DayTwelve: Feeding, Snot and Vomit, Oh Joy

First session: We were watching Diego and playing with toys. ZZ took his dry spoons just fine, but as soon as I dipped it in the pureed pancakes and milk, he took one and refused the next. So I went into monotone robot ignoring mode. I was able to do it for the crying and screaming which came first because I was expecting that from watching the therapists. Next came hitting and the therapist told me I could block the hits but continue to ignore other than that. But what came next caught me by surprise. He started blowing snot out his nose. I looked at the therapist and asked if this was a behavior I was supposed to ignore (of course, I wanted to wipe his nose). She said, yes, he's just trying to engage you. Well, he knows what he's doing. So snot blowing became the behavior of choice for the rest of the session. I did my best to ignore but honestly he was so into it that it became funny and I know he could tell that I was trying not to laugh, which then encouraged him even more. Afterward the therapist went over how I did. I need to keep a more monotone voice and then get really into watching the video or playing with the toy myself so that he wants to come out of refusal mode. (I hadn't realized I was suppose to do that while he was refusing.)

Second session: There were some craft supplies in the room which he found right away so this session went great. He was very motivated by making a bunny with pom-poms, craft foam, goggly eyes and glue - so fun he willingly took his bites. In fact he told me that we was taking his bites partway through, letting me know that he wasn't going to miss out on this one. Other than just awkwardness in pulling away the craft supplies and getting the soup to his mouth all at once, I did okay. I enjoyed the craft myself so didn't have to fake it! She said I still need to work on the monotone voice. I didn't realize I was supposed to use it every time he was supposed to take a bite not just after he started refusing.

Third Session: For the first session in the afternoon ZZ wanted to play Caribou. He wasn't too interested in the cards but wanted to open all the doors with the key and find the balls so he could open the treasure chest. He was having a great time and taking his dry spoons, dips and bites, until he gagged and vomited the bite, then vomited some more, then vomited some of his tube feeding from nap time. I'm pretty stressed at this point and ask the therapist if I'm supposed to ignore this and yes, of course, I am. This was definitely the hardest yet. I'd rather deal with snot blowing. I kept prompting him with bites and ignored the mess until he finally took one, kept it down and we cleaned up. He didn't last much longer after that and refused until the end, but luckily it was toward the end of the session.

Fourth Session: No vomit this session. He did start refusing with just crying toward the end and I couldn't interest him in anything after that, but he ate at least half of his bowl (1oz) of potato soup.