Mommy's Turn

Quick update from Friday:
Not many changes were made.  All 16 foods have been introduced and accepted at level spoon bolus.  The next step is training Mommy.  
We had a nice visit with my aunt, Nancy (Cody's great-aunt).  I think she enjoyed her behind the scenes visit and getting to play with Cody.  Cody really enjoyed playing with her.  

John and Cole made really good time and got here around 5:30.  Cody was excited to see them and Cole just wanted to check out the new place.  The boy loves to explore.  We made tacos at the apartment and hung out together until bedtime.  Sleeping was interesting with two toddlers and two adults sleeping in one room.  I don't think I got any sleep.  Anytime someone made a noise I was sure it would wake someone else up.  We managed. 

Saturday morning we went to a place called SnipIts in Sandy Springs that specializes in haircuts for children with autism or sensory processing disorder.  We had to wait longer than we would have liked, because they were understaffed.  In the end, both boys successfully had their haircut without too much headache.  

After haircuts we went to the 2-story Target near Phipps/Lenox.  We witnessed a dad and his two little boys riding the escalator up and down over and over.  There's a special escalator for the shopping carts, which Cody and the other boys were especially enamored with.  Once we finished at Target, we came back to the apartment for Cole's nap.  I think there may have been a few moments that only Cody was awake actually.  

After naps we went to Marietta for play time and dinner with John's brother's family.  It started out horribly as Cody was super grumpy from a short car nap and Cole just wanted to go up and down their stairs.  Cody came around, though, and it ended up being a nice evening with family.  We came home early enough for everyone to get a bath before bed.  I confess.. I slept on the couch Saturday night, because I couldn't deal with another sleepless night in the crowded bedroom.  

Sunday morning John got us doughnuts from Dunkin', then we went grocery shopping at Kroger.  As I mentioned, a lot of the foods I need to prepare for Cody are Kroger brand.  Cody refused to ride in the cart with Cole, so we drove two grocery carts around and managed to find most of what we needed without too much fuss.  After a quick lunch it was time for John and Cole to leave.  Needless to say, I was extremely sad to see them go, especially knowing they were not planning to come back for 3 weeks.  But I didn't have a whole lot of time to sit around and be sad, because I had to prepare purees for Monday's "inspection." It was the first sunny, warm day in awhile, so we opened up the balcony door and Cody had fun playing in and out while I worked in the kitchen.  Don't worry.  I could see him at all times and Cody wasn't in danger.  It helped a lot for him to be able to go on the balcony while I cooked, because he HATED the blender sounds.  He already hates vacuums and dust busters, so this was no surprise.  He got more comfortable as the afternoon went on.  Washing the blender by hand in between foods was not all that fun.  I have started wondering if you can buy extra pitchers for the blender.  That would be nice to have.  This picture is pineapple, oatmeal, and string cheese puree (from left to right). I also made broccoli with cheese sauce. 

After enduring the sounds of the blender, Cody deserved play time at the awesome playground in our neighborhood.  This was our first chance to play there and Cody loved it! He didn't know what to expect when I said we were going to a new playground and he was very surprised by how big it was.  We returned home to watch Paw Patrol and Cody fell asleep on the floor.  I ordered in and the weekend came to a close.

Monday came and "food school" was back in session with a very special surprise for Cody-- Mommy came to every session! The therapist started the first session just to be sure there were no major changes over the weekend, then I was invited in.  At first my only job was to say "good job taking that bite!" after each bite was accepted and "good job swallowing!" after every mouth check. I was also taught how to engage Cody during the sessions, which was a little tricky.  I'm used to asking Cody a lot of questions, guiding the conversation etc.  The protocol at Marcus, however, is to allow the child to lead.  You can use descriptive language to make comments about the DVD you're watching or comment on the toy you're playing with, but you're discouraged from asking open ended questions.  They feel they are already asking the child to do so much, you are not to add more to it by asking for answers to questions or guiding the play your direction. Don't place any added demands on the child, even to answer a simple question. This was a bit tricky for me at first, but I got the hang of it pretty much. It was easier as the day went on, because I became a lot busier. At the next session I moved up and sat in the "driver's seat," so to speak.  There I learned how to get the right amount of food on the spoon, how to deliver each bite, give the verbal prompt (take your bite), start and stop the timer, and give the verbal prompt for mouth check (show me).  Basically, at that point I was doing it all, except collecting data.  At the last meal session, I did start collecting data, but pretty basic stuff.  I checked off if he accepted the bite within 5 seconds and if his mouth was "clean" after 30 seconds (swallowed food).  If he had gagged or had negative statements or behavior, I would have also checked those.  One other thing that happens during the meal is toy choice.  At the beginning of the session and after every 25 or so bites you choose two toys, show them to Cody, and ask him to choose which one he wants.  Right now Cody gets his toy for the entire time he's eating. 

I think Cody really enjoyed my being with him at each session and now I'm a little worried for the next time I'm not allowed in.  When we started here I really thought he might struggle with accepting bites from me.  But honestly they've trained him SO well to take the bites, that he's like a trained robot.  He doesn't even think about it or consider what's on the spoon.  He just eats it.  Speaking of which, no Cody does not know what he's eating.  From time to time he's heard me telling another adult what he ate in session and he will adamantly deny that he ate that food.  Over the weekend when he saw me making his food for school and putting it into the small containers, he asked me about it.  I told him I was making food for food school. He asked what was in one container and I told him cheese.  He said, "oh! Damarea loves that kind!" :) 

Evidently, I was a star student today and they were able to complete my training in one day rather than two.  That means that they were able to move the home visit up from Wednesday to tomorrow.  I also, evidently, had no idea what a home visit was.  I thought they would come by after "school," check out our set up, help us with a meal, and be done.  NOPE! They're coming bright and early tomorrow morning at 8:30 and will be doing all four meal sessions at our apartment.  They will leave during the long break after lunch, however, and come back for the final meal.  This is why they needed all 16 foods prepared for the home visit.  He'll need enough food here for 4 meals.  I prepared 8 of the foods (by the way, the inspection of my prepared foods this morning went fine despite John telling me I was going to get chopped!).  They sent portions of the other 8 foods home with me today, so we'll have them for tomorrow.  We had to get a booster seat like they one they use at food school. Cody saw it tonight and made it clear that he did NOT want it, so hopefully that won't be awful tomorrow.  He doesn't sit in a booster at home anymore.  

John decided today that he'll leave Cole with my parents on Friday and come visit us by himself this weekend instead of waiting 3 weeks.  It was really hard on Cole's schedule this weekend with all the traveling and weird sleeping arrangements, so I agree with leaving him in Albany.  Although it does make me sad not to see him for so long.  It's only a few weeks.  

Be on the lookout tomorrow for a post on our home visit.  Goodnight.