I now realize that the process of teaching Emma to eat has not been much different from other children - maybe just slower and more cognitive. Going through the process with Toby, who is not as excited by food as the rest of us, has shown me that.
There is another reason though - we've hit something that is more difficult! You expect to have to teach your kids not to "drink" (alcohol that is!). After all drinking is one of the first actions they learn and excel at, and often put it before eating. Not for Emma - yet!
Drinking is now Emma's main hurdle to leaving the g-tube behind. For some time now we have given Emma drinks, mainly water and juice. it was not until she was quite old though.
The sucking reflex that babies are born with was interrupted by the Moebius Syndrome. She literally could not suck on a bottle. The reflux created a risk for aspiration. Drinking was shelved until a later date.
Throughout the feeding process drinking was not given much attention. With Emma eating so wonderfully we no turn our attention to the fluid intake. Unfortunately creating thirst is not something we can do in the same way that we created hunger. Dehydration is quicker and serious.
And to make matters worse, Emma has decided that she does not like to drink!
We've resorted to drinking games!! "1, 2, 3 Everyone drink!" has been working so far.
There is another reason though - we've hit something that is more difficult! You expect to have to teach your kids not to "drink" (alcohol that is!). After all drinking is one of the first actions they learn and excel at, and often put it before eating. Not for Emma - yet!
Drinking is now Emma's main hurdle to leaving the g-tube behind. For some time now we have given Emma drinks, mainly water and juice. it was not until she was quite old though.
The sucking reflex that babies are born with was interrupted by the Moebius Syndrome. She literally could not suck on a bottle. The reflux created a risk for aspiration. Drinking was shelved until a later date.
Throughout the feeding process drinking was not given much attention. With Emma eating so wonderfully we no turn our attention to the fluid intake. Unfortunately creating thirst is not something we can do in the same way that we created hunger. Dehydration is quicker and serious.
And to make matters worse, Emma has decided that she does not like to drink!
We've resorted to drinking games!! "1, 2, 3 Everyone drink!" has been working so far.
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