Feeding. 4:54pm

What a wonderful day!

Gary & I have learned more today about feeding with Grace, then

we have in a year!!!  Grace had an appointment at Spaulding Rehab, down the cape,

for a feeding evaluation..so she can continue with feeding clinics there 1x week.

Our goal:  to get rid of the g-tube & get Gracie chewing, swallowing & eating solids.

We're off to a great start!!

 

 This was her outfit today! Thanks, Auntie April for her 1st & beautiful sweater dress!!

 

We learned & bought new tools to help with feeding.

On the left, the blue & green food mill (to grind & make into 'powder' anything, so she can eat everything)..

the white think is a NUK (she has used this before, kinda like a toothbrush, with small nubs at the tip.. helps to "awaken" the mouth & she holds it in her hand herself. 

The green thing is new from today..it's a stretchy tubing that provides sensory feedback for biting & chewing..she did GREAT with it today at the clinic, using it to chew & bite on.  And then of course her spoon is the far blue thing.

 

 

Grace likes spicy foods!! She ate some powdered up Cesar Snapea crisps..

(you usually see these in the salad aisle..as it is a topping for Salads).  She also drank Sweet Potatoe puree from a little cup & had a little sweet potatoe with her NUK & Spoon. 

 

I made a special trip to Kmart when we got home to get her new grinder

and some snacks from Stop & Shop.. we will grind croutons, veggie sticks (need to get apple sticks (she had those today!!).. sweet & spicy.

 

Snapea Crisps!!!

Crispy Onions (garlic pepper), Veggie Stix & Croutons.. & of course I will add purees to her daily diet, both with a spoon & in a little cup.

 

With her new hand held grinding machine..we can grind anything..

we put it down on her tray in front of her, telling her what is is & then letting her

"play"  with it..putting her hands in it..(textures) feeling it.

 

 

 

This new found way to allow Grace to eat what we eat & finally to taste different

textures & foods, makes Gary & I very excited.  Grace's new speech pathologist at Spaulding already, is wonderful.. and we are excited to start this in our home..

We are committed to trying eating at least 2x's, if not 3x's a day!

With Grace's recently GREAT weight gain, her gtube feeds will probably be

reduced a bit, this of course, allowing her to be more hungry for food!!

 

And Grace has a new sippy cup!!! We are going to start her with

this, since she seems disinterested in the bottle.

"It's mine, Daddy!!"

 

 

 

 

In other news, I bought Grace some play-doh as a treat for a great job done today..

and here she is playing with it.. It's in a plastic baggie, so she can see it (& not eat it!)

 

 

 

 

 

Play Doh Soft Pack.... just great to start feeling playdoh!

 

 

 

Thanks for reading up on us.  We hope to try some grounded/powdered turkey & maybe some mashed potatoes & cranberry sauce!! Can't wait to show everyone pictures!!!!  We are soo proud of her! With the right people on her team, she can conquer anything!!!! Love you Gracie girl!!

 

 

 

 

 

Love you guys!

pattie & gary, Gracie & max