Feeding "Camp" Update

Well, we're six days into feeding camp.  Its been a battle but LJ was a complete rockstar this week at St. Joseph's.  We all know what a slow process this has been.  But this week seemed particularly slow-and we always seem to regress in order to make any progress.  I think food camp should be nicknamed the slow food movement!  Either that or food boot camp (when you think about all the retching and gagging)!  Some might even liken the process to sitting down and actually waiting to watch a rose bloom! We have had to stop using purees for the time being and start back with a dry spoon.  We have been given the expectation of 1 oz of pureed food at each feeding by the time we graduate the program in four more weeks! We have had to re-learn all the patience we had while in the NICU that first time. We've had to go back to our least favorite place in the world-a hospital! We've had to figure out how to handle the goals and manage the meetings with doctors, therapists and hospital administration. I wasn't expecting to be so emotional about everything. LJ has had to deal with lots of new people touching + messing with his face.  I have had to find the strength to stand back and basically watch my baby be force-fed and cry (sometimes behind a two-way glass mirror).  But the point is- I'm so proud. Noodles is such an incredibly persistent and determined cutey. Deep down I know that practice does make perfect.  And I am learning a lot.  Fingers crossed that by the end of next month he will be closer to weaning from his g-tube and eating more and more each day (cherry on top would be drinking from a cup + learning to use utensils but we won't complain if not! Oh and maybe table etiquette too)!  We're praying this will work so Noodles can gain some oral feeding independence (and surprise all of his therapists) and we feel so much gratitude for all the wonderful doctors, loving family and friends' support.  They've really kept us going forward on the long road ahead...we have hope and believe in LJ and this process...and promise we'll give more of a synopsis of the day-to-day therapies (I know you're all wondering:) when we've had a little more downtime and when things get a little more routine.