The last week or so Chad and I have been so excited because it seemed as though Elena had rounded a corner on her eating. It was confirmed during her last speech therapy appointment when she gobbled down 2.5oz of food! This is the most she's EVER eaten!
It's like all of sudden she figured it out. She's even opening her mouth for the spoon. It's not quite the most coordinated but she's doing it.
You have no idea how exciting this is for us. Her eating has been some of the most tedious, frustrating, painstaking parts of her therapy. There have been many days where we both end her feeding in tears. A year ago she was literally being fed 6-8 drops via an eyedropper. But all that perseverance and hard work is paying off. To see her opening her mouth for the spoon and actually seeming to enjoy eating makes my heart burst!
She still has a VERY long way to go before we can even whisper the word "weaning" (from the G-tube) but a Mommy can dream, right?! It's certainly a step in the right direction. Keep up the prayers, because this most definitely is an answer to them!
She eats!
Covered in pears after her therapy session!
Yummy yummy! yeah Elena! Looking forward to seeing you all soon.
ReplyDeleteErin, Adam, and Holden
this blesses my heart soo much!!! you can tell she is eating cause she is enjoying it! I'm Caroline mosey's friend. both my sons have had feeding tubes because of aspiration from birth to about 8 months. Personalities! one weaned in a week and the second kid is so stubborn, he is Elena's age and still has his tube. I've read that parents of children with feeding tubes struggle with depression much more than children with any other sort of physical/mental challenge. Feeding really gets to the heart of a nurturing mom. . . I will pray she continues in this positive direction. i too, clearly know the tears with feeding.
ReplyDeleteblessings,
Kendra johnson