Positive reinforcement continued...

After the telephone rang, it was all downhill from there. I'm technically supposed to ignore her for longer periods, and I probably shouldn't have rewarded her for spitting her food, but she IS trying. I wish there was one magical puree that she would eat consistently, that had meat, grains, and vegetables in it. :) Or vegetable stuffed cheese or something....oooh, fruity cheezies......or 50 calorie cheerios. I'm sooooo frustrated. I want her off the bottle, drinking juice, and willingly eating FOOD!!!!!!

Positive Reinforcement

Rory is having a really rough week with eating. My optimism is gone. She is refusing just about everything again. She understands what she has to do for reward and praise, but she's having a really difficult time doing it. She's getting more teeth, her reflux is acting up, so I'm trying to be patient with the "positive reinforcement" approach, but right now I just don't think it is going to cut it. Please excuse the "baby talk" in the video. I'm trying to stop, but it's really hard. hehehe The rest of the video will be posted above.

Who is this screaming child???

I don't know what is up with Ror this week, but she has been miserable. I'm assuming it's teeth, but she's never been this bad with teeth. A phase maybe? She literally screamed for two hours straight last night. I would soothe her to sleep, put her in her crib, and as soon as I attempted one foot out the door, SCREAMING inconsolably. And it's not just bedtime. Today she cried and cried for no apparent reason. Yesterday, she didn't want to nap, so I thought that might have been the cause, but really, she's been grumpy all week. She's starting to show a temper too. I just don't know where my sweet Rory is. She was sooooo bad in the dentist's office tonight, and Mike took her home kicking and screaming while I was getting x-rays. Ugh. I could literally hear her screaming on the outside of our apartment building, but by the time I got upstairs, she had cried herself to sleep. Mike was really frustrated, but I told him this was actually positive because HE put her to bed. :) YAY!!! I really hope it's just her teeth and that this screaming will pass. I don't know how to deal with it, because she's usually pretty happy.

Rory's First Time in the Ocean

We took Rory out to Hubbards to visit with Morgan B at her campsite today. She loved feeling the water on her feet. Then she fell in. LOL! It was cold and so was she, but she didn't complain one bit. It was my first experience with a "sandy" child though....that was NOT fun!! It was a great day, except for the MAJOR puke when we got home. :( Poor bug, she got so sick. She only took 4 oz at bedtime, so I imagine I'll be up with her tonight. I think the campfire smoke, the car ride home, and the cheezie pig out, all made for an upset tummy. But she had fun, so that's the most important thing. :)

Rory's Run-in with Ranch Dressing

Sigh. Yet another thing she LOVES that she can't have. What is it with dips? Hummus, roasted red pepper dip, ranch dressing....all cause rashes. It really sucks because dips are so easy for her to lick. Boooooo!

Rory Posing in her new outfit

Thank you so much Jeannie!!! I bought her a skirt sized 18 months that sat nicely around her ankles. I was so happy to get a size that actually fits. YAY!! Good call on the 12 months. :) She is sooo cute, and she KNOWS it. LOL.

Rory's 2nd Feeding Session

I took Rory to her second visit with the feeding clinic today. I took pureed haddock and carrots, mixed into milky potatotes. Rory LOVES this stuff, but only loves it a tbsp at a time. I told the psychologist that she usually gives up at around 5 bites. It's so weird because it is almost ALWAYS at the 5-bite point. It's pleasing to know we can at least get to this point now, because a month ago, if it was a puree, we got nowhere. Anyway, unlike last time, Rory decided to behave as she normally does at home. Right at the 5 bite mark she would take the bite and spit it out. She continued doing this, all the while we are ignoring her each time. Well, she had a meltdown, screaming, crying, etc. I told them, I don't usually allow it to get to that point, I will just end the meal. Here's the funny part......they actually got her to take a bite AFTER the tantrum, which I've never been able to do. They feel confident that we just have to continue with the positive re-inforcement, and that she will eventually eat. My concern is the small amount she's eating at one sitting. They figure we should reduce her formula intake, but that I should figure this out with the pediatrician on July 17th, and they would like to see us back again on August 5th, to follow up with her weight, see how things are going and do another feeding. I feel terrible for saying this, but I feel a sort of 'satisfaction' from Rory showing them her true colours when it comes to meal time. They also said they were glad to get a real sense of our mealtime issues. I mean, she actually stopped eating at the exact bite I had reported to them over the phone and in person. LOL. Anyway, she is making great strides with what she will try to eat, it's just a matter now of getting her to eat MORE. :) We can work with that.