To Wean or Not to Wean
Greetings to everyone.
Xavier was up early this morning and Rebecca decided to take him to breakfast as part of her errand running today. Sitting like a big boy in his booster chair, Xavier posed for a photo for one of his most adoring fans (his mother). After that, he ate his bacon and toast.
He has started eating more and more solid foods these past couple of weeks, and growing more proficient with flatware. The primary reason for his increase in solid foods is Rebecca. She decided a couple of weeks ago that it was time for Xavier to be weaned from the bottle. "He's two years old!" she said. "It's time."
We have been so focused on keeping him eating, we lost focus on transitioning his eating. Also, the two times in the past we've attempted a weaning did not go well for anyone. This time, however, Mom's countenance took on a steely strength; it was "go time" and it showed. We knew Xavier would throw fits and not want to help with his weaning, so we prepared ourselves for a battle of wills.
Of course, that battle of wills was not just ours against Xavier's. It was also ours against ourselves. Could we endure his shrieking and his tantrums? Could we endure watching him go hungry if he chose to not eat his meals?
It did not start off easy; everything we expected Xavier to throw at us (including food from his plates), he did. It was anger at times, frustration also. He mixed in attempts at manipulation, tantrums and the most adorable—and nearly effective—lost puppy dog look.
We started by cutting his bottle slowly, only giving it to him after he got up, or before he went down. We offered the bottle after he put some effort into eating solids. (Xavier has been eating solids for some time, but the bottle is still his go-to source)
It took a week, but Xavier got the idea. If he did not like the hunger pangs, he had to eat his breakfast, his second breakfast, his snack, his lunch, his dinner, etc. Throughout these past few weeks, I frequently mused over a mother camel and her little one I came across in Jordan. The owners were weaning the baby from its mother, and the baby camel did not like it. It called out to his mother with lamenting cries, but could not get to her. The separation of the young camel from its mother was a necessary thing for it to grow, and so a similar reasoning for Xavier.
The pain to our ears, the painful pull on our hearts, the cries of Xavier pleading with Mom for his bottle, then pleading with Dad when Mom did not acquiesce has paid off. Xavier is eating more solid food now. We've moved him to whole milk (though we are still spiking it with formula at night, mostly to augment any nutrients he misses during the transition). He is drinking from cups and glasses, often with straws. And, he is sitting at the table longer, sometimes eating well, other times playing with his food, but we think it progress either way.
We figure he is now at the 60/40 point, perhaps 70/30 now of solid supplied nutrients to formula/milk supplied nutrients. We've got a way to go, but the screaming and willful denial has greatly lessened. I credit Rebecca for her tenacity; she is the one who must endure Xavier's low blood sugar personality most of the time.
First Day of School, Year 2
Greetings to every one.
Today was Xavier's first day back to school. This year, he is a Turtle. It is a little different this year than last, in part, I think, due to different teachers. Also, this year, Xavier goes twice a week, for four hours each day.
Last Thursday, Rebecca took Xavier in to meet his new teachers: Miss Karen and Miss Andrea. Later that evening, I went to the "kids-free" orientation. It's a different room this year, a different animal (turtle), and different lessons.
Xavier will have a gym class on Tuesdays this year. The new gym instructor is a lot of fun and should give the kiddos a run for their (parents') money. On Thursdays, Xavier has a music class which we are equally excited for him to experience as he is both highly active and loves music.
It took Xavier a few minutes to get used to the idea of being dropped off, but he was soon exploring the room. (this room has a child-sized bathroom attached as many of his class mates are working on or have been potty-trained).
Emphasis this year includes manners, listening, following directions, taking turns and sharing, communication. Also, continuing with letters, introducing numbers and colors, working on fine and gross motor skills.
One of the hard things Xavier will have to rise to as he is evaluated "speaks clearly and is easily understood 50% or more of the time." He is several months behind in his speech. We have learned that this is a severe impediment in getting him into a preschool/kindergarten class; it may delay him a year. (we are still seeing Miss Robin, Xavier's speech therapist; Xavier is doing well, and works hard the whole hour with Miss Robin. He really wants to speak. We have been pushing him at home also with flash cards and making him use words to express his wants)
Most of the other evaluation points Xavier has in the bag. The list is much longer this year, but Xavier is already ahead of much of it.
Rebecca and I picked Xavier up. After checking him out of his room, we posed for first day of school pictures outside the school.
31st Annual NICU Graduation Picnic
Greetings to everyone.
Today, Xavier attended the 31st Annual NICU Graduation picnic. Though we attended two years ago, we missed last year. Xavier was not eating well this time last year, and we had a conflict in our schedule. Two years ago, Xavier was still on oxygen, and out of the NICU only two weeks. Wow, have we come a long way!
This year two of us were able to attend; Rebecca was in Wyoming as this was her Guard Weekend.
Today, Xavier was overwhelmed by the crowds and the activity. He clung to Daddy tightly as we signed in. The theme this year was "Under the Big Top". There were clowns and carnival-style games. There was a rock climbing wall, the mini train which is there every year. Music, food and a nice crowd.
Xavier clung to Dad until he saw the Tower of Bubbles. The Tower was four twenty-foot ladders connected to create a "quadpod". At the top, a mechanized bubble blower supplied by a five gallon bucket of bubble solution. It created hundreds of bubbles a minute. Xavier was the first to see it begin its operation. He wanted down out of Dad's arms and away he ran!
After the Tower of Bubbles, we played a beanbag toss game. Xavier won a little Frisbee-like throwing disc. Next door was a little duck pond with the ducks floating along a current. Pick up a duck and you get the prize listed on the bottom; Xavier scored a piece of gold treasure.
Xavier was fascinated by the mini train; we even ate lunch along its path so he could watch. When I tried to put him in a car, however, he began to cry and want back up in Daddy's arms. He did not ride the mini train today. (by the way, Daddy is too tall to fit into the mini train).
After attempting the mini train, we went to the Wheel of Prizes. At registration, Xavier got a ticket to use at the wheel. There were hundreds of toys, beach towels, coloring books, sidewalk chalk, etc. Xavier spun and it landed on a wildcard. He got his choice of prizes.
How he saw them among the piles of toys, I still don't know. He squirmed to get out of my arms and headed straight for them: an eight-pack of bubble solution. (Have I mentioned Xavier loves to blow bubbles?).
Xavier's favorite game was the "grab a cup and fill it up with lemonade, then dump the cup and start again" game. He was not happy when I would not let him continue playing with the big coolers of water and lemonade.
We ran into only one of Xavier's NICU nurses: Windy. She found us, actually. Windy was Xavier's primary care nurse; she followed Xavier and was the single point of contact for any questions about his stay, condition, etc. It was nice to catch up with her.
After the group picture of attending NICU graduates, we left for home. It was past Xavier's nap time. He ended up getting a twenty minute nap on the way home. He would not go down again. Perhaps the excitement of all the activity kept him awake. It did make the rest of the day a little interesting as he was Mr. Cranky; not even the free clown nose he got at registration could lighten his mood.