Just a quick update about my kids and strangers. I have heard a lot about how the girls should be watched by other people or consistently go to story times or music classes in order to get them used to strangers. Since we don't have family around and all of our friends seem to have their hands full with their own children (why does three kids have to be the trend right now 3+3=6!!!) our girls are with me 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year. Okay, 364 days a year because my parents watched them once for us this year when we were out in Washington. Our therapists have expressed concern about how they will react when they go to preschool and are watched by someone other than me. I understand this concern because Lila Grace flips her lid if a neighbor tries to pick her up let alone a stranger.
To take matters into my own hands and in order to kill two birds with one stone, I joined the YMCA. Yes, I am in desperate need of some exercise. It really does make me a better mommy. While I work out, the girls are dropped in the babysitting room. I am shocked but incredibly pleased to say they do just fine. Lila may whimper but moves on to the toys by the time I am walking out the door. This babysitting room is a disaster and the staff are terrible about interacting with the kids. I am very fortunate that my girls have taken the high road on this one because I couldn't leave them crying in that not so nurturing environment.
I feel the need to share an aside. I took Savannah to the babysitting room today (I usually go when she is in preschool) and she was brought down to me crying 45 minutes later. Somethings never change. We took all three on Saturday and Savannah was happy as could be. When we picked her up she was walking around holding Lila's hand. That moment defines the reason why we worked so hard to give her a sibling(s). She found comfort and love in her youngest sister. Isn't that what siblings are for? To fill the void when parents aren't there to do so. Today, Savannah told me she never wants to to go to the babysitting room without her sisters again.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Feeding Update II
Adeline has made huge strides in the feeding department. Now that daddy is home for a few consecutive days and Adeline is feeling better, we have hit two out of three meals with the feeding protocol. Surprisingly, she is very accepting for the most part. She hasn't had a naptime bottle in almost a week and has done a pretty good job of supplementing her calories. By good job I mean at least half. Here is how this every evolving process works for the moment. . .
Adeline has a bottle when she wakes up and sits out of breakfast. There is a strong "skipping breakfast" gene running through this family anyway.
For lunch, she is up to a quarter of a PB&J or 12-16 centimeter cube bites. There is certainly work involved with the lunch time feeding as she isn't starving and is used to having yogurt and puffs. She tolerates the PB&J but there needs to be a lot of play with the cars or peek-a-boo in between bites. Realistically, this will be dropped when daddy leaves because lunch time is a crazy - walk in the door from preschool and two kids are wanting food etc. - time. Hopefully, in the next few days, Adeline will be willing to self feed some of her sandwich. Finally, when the girls go down for naps, I hold Adeline up for a few minutes and get 4 oz. of whole milk yogurt in her (140 very quality calories).
Dinner has gone exceptionally well the last few nights. I made a roast with baby carrots and garlic mashed potatoes. All of my family, except Lila, love the potatoes. Even Adeline will take decent sized bites and sign for more over and over again. The best part is they are made with heavy cream that has simmered with smashed garlic cloves. Yummy and super high in calories. In addition to the potatoes, every one except daddy devour the baby carrots. It is the only thing Lila Grace will eat from this dinner. Adeline has taken almost two whole baby carrots each night without too much encouragement. I still haven't pushed the roast on her. Tonight she ate a half cup of applesauce too which is something she was refusing a week ago (120 calories). Not bad for a dinner.
We follow all this up with nighttime bottle.
I am trying not to get my hopes up because things are running smoothly due to two parents in the house. When everything falls on me (cooking, feeding, cleaning up afterward etc.) meal times get a bit hairy. Regardless of how quickly we progress from this day forward, we are miles ahead of where we started. Let's just hope this isn't the preemie pattern or two steps forward, one step back.
Adeline has a bottle when she wakes up and sits out of breakfast. There is a strong "skipping breakfast" gene running through this family anyway.
For lunch, she is up to a quarter of a PB&J or 12-16 centimeter cube bites. There is certainly work involved with the lunch time feeding as she isn't starving and is used to having yogurt and puffs. She tolerates the PB&J but there needs to be a lot of play with the cars or peek-a-boo in between bites. Realistically, this will be dropped when daddy leaves because lunch time is a crazy - walk in the door from preschool and two kids are wanting food etc. - time. Hopefully, in the next few days, Adeline will be willing to self feed some of her sandwich. Finally, when the girls go down for naps, I hold Adeline up for a few minutes and get 4 oz. of whole milk yogurt in her (140 very quality calories).
Dinner has gone exceptionally well the last few nights. I made a roast with baby carrots and garlic mashed potatoes. All of my family, except Lila, love the potatoes. Even Adeline will take decent sized bites and sign for more over and over again. The best part is they are made with heavy cream that has simmered with smashed garlic cloves. Yummy and super high in calories. In addition to the potatoes, every one except daddy devour the baby carrots. It is the only thing Lila Grace will eat from this dinner. Adeline has taken almost two whole baby carrots each night without too much encouragement. I still haven't pushed the roast on her. Tonight she ate a half cup of applesauce too which is something she was refusing a week ago (120 calories). Not bad for a dinner.
We follow all this up with nighttime bottle.
I am trying not to get my hopes up because things are running smoothly due to two parents in the house. When everything falls on me (cooking, feeding, cleaning up afterward etc.) meal times get a bit hairy. Regardless of how quickly we progress from this day forward, we are miles ahead of where we started. Let's just hope this isn't the preemie pattern or two steps forward, one step back.
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