Feeding Center Evaluation

Today we went to Arnold Palmer to have Robbie evaluated to see if he is eligible for their intensive feeding clinic.  The evaluation was done by an OT with a Dr, Social Worker, and Nutritionist present and asking questions. When they were done feeding him and gathering data they went to another room to confer then came back with their findings and recommendations. Yay for quick responses! We will get the written report and official findings some time next week. It took about 2 ½ hours over all.

He is a great candidate for the program!  (*Cheering!)  They gave us 2 options. First, we could enter into the program at this point and they believe that by the end of four weeks he would be eating pureed table food.  Second, we could attempt to get him to that point at home then go back and have them get him from table puree to table solids. We are choosing the 2^nd option.  They said we may fail miserably and if we do that’s ok we can just bring him in, or he may do great and even progress to solids on his own and not need to go in at all (wouldn’t that be wonderful?!).  

So that is where we are.  Apparently the first step is from baby food purees to table food purees. We are also to work on getting him to chew non food objects and refrain from giving him chunks in his purees that he can simply swallow (a bad habit we have been unintentionally reinforcing).  At the same time we can be encouraging him to chew things like veggie straws.  All this is to be accomplished by using positive reinforcement.

We were very relieved that he is cognitively ready for the program and they think he will make really good progress.  I was kinda hoping for more of a miracle, like “yes, we can get your son from baby purees to 50 solid foods within four weeks!”   Oh well. I will be ecstatic if he has 1-3 table foods he will eat by the end of the year.  Your continued prayers are deeply appreciated!