Sunday, November 18, 2012

SUCCESS!

I have some big announcements today!

I have been waiting for my whole life to write this blog, but I had a lot of work to do before I could announce that “I LOVE FOOD”!!!!

Most of you know that I’ve had some feeding problems since I was born. My eagerness to get into the world early came at the price of having a tube in my nose for the first 5 months of my life, and then a g-tube placed in my tummy in January of this year.  Then I had my big tummy surgery (Nissen fundoplication) in May of this year.  I finally healed from the bloating of that surgery a few months ago and was starting to feel better in general.   None of that was very fun, but it was totally worth it.  Aside from scars being pretty cool, my tummy feels pretty good now.

I’ve been working with Anne, my feeding therapist for 11 months now, and she’s coming 2-3 times a week. About a month ago, my parents, Heather (my nanny) and Anne noticed that I was showing more interest in putting things into my mouth and was more willing to taste things.  So, they devised an evil plan.  They would starve me!!!  After a lot of research, Mama & Daddy decided to try to withhold my tube feeds to see if it would make me hungry.  I didn’t notice it at first, but they slowly decreased my g-tube feeds over the course of a week.  Then I turned into Mr. Crankypants…my tummy was sore and I had no idea what was going on.  What was this strange rumbling in my belly?  I had never experienced this sensation before, since Mama & Daddy always pumped my milk in on a set schedule.  Oh my goodness…what was a poor little dude supposed to do in order for this yucky feeling to go away?  I wasn’t sure what to do at first, but then teacher Anne came over on a Saturday morning and suggested that they try to feed me milk with a new sippy cup in the bathtub (my happy place!)

And it clicked!!!  I was so hungry that I was willing to do anything at that point, and the bath helped me relax.  I drank about 6 ounces of milk in that one sitting…and my tummy felt so much better!  The lightbulb went on…in order to stop the rumbling in my tummy, I had to put food into my mouth.  Aha!  I was pretty proud of myself too.

I never looked back…

It’s been over 3 weeks now since Mama & Daddy have used my g-tube to give me any calories.   I’m drinking a lot of milk, but I’ve also discovered the wonderful world of food!   I’m a savory kind of guy…nothing too sweet.  I love guacamole, chips, veggie sticks, refried beans, lentils & curry sauce, all kinds of Indian food, and even sushi! 

Mama & Daddy are so proud of me…it made them cry when they were able to feed me a bottle for the first time ever!  I really like this feeling, so I’m doing my best to stay on track and keep exploring the culinary world.  Maybe I’ll be a chef or a food writer someday?   

Just chillin' 

Grammie giving me my new sippy cup!

     Sometimes it's just hard to choose!

                 
  Drinking from my straw feeder & my sippy cup

 Out with Mama, Daddy, Bill & Cara at Paraduxx winery


My remarkable success at eating has almost overshadowed another amazing milestone.  I CAN WALK!!!  I’m pretty proud of my new wheels.  I have been working on this for a long time, but I finally just put mind over matter and just let go of the furniture.   Lo an behold, I could still keep my balance…hooray!!!   Watch out world…here I come!!!

This all comes in time for my next adventure…Paris!  We’re leaving on Thanksgiving for a week in the City of Lights.  Mama tells me that this is a city in a far away magical land called France.  I even have to have a special little blue book with my picture in it in order to be let into the country.  I’m packing my stuff already…so expect tons of dapper little dude photos in the next installment…and expect pictures of me eating pate!



      My first steps!



    Getting better and more confidant every day!













Sunday, November 11, 2012

Tahoe with the family




Last weekend we went to Tahoe for Auntie Kelly's birthday celebration.  I had a wonderful time with all my aunts and uncles, and Grammie & Grandpa.  This is my second winter going to Tahoe and I couldn't wait to see it again.  I remember the beautiful blue lakes and majestic mountains. There wasn't really any snow this time, except for a little bit at the top of Heavenly, but it was still lovely.  It was warm enough to go on a few hikes - one with the family & one with just Mama and daddy.  Here are some of my favorite photos of the weekend.


Me and Grammie on the deck at our cabin

On a hike to Skunk Harbor with Mama, Grammie & Auntie Ladonna


Grandpa...Mama will be very upset if you let me get wet!

Look Mama, I see a fish!

Pretty good at standing by myself
Snuggling with Grandpa

Grammie and Grandpa trying to prevent me from getting in the lake

Being silly with Grammie

Sticks and sand...who needs toys??




Grandpa, Daddy & Uncle Chris

Grandpa, Grammie, Uncle Chris, Auntie Ladonna, Mama, Daddy & me
My family!

Mama and Daddy are so cool!

With Uncle Chris

The whole gang at Auntie Kelly's birthday dinner


Hiking along Camp Richardson



Water!!!



Now that's a big tree!

Love my jacuzzis - with Uncle Tomo, Grammie, Auntie Kelly & Cousin Allysha


Here are a few photos from when Uncle Bill & Aunt Cara came to visit a few weeks ago...




At Paraduxx winery


Is something wrong with this photo?  I like Rose too...


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Halloween - and my first Move!!!

I have had so many things that I want to write, and I simply don't have enough time to write them all fast enough!

First...the festival of the Great Pumpkin (my favorite holiday...for now!).
I didn't get to really enjoy the holidays too much last year because I was too little and couldn't really sit up by myself.  This year, I have vowed to tackle the holiday season head-on and enjoy every minute of it.  I am particularly fascinated by lights, so to see some orange lights up by our house gave me the first glimpse that the holidays were coming.  Mama erected some large cobwebs and spiders in front of our house - I think it was supposed to look spooky, but I kept laughing at it!

Halloween day was particularly fun. I was invited to my first party by the parents of my friend from my Kindermusic playgroup.  There were about 20 of my friends there, and their parents.  Even though it was raining, I had a blast playing with other people's toys and snacking on some goldfish from other people's plates.  My nanny Heather had to extract me from the fun to go home so that I could help Mama pass out candy at home (Daddy was in London...lucky dog!).   My favorite part of the day was that every time Mama opened the door, I would escape by crawling as fast as humanly possible out the door to sit on the driveway in the puddles of rain!  Glorious rain! (Have I mentioned that I'm a water baby?)   I was a huge hit - the neighbors adored me...which came as no surprise to me!   My costume was a hodge-podge - on the outside I was a Twiga (giraffe)...but if you pulled off the coat, I became Batman!  Every superhero has his alter-ego right?

At the pumpkin patch!




Going doing the hay slide with daddy



Petting zoo at the pumpkin patch
Showing Grammie my new pumpkins that I picked out
I am Twiga!
Elmo & me
playing with my friends at the Halloween party
Eating the ghost toy...
Riding my friend's pony


Halloween came right after our big move.  We didn't move too far - just a few blocks down from our old rental.  Mama and Daddy decided it was time to take advantage of "free money"  (ie. low interest rates) and buy a house in Napa.  I was pretty nervous about adjusting to a new place, but once I saw my new room and my new backyard, I was sold.  We've been settled for a few weeks now, and I love it!  Please come visit soon!

Our moving crew
Helping Mama put the bathroom together  
I can be handy too!
Helping Mama put together the new organizers for her walk-in closet...while watching college football
Doesn't the level work this way?
Chillin' with daddy after the move
My balloon present the morning after the move
The whole family
My new kitchen
My new dining room
Grandpa did a great job organizing the garage right away...it would have taken Mama & Daddy a few years!
Fun super-curly hair day...random photo
Trying to make Grammie eat a coaster...
Fetch!