Monday, March 12, 2007

New flavors

Tonight Natalie tried the bean and potato burritos we were having for dinner (mashed, without a tortilla) and canteloupe. The canteloupe was a success (cut into 1/8" pieces, but the burrito elicited pained expressions from her, so after 5 or 6 bites we gave her standard stage 3 baby food. Today at therapy she had banana that wasn't mashed up. She's been drinking several ounces per meal of 50/50 milk and Pediasure, from a sippy cup without the valve. I think she's close to liking it enough to try it with the valve. We've also changed her meals to coincide with our meals (she had been having meals every 4 hours), with snacks in between breakfast, lunch and dinner. She's now taking 7 ounces of food and drink at meals and about 3-4 ounces at snacks.

I think she now definitely knows that eating takes away the hunger in her belly, but she still gets very excited to see her tube. But tonight at dinner, except for her reflux medication, she took everything by mouth. Right now while she's well, I feel confident that we could push her to take everything by mouth (with thickened liquids). We may be pushing her to do this soon, but we don't want to rush a good thing.

No comments: