. I hope this road you take is a smooth one, sending Ava lots of "please eat" wishes. :hug:

:-) I really don't know what to say, I'm just happy for you.

Your attitude is superb and your energy is endless and that's what you need get where you want to be with her. You'll tackle it, one sip at the time. :hug:

I'm so glad to hear you have such a great therapist! :-)

I'm with Becky--it would be great if she could do home visits for therapy. B is much the same way--mealtimes are an absolute battle at home. She runs away, screams, etc.; however, at the feeding cllinic, she'll climb into the high chair and eat an entire ounce without batting an eyelash. *GRRRR*

Will the food getting "stuck" in the fundo continue to be a problem, or will this eventually resolve itself? :-(

I'm glad that, for the time being, you dont' have to worry about fighting her to eat solids. That must be somewhat of a relief. :-)

(((hugs))) girlfriend. What a day.. You are quite a patient mommy.
Becky, I was going to mention the spit cup that Daniel uses. LOL...

WEll, Lindsay, the plan does sound fair and sounds like we need to do the highchair thing as well, because we go through the same thing at meal time. Only, Jack will eat if I feed him on the run.

**whew** here's to you. :drinkalot: