Today we had good progress, during play picnic Jason allowed Bruce to give him some jelly with a spoon. It took a lot of patience and encouragement but after he watched us eating and munching away in front of him he eventually gave in a little to his hunger. Bruce took some red jelly on a teaspoon and said to Jason "open mouth" and eventually to all of our delight he opened his mouth!! He allowed Bruce to give him about 4 or 5 teaspoons of jelly and was actually enjoying it. I think the fact that the jelly didn’t make him choke was a good thing for him so he trusted that knowing that he wasn’t choking and obviously it tasted nice and sweet too.
I tried giving him a little paediasure (formula) in his sippy cup this afternoon but after the first taste that was it, he didn’t want any more of that. We also tried coke, red juice and grape juice. But it seems the water is the one that he wants. Only problem is water has NO calories in it. I guess in time he will change his ways.
I am just so grateful that we are on holiday with Bruce’s folks down the coast by the beach. We are all distracted by the wean, still go to the beach, go for walks, swim in the pool and Bruce goes fishing as well. This morning we went to the beach while Bruce fished. Mom and I swam with Jason and Jason found a little mate to play with. It’s times like these that make us forget that we are on day 9 of no food and in the middle of a tube wean. If we were at home it would be so much more difficult with no distractions from the wean. We would constantly be thinking about how much has Jason had to drink and how little he is eating. Also mom and dad keep us motivated. There is no turning back, this wean has to work. Jason is happy, he is healthy and all he needs to do is eat now. This is our second attempt and I am not interested in a failure. We WILL be successful. Each day it’s getting harder and harder as the milk gets reduced and soon there will be no milk. That is always at the back of my mind but at the end of the day it’s up to Jason to eat. I can’t do it for him. I cannot feed him via a tube for the rest of his life. He is a big boy, he is no longer sick and there is no reason why he cannot eat. Just like all the other successful Graz graduates, we too will be successful.
I continue to keep my faith up and trust in God. I know he knows and understands what we and Jason are going through. He is watching us and guiding us and I know that he has never left our side from the day Jason was born. So Lord I have faith in you, I have patience and I know you will not give us more than we can handle. I just ask you to take it easy on us and Jason and to give Jason the will and the longing and the eating knowledge now so that we can go forth with an eating child and never turn back. In your time, I know, in YOUR time!!!