Not too much eating or drinking action again. Honestly you always hope that there will be but I just know Jason and I know how tough and stubborn he can be. Ok stubborn and a tough cookie is the wrong words to use. The wise words of the professor from Graz this morning to me were "Jill, try to not look at Jason as a "touch cookie" but as an intelligent bright and inventive young boy who has been through quite some trauma as concerned to food and feeding."
I actually didn't think of it like that but it is very true. Eating and drinking for Jason is so unnatural and the trauma that he went through when he did eat or drink from the severe silent reflux he had caused him terrible pain and this food aversion. Associating eating and drinking with pain.
The plan of action today guided by Graz was to actually show Jason that we are not interested whether he eats or drinks. To show no emotions, to ignore him, not to offer him food and to limit the food around him. He knows we are watching, hoping and expecting him to eat so we must show him and make it harder for him to find food. Basically making him feel "neglected" and "forgotten" with no attention.
I would say it did help. Although there wasn't eating and not much drinking there was a whole lot of interest and curiosity and "wondering" why we were taking no notice of him and not inviting him to the table or bringing food his way. We had breakfast and lunch without calling him, just ignored him. At breakfast he actually sat under the table and played with our feet hanging around as if he was waiting for us to call him and react but he got no reaction from us. This afternoon when we snacked on popcorn, we snacked watching cartoons with him, didn't offer, took no notice of him and he actually ran over and took a look in the popcorn bowl and held onto my leg then left the eating area. When we had a toasted sandwich late afternoon there was lots of teeth grinding and looking our way. BUT still we took no notice of him. He did drink out of his bottle, tried desperately to get our attention but we gave him nothing of it. I am sure he is curious and now that he is not getting any attention from any of us it must be hard.
He is hungry, that's for sure. His tummy is rumbling like crazy and lots of teeth grinding. Shame when he has an afternoon nap his little mouth and lips are moving as if he is eating in his sleep!!
He is still very strong, the same Jason. No lack of energy, he is tough as nails. His weight is still the same which for me is great and a huge relief he isn't losing fast. I know he will start losing and we will have to deal with that when it happens but for now I am happy with things. It was very comforting hearing from Rachel and Joanne who are parents of two Graz graduates that have been to Graz and been through the net coaching as well. Rachel said that Arthur took 10 days before he ate something and Joanne said that Matthew took 11 days in Graz before he ate or drank anything. So I know we still have a lot to get through but I am prepared for it.
It is great not having to feed Jason every 3 and a half hours, changing nappies all day and seeing to his every need. I have had a "new born" for 4 and a half years and now it's time for mommy to get some rest and a break from this constant feeding and caring for him. The other great thing is since this wean started and since the day feeds have stopped the gagging and vomiting have stopped as well. The mucous has cleared up in the nose and throat and he is so much more happier and healthier! It's amazing! Our little baby is due end of March and hopefully Jason will be eating and potty trained by then. I am confident that he will be!
Tomorrow daddy arrives. I can't wait to see Bruce and for our family to be together again. Bruce has been working really hard and needs a well deserved Christmas break. I wonder how Jason is going to react when daddy is around?? We will see but I think he knows that he isn't getting the attention that he wants.