Oni's First Puff
So I came home from work at a reasonable time today! I left at 7pm,
picked up take out and sped home... We all sat down at the dining room
table and "ate" together for the first time in I don't know how long!
While I was setting the table, I put Oni in his high chair and poured
out some puffs on his tray. I do this out of habit, but never expecting
him to eat any of it. I mean who am I kidding? This kid has never put
any food in his mouth on his own! I turned around and saw his mouth
moving. I thought, wait, did he eat one? No way... He must just be
moving his mouth and smacking his lips for fun... Then I sat down to
eat and then in the corner of my eye, I see him pick up a puff and try
to put it into his mouth! I froze and didn't even want to praise him or
let him know I was watching for fear of startling him or somehow
deterring him for continuing! My eyes had not deceived me... He
proceeded to pick up another puff and put it into his mouth. He spit
out most of it, but just the fact that he picked it up and put it into
his mouth almost brought tears to my eyes!!! Then I tried to put rice
into his mouth, but he closed his mouth before I could get it in. Then
the gate was officially closed. He didn't want anything else even near
his mouth! Nonetheless, just those few that went in made me SO HAPPY! I
know it's so many months late in this activity/skill, but at least he's
doing it now. No one can understand the relief I felt. I hope it
continues and develops as the weeks go on... He even picked up one and
put it in Fred's mouth and then picked up another and put it into my
mouth! You would have thought he won the noble peace prize with the
sounds of my praise! hahaha~ Who the heck ever thought I'd be like
this... *sigh* But it definitely is a huge milestone for us. We have
an appointment at the Feeding and Swallowing Program at Children's
Hospital next week so I hope there's more improvement by then and that
they can give me some guidance on further developing this skill with
him!
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