While most of America struggles to cut calories, I struggle to add calories to Eliza's diet. Thanks to some very thoughtful friends, I now have a recipe for yogurt soup and may actually learn to fry tofu. Eliza's feeding therapy and OT has resulted in some new experiences for her this week. She has decided that licking/biting (but not eating)extra crispy KFC is a good thing and she has a bit of an affection for duck sauce. Not much in the way of "good" calories but I'll take it. One theory is that this interest in KFC and duck sauce is evidence of the addictive qualities of MSG.After much anticipation, Eliza's new formula has arrived along with a calorie supplement which is an oily/creamy liquid that packs 300 calories into 1.5 ounces. Although the stuff has no taste, it has a nasty, slippery feel to it. My attempt to ingest it (not that I need the 300 calories) resulted in a gag-fest, but guess who seems to think it's just great?! So in one fell swoop Eliza has gone from taking in 650 to 800 calories a day to 1000 to 1200 just by adding this muck to her formula and her yogurt. Now that I know she is getting the calories maybe we can work a bit more on getting her to actually eat some food.
Eliza seems quite interested in watching everyone else eat, particularly other kids. I can't quite figure out her expression, but it is part curiosity and part shock that anyone would willingly put mashed bananas in their mouth. I cannot imagine what is going on in her little head, but she is definitely trying to puzzle through this.
In addition to speech-feeding therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and a sensory gym, the suggestion has been made to try cranial sacral-therapy. As best as I can decipher this therapy involves the movement of the cerebrospinal fluid and that somehow getting this to flow right will result in improved feeding. A few months back I was a serious Doubting Thomas on the Wilbarger Brushing and Joint Compression Protocol, until of course it seemed to work to at least get Eliza to tolerate yogurt, but I have to admit that the cranial- sacral therapy may be a stretch for me (unless of course it works).
On a positive note, this week Eliza has learned to climb onto the couch. Her planning skills are impressive since in order to get up on the couch she must first get a pile of books, put them next to the coffee table, and then go from the coffee table to the couch. Now if she could only remember how to turn and slide off the couch we'd be home free! Until she masters that skill I'll keep the plastic surgeon on speed dial.
Photo: Eliza Grace in Central Park September 2007
