Milestone!

Food was an ongoing battle with my older son, as he had dysphagia (sensitive gag reflex).  His first experience with Cheerios was as expected – the initial gag – but that was followed by projectile vomiting…over and over.  He ate pureed food until the age of 4 1/2, when we met an outstanding feeding therapist that was able to open his eyes to the world of texturized foods.  I thank her daily…Miss Taylor…we are forever indebted to you!

Once he overcame the initial fear that he would not choke from eating solid foods, his world opened up extremely wide!  Lobster, muscles, steak, seared tuna, sausage, hamburger, the usual mac, and cheese – there was nothing stopping him from trying whatever crossed his plate.

Fast forward to my younger son, the one that when he teethed on pizza crust, my husband and I thanked the food gods that he was open to new tastes and textures.  Maybe we jinxed ourselves…

Fast forward a bit more – he is 5 now.  He is the typical five-year-old…loves his chicken nuggets and french fries, chocolate chip cookies and chocolate Cheerios, candy bars, and Z-bars.  We try to add some nutrition in there with sliced cheese, cheese sticks, apple slices, and the occasional love for grapes.

We have tried, over and over, to get him to eat hamburgers and mac and cheese.  His response, “when I am 5 years old I will eat it.”  OK, he’s five…LOL.  He tried peanut butter and jelly and didn’t like it (I don’t blame him, I am not a fan either…so I couldn’t push the subject.}

Tonight, after “warning” him that we may not go on a well-wanted family vacation if he didn’t try something new, he came through.  Saying that he would eat a cheeseburger and actually following through with the act were two different things.  We all finished dinner, he was still crying – making such a scene.  We took away the bun, told him to take his time…it wouldn’t work.  FINALLY – my husband and N went into the living room to watch football.  G and I were alone in the dining room.  I asked him if he wanted me to turn the light off – he said yes.  I asked if he wanted me to light a candle so he could see – he agreed.  There we were – in the dining room with a cut-up cheeseburger, by candlelight.  I pulled apart the littlest piece, told him to eat it.  HE DID!!  Somehow we worked our way through the entire burger.  I can’t even explain in words how excited I was!!!

photo credit: Ack Ook via photopin ccnbsp;

So now, it is confirmed that we will have a blast at our family vacation (along with the promise that G can pick out the biggest box at Legoland).  We may have to take out a second mortgage on the house, but we have reached a milestone…that is priceless.