Little Green Monsters

C's making very quick progress on sitting up and building up strength in his upper body. Last week, at PT, he could only sit unsupported for 18 seconds. Today, at PT, he sat unsupported for more than THREE MINUTES! His PT even remarked how great it is that he has a new skill each time she sees him. He's also improving on transitions ~ for example, transitioning from sitting, to leaning on his hands over to one side, to sliding down onto his belly.

Last week, we accidentally discovered a new skill. My Dad brought me a big ol' sweet tea from McD's (yum). While I was holding it in one hand and C with the other arm, C reached out and grabbed my drink and straw. I assumed he wanted to munch on the straw because he's teething (top canines), but when he put the straw in his mouth, my Dad and I watched in amazement as tea moved up and down in the straw! He was actually trying to suck drink from the straw!!!! I didn't let him drink any of it because I didn't want him to get scared by the large bolus he would have gotten.

We shared this info with his OT and today, she gave C a squeeze bottle with a flexible straw-type tube and he drank from it! It's easier to control the flow of liquid with this type of bottle, which we must be cautious of because if he chokes or gags on too much liquid, he may reject this like he's done with the bottle. Miss Leah also presented C with an open cup, and he drank a little from that. He didn't take much measurable volume, but this is still a great development. We had a repeat performance at home with watered-down juice tonight. We had a repeat performance at home tonight. WOW! Big step in the right direction! **happy dance**

He's improving on his pureed food skills, too. He definitely likes the home-made foods better than store-bought foods. When we present a food he grabs onto both sides of the tray, lunges forward, mouth wide open like a baby bird, and chomps on the spoon. If it's a food he likes (pears, apples, sweet peas, sweet potatoes) he'll come back for more. If he doesn't like it, he clamps his mouth closed and is D.O.N.E. We have to be careful not to leave the spoon in his mouth too long or he gags on it, but I do think his gag reflex is improving. He's taking in around 2 tablespoons at a sitting, and then I think he gets bored and/or overstimulated. He doesn't gag or cry or fuss when he's had enough, he just completely ignores you. If you continue to try to feed him, he turns his face all the way to the left side and presses his face into the chair as if he's saying, "if I can't see you, you can't see me!" And if Lucy comes in anytime during the feed, you can forget it because he's more interested in her than whatever it is you are doing!

Mmmmm....Sweet Peas (aka: little green monsters)!

We spoke with Dr. Wonderful today and discussed adding Duo-cal, or another calorie additive to his pureed foods, in order to maximize his caloric intake. She's also going to look into what high-calorie liquids we can try with the straw because water and watered-down juice are sort of a waste for C. When every calorie counts, water is an "empty" food that takes up room in his little tummy and doesn't give any nutrition. He's not quite old enough for Pediasure or milk-based products, but we're willing to get creative!