Like Mother,Like Daughter .......

I love chocolate. I have been known to eat only chocolate .... all day.Not healthy but definitely yummy.Definitely an addiction, Could be worse I suppose.Yep,that's chocolate gracing the face of my 17 month old. Chocolate pudding.Actually chocolate SOY pudding. Remember,little miss is allergic to milk. So why is my child painted in pudding? We started some feeding therapy of sorts today.Monday I called our coordinator at Early Intervention to discuss adding some other services.I must say we are so blessed to have at our disposal,services at the ready. No fight. Just readily available.I have never taken that for granted especially when I have learned how difficult it is for so many others,in different states,to get much needed services for their equally needy children.The plan is to keep Jacquie,our O.T.,at least once a week. We are going to add P.T. twice a week. Keep vision therapy once a week and add a feeding specialist. Our coordinator basically said that she will approve what ever I feel Zoey can tolerate.So,we are really fortunate. Zoey is really fortunate. So today we tried to introduce Zoey to some food.Now,she does eat some baby food,that I feed to her. Before Zoey started seizures she ate like a champ. She ate a ton and and was very proficient.Now,not so much.Total food aversion. I just keep at it by feeding her "meals" three times a day. If she gets two spoon fulls or ten spoon fulls, at least it's something.But as far as feeding,as in herself,well, she just isn't anywhere near understanding the concept. These picture give you an idea of how you begin the introduction. You kinda just let them at it. This helps with any sensory issues they may be having and allows them some autonomy.We gave her a little Nuk thingy to hold. A Nuk is a soft rubber type thing with nubs on the end that we can massage her gums with. It kind of wakes up her mouth a bit.She wasn't at all opposed to the process. In fact I think she liked it.She kept making these cute little grunting noises that we have never heard before too. Since she's a girl of few words or sounds,we got a kick out of it. We certainly had a blast watching her. It's just a starting point,a good beginning and although she didn't actually put any of it to her mouth herself, she hopefully will and with any luck she one day will be able to feed herself. The things I absolutely took for granted with my other children. That pincer reflex.Hand mouth coordination. The motor planning involved. Very complex steps for a child such as Zoey, that have a number of issues hindering the process. That's okay,slow and steady she continues to go. Not much else to tell. She's been a little off the last few days. Sleeping marathon naps. Any of my other children I would chalk it up to growing but not the case with Zoey. She is due for a blood check in three weeks but I think I will take her on Monday just to hopefully put my mind at ease. The thoughts I have to entertain.Those are my least favorite parts of the journey. The rest of the crew? Jess and Caitlin are home. So that means iIhave all my children under one roof for awhile. Caitlin is home until Wednesday and Jess until the 20th. Mark and I are thrilled to have them home.Although Mark will be working all weekend again and he didn't get home until after 10:30 pm tonight. So I'm not sure how much time he will actually get to spend with them. Jake and Joe are thrilled to have the girls home and Zoey gave then both huge smiles when they came through the door. We have enjoyed watching the Olympics together tonight and that will be how we spend much of our evenings together over the next few weeks. Did any one see the Coke commercial tonight? All images of great Olympic athletes receiving their medals and scattered throughout the commercial, were images of some other pretty remarkable athletes receiving their very own medals.Let's put it this way, we commented to Zoey that that will be her one day! It was a sweet commercial.That's all for tonight. I am exhausted and so ready for Mark to have a day off. Seven more days and one will finally come. My husband works so hard for us. He is an amazing husband and an equally amazing dad. Always pulled in two different directions and by necessity,the one side he wishes didn't win out ,always does. Thanks honey for all you do. I don't say that enough.I'm sorry for that. We love you for your daily sacrifice and I am forever grateful to be your wife and to have been able to be home with the kids for all these years. That has been such a blessing to us all.