I remember when mealtime was a break. . .at least 10 minutes of quite while Savannah would eat. Not true with preemies! Slowly creeping toward the top of the "issues list" is eating. Being that the girls are both small (barely over 20 pounds) caloric intake is not something I take lightly.
Lila Grace has gone from eating everything to being on an eating hiatus. Then there is the oral motor issues that are greatly affecting her articulation, leaving both mommy and baby very frustrated. Lila's tongue hangs over her bottom teeth, preventing her from producing a variety of consonant sounds. In order to strengthen her mouth and teach her to bring her lips to a closed position, we have started a modified straw program. The only problem is that she hates the straws that I have to cut down so that she only gets 1/2 or so in her mouth. If she is in a mood - and when is she not - she takes the drink and flings it onto the floor. That is after she looks at me just to let me know she is going to do it. I guess she has figured out that it gives her a little more bang for her buck by preparing me for the mess when I can't get there soon enough to prevent it. Just recently she took her smoothie and threw it down the garage steps. One would think this is better than in my house but if you ask my four year old, she will tell you what an issue it has caused. She can no longer come and go without having to penetrate a hoard of flies that "live" on smoothie remnants. Our speech therapist brought a different cup to try that doesn't have a valve and Lila finds it really amusing to watch the milk drip out onto the floor. Last but not least, when she is done eating, she takes the plate (which is usually still full) and tips it over with the announcement, "All Done."
Miss Belle. . .where to start with her eating woes. She just doesn't eat anymore. Thank goodness for Pediasure but something has got to give eventually - right?? We are enrolling her in the Hershey feeding clinic two hours away - oh joy - and have had to keep a food diary over the past three days. To give you an idea of what we are dealing with read on. . .
July 22
8 oz. Pediasure
3 oz. yogurt
2 oz. Pediasure
10 Cheerios
3/4 cup of fruit smoothie
2 sweet potato fries
5 corn puffs
8 oz Pediasure
That is better than she did today. It is incredibly frustrating to have a child that refuses food. YOU can't win, and they ALWAYS win it seems. Even Savannah gets in on the action and says, "Here Mommy, I will just hold her hands down and you can stick it in her mouth really quick." FYI, we aren't force feeding her. I couldn't if I wanted to. I have tried it all, crunchy textures, hiding things in the yogurt, small meals etc. It just doesn't work. Let's hope the people at Hershey can work some magic or this child is going to be walking around with a bottle of Pediasure when she is 10 years old.
Needless to say the ten minutes at meal time that I used to get with Savannah are long gone. Meals are an operation in this house. First I crank the air conditioner because without fail, I am hot and sweaty by the end of it. I make sure everything is on the table and we all sit down at the same exact time. I NEVER get to my food before it is cold and I ALWAYS leave the table a little more cranky than I started.
