31 for 21: How Do You Like Them Bapples?!?!?!

 

Today is an exercise in rejoicing.  You probably won't get why this is a BIG FREAKING DEAL, but it absolutely is.

Last night the stars aligned, and meatloaf with extra ketchup was held hostage.  ELISE ATE APPLES!!  Granted it was like 2 eighth of an apple pieces, but STILL!!!  This is a culmination of EIGHT YEARS of Occupational and Speech therapies!!!!  This is a coup in proportions of Hannibal and the Elephants!!  Joshua and Jericho!!  MIRACULOUS, Y'all!!!!

With SPD, textures can cause a child to gag, choke, and generally freak out.  Apples have been on Elise's black list for...How old is she now?  She will sometimes eat cooked apples.  She will eat applesauce.  She will lick and occasionally taste them for Johnny Appleseed projects in school.  But she has never once willingly eaten an apple.  Last night, I wanted to try again...for the 33rd zillionth time...and so I attempted to eliminate as many factors as possible.  I cut it up.  I took off the skin.  She keened and groaned and growled.  I told her that she could have more meatloaf (her favorite) if she ate the apples.  She licked, shivered with disgust and scratched off some into a little bit of apple pulp on her finger which she licked off...she turned to me after it was clear that she HAD to try one.  "Cut?"  She wanted me to cut it into littler pieces.  I felt like I was making apples for dollhouse people by this point, but, sure...whatever.

AND SHE ATE THEM.  ALL!!


WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Plus, isn't she cute??  Filthy, perhaps, but cute...  She notices that I am recording her about halfway and poses to smile, because she thinks I am taking a picture...  Plus, notice, her princess finger positioning!  *Sigh*

Rejoice with me!!!!  "How do you like them apples???????"

Eating

As I said before, we engaged a private Speech therapist for Elise this summer.  She was able to get some additional time with her by adding a "feeding" portion to her appointments.  I was hopeful, but to be completely honest, I wasn't sure it would make a significance difference without a LOT of intervention.  But I felt that whatever time she could spend on it and interacting with the therapist would not be wasted.

For those who have missed some key points, on top of the Downs, Elise has some serious, and somewhat debilitating sensory issues.  These were also aggravated by the effects of the chemo.  The flavors of things got really "Off" for a while.  Eating has been a serious nightmare for about 8 years now...
Scroll forward to today, Elise was hungry (when is she not??) and was whining to eat.  I said sure, she could have a couple for bites of the pork I was putting in supper...and she snarfed them down quickly and started begging for more.  I said that the rest was mine and I had already mixed the pulled pork in with some spinach and drizzled some rasberry vinegarette on it.  She, of course, was not willing to back down, yet.  Finally, I offered her a bite, usually she backs down on that one..but she said "Ahh".  So I let her have a bite.  She gobbled it down and begged for more...and more...and MORE.  She ate 6 BIG bites.  Usually looking at spinach on her plate will cause her to gag.  BUT SHE ATE IT!!  I was seriously shocked.

Also, our littlest has serious allergies to dyes and preservatives.  So we have slowly been overhauling our eating habits.  Everything has been changed.  And Elise has really not enjoyed it.  AT ALL.  But she's getting used to it.  And even, in some cases, really coming to like it!!

This week alone, she has eaten and ENJOYED:
Scratch hummus and pita chips (although she's been caught sneaking it on corn chips!)
Spaghetti with pulled pork, fresh basil, fresh diced tomatoes and parmesean cheese, topped with mozzarella
Mashed potatoes
Raw spinach
Ginger dressing
Homemade greek yogurt ice cream
Honey on her pancakes
Applesauce on peanut butter toast

At therapy she has eaten pistachios and almonds.  She bit a carrot (and then spit it out).  And both of those are HUGE.

Okay.  You may not be properly impressed.  But consider this.  Elise does NOT eat new food without retching.  She eats only combinations she recognizes.  She would happily subsist on crackers and toast.

I am really excited that we will be able to pull off real meals MUCH sooner than I would have EVER expected.  EVER!!

31 for 21: #11 Hobbitses Meal Schedule

Okay...so later this month, I will address SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) on a simpler, informational level...but Elise, I really feel, is missing the "full" button...I think she eats for sensory input, and doesn't comprehend that she is satiated until she feels sick.  That said, if she could eat when she wants to eat, she would be on the Hobbit Meal Planning:

1) Breakfast
2) Second Breakfast
3) Elevensies
4) Lunch
5) Afternoon Tea
6) Supper

Actually, come to think of it, she would probably be very welcome in Hobbit Society.  She could lobby for more meals in the day...and she is certainly the right diminutive size...she absolutely knows adventure when she sees it.  She would have been an asset to Frodo and Samwise.  Merry and Pippin would have passionately enjoyed her...maybe I should write her in to a fourth Lord of the Rings book and see what happens!  :)

Her only drawback in the Hobbit world?

She has little feet.

Ha!!!