Monday was extremely good following the dramatic Friday after Thanksgiving. I had to trust the process that KKI could push us to our limits and then bring Hayden back in a better way. I can't understand the process with a mother's heart. After watching and hearing what I witnessed, child protective services may have made the claim that I failed to protect my child. But I can tell you, there is psychology behind it. A social worker had to come and sit with me and talk me through what I was watching. This experience is changing us. 
We needed the weekend to get away to DC. We had a great time together touring the city for a brief stay. Everything was joyful and wonderful. Scott and Hanna went to see the musical production Cinderella. It was a rainy couple of days but we were able to see the White House, tour the awesome Air and Space Museum and the enourmous Natural History Museum. Being together is healing us. We are relying upon each other and appreciate each other.
Overall this week was very positive. Hayden is now eating all of the foods that are presented in front of him. He's not willingly initiating food intake, however he will allow it to be fed to him. He has not projectile vomited any of the food this week but he does continue to gag with many bites. We chart his vomiting which the doctors specify with political correctness and term it "emesis."
The head of the clinic over saw Hayden's session this week. He has extensive background and research with published articles regarding Hayden's specific neurological and physiological conditions. This is one of the reasons why I felt very comfortable with this clinic. He also has a family member with spina bifida. Although most of the children have behavior issues and conditions related to autism, Hayden has more complicated physiological conditions with less behavior conditions. He is very eager to please and is very quick to catch onto the rules and tests that they are trying to implement.
As early as Tuesday, Hayden began eating small bites of muffin and he is preferring to eat applesauce and yogurt. He is also working very hard with occupational therapy to strengthen his jaw, oral motor control and to desensitize his gag reflex. The highlight of a very rainy day was getting to go to play with the dog in his pet therapy. It brought a bright ray of sunshine on a rainy day. It was also a relaxed therapeutic moment from all the work that we've both been through.
Scott traveled to Denver for the week. Of course Hanna and Garrett had to get sick at the same time. We have tried to keep the kids from as much exposure as we can from illness. While we take public transportation we try to be extra cautious. Fortunately, we have a fantastic nanny to rely upon who took good care of the kids while Scott was away from work and I was at the hospital.
Thursday was a remarkable day. Hayden had a therapy session jointly with another friend in clinic. Together they both ate their first meat and cheese sandwiches. That might not seem like much to most but that was our ultimate goal for the eight weeks. It was my hope for him to be able to eat complex age appropriate food socially without vomiting. He has never eaten meat. During the session he took big bites and asked for more. He is starting to register the pleasures of food without as much fear. He is desensitizing and building confidence. And another therapy session he made peanut butter and jelly on crackers. While he is not able to eat enough for caloric intake, he is able to eat small bites socially without vomiting.
Scott and I teared up many times over dinner for Hanna's birthday. We had a near perfect day all day on Saturday. It started off wonderful first play date from an old childhood friend and his children. The children miss their friends. Hanna has been able to face time with a couple of her friends. We also had a very wonderful visit from extended family members living here in Baltimore. Living downtown is great, but nothing can substitute for the social aspects that the children get to have in their wonderful inclusive school environment.
All of the museums downtown this weekend only were only a dollar so naturally downtown was busier than ever. We visited the observation deck from the World Trade Center, we practiced our ice skating on Pandoras ice rink, while the boys toured the Baltimore train museum.
Hanna chose to have her birthday dinner at the Cheesecake Factory even though she started her birthday celebration last week. It was one of our best meals out together as a family. Hayden ate bread with butter. We still are hypersensitive to potential for vomiting but he showed his confidence. He is starting to use his back teeth for chewing. Hanna also has been showing him a lot of praise for his efforts. She has been very bothered by his inability to eat and his lack of control with constant vomiting. As many times that we've tried to explain it to her, a nine-year-old can only comprehend so much. After all he is still just an annoying little brother.😉
We end each week by taking Sunday off. We have found a church that we can attend and connect through the subway. It is only two stops away from our location. It is very humbling to be the racial minority with extreme diversity of economic opportunities presented all together for worship.
This week will be another push through week. I do not anticipate it to be as easy as last week. In order to make a change we have to push hard. This is Hayden's Olympic training camp. We didn't sacrifice and come here to do the status quo. We came here to make a change.
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