We started our therapies today, first on the list was speech therapy with Elisabeth & Christiaan. She says we have quite a lot of work to do with him, but that he will catch up. I told her that the 'uuurrrr' sound that he makes HAS to go!!!! It was an introductory session and we will do more next time, but he is of course smiling and being all cute for each of the therapists in turn...hoping to have an easy time I am sure!
Next on the list was Eva for physio but as we knew, he doesnt need any physio and is right on track with his milestones. Eva says that he will take a bit longer to master the stairs but dont to worry, it will come. So we don't really have physio, rather a one on one play session for him where she gets him moving and jumping around and he is having a ball with her. She reminds me a bit of my mom, she doesn't take any of his nonsense and tells him straight NEIN Tayden NEIN!!!! - but he goes straight back to play with her! She is the one that managed a major breakthrough with him today in getting him to drink and she is so chuffed with him, as are all the doctors.
All in all, Tayden has drunk about 40ml on his own! We are so proud with our little man!
Our music session was cancelled, which was just as well as he was really tired and it gave him time to have a quick cat nap before play picnic. We will hopefully reschedule the music lesson for tomorrow afternoon when we are free.
Play picnic went okay, this time it was just Tayden and me, Rob was behind the two way mirror to see what was happening, along with alot of the doctors. Tayden was fine to start with and start on my lap and ate a pom bar chip but after about 10 minutes with all the kids and the noise it just got a bit much for him. He let out a heart wretching wail and that was it for quite a while. He sat on my lap like a leech and wouldn't even look at the other children. Eva managed to get him out of his shell with a little chocolate umbrella. Note to me: go buy more umbrellas! He sat and sucked on one but didn't actively participate at all. At the moment most of the other children are willing to touch the food and put it to their mouths, but my favourite little child at the moment is Christina, from NY. She settles in and pours custard, pasta etc all over herself, mushes the mash into her clothes etc and literally seems to have the motto of 'eat it or wear it' as her own! Patrick (21 months about) from the UK is also doing well, Nicholas (brain hemarrage at birth) is 3 1/2years and although he doesnt have a tube his mom brought him to encourage him to eat and he is doing so well. Leoni (16 months) from outside Graz region is not well tonight, it seems the food she tried today has been too rich for her and upset her tummy. The twins (one eating and one not) are doing well too, Hannah from Germany is poking at the food with enthusiasm and launching it across the room. Jason didnt touch the food at play picnic today but has been encouraged to hand around Tayden as they feel that he can perhaps encourage him to eat.
It was nice that Jason was well enough to join us and we heard today that they will infact be staying until the 19 Oct, for which we are all glad. He has bronchitis at the moment but is much better today and has a cheery little smile and wave for everyone. Congrats to Bruce and Jill for hanging in there with him when the times got really tough!
After play picnic (and some serious clothes changes on all parts!), we left with Bruce, Jason and Jill and headed into Graz on a tram. Our first stop was McDonalds, for some chips for Tayden to suck on and then we went and had lunch at a little chinese place. Jason wasnt at all interested in the food and took a mini catnap on and off in his pram after an exhausting morning while Tayden sucked on a chip or two and watched us eat. It is part of the therapy to take the children out to restaurants and we are encouraged to take them out into situations where they are surrounded by food.
We got a mini reprimand today for not having enough food available for Tayden to snack on. I had pom bars, chocolate biscuits, rye bread, ham, milk, water and marie biscuits but apparently that was not enough.
We also got told that we are no longer allowed to drink water around him, it must be juice or coke etc. Hmmm....not exactly what we had in mind for the diet!!!! So, after this, we went shopping for supplies for Tayden and have come back with cabernossi that he showed an interest in at the play picnic ( thanks Eva!), smarties (easy to hold), biscuits, more pom bar chips, jelly sweets, savoury biscuits, juice, different bottles for him to practise drinking, yoghurt and a chocolate pudding. Let's hope that is enough to whet his appetite!
Jason and family left for their B&B after lunch and we explored the city some more - specifically looking for a ball for Tayden. Do you think we can find something so simple....lol...don't be ridiculous! So we will continue the search tomorrow...
Graz is so beautiful and so easy to naviage as well, you simply hop on and off the trams at will. A monthly ticket has cost us each R360 and we can travel on the buses and trams in Graz as much as we like over that time period.
We walked over the bridge and watched the river flowing fiercely below, Tayden was fascinated. We saw the most beautiful church with gold statues and angels, along with painted images on the outside of its impressively high walls. The cobbled streets with little cafes everwhere, the bicycles and flower shops, the bakeries and beautiful scenery really do make it a most stunning place to visit to have your child start eating again!
We have got some strange looks from people, as we encourage Tayden to walk and be active as much as possible - on his harness. He is used to walking on it at home and it is a pleasure to be able to walk with him through the city and have him have a little freedom, yet we are close enough to him. Obviously the Europeans are not used to this and we have got many strange looks and out right stares at times but hey, it works well for us and that is all that matters!
The one thing that I am finding a bit frustrating is that we are not allowed to reprimand him here for throwing food, kicking food, pouring food over the floor, smearing it across the , etc etc. Basically the kids go wild and to a certain extent I can understand it but it also isnt good for his discipline and is going to cause issues in the future but l guess l should concentrate on the here and now...
In a nutshell, we are extremely pleased with his progress today. 40ml of water / pediasure swallowed without choking, willingly reaching for food, swallowing a couple of pom bar bears and chewing on a piece of cabernossi and a chocolate umbrella. As l have been told many times, MAGIC HAPPENS IN GRAZ...and we look forward to tomorrow with hope. Our little man is doing so well!