Record-setting intake for Richard O.

Despite my MAJOR trepidation about bringing all of what I've learned at the center home for the weekend, I am thoroughly happy to report that Richard O. has been THRIVING all weekend long.

Yesterday he ate fifteen -- yes, fifteen -- ounces of yogurt over the course of five feeding sessions throughout the day. He has never, and I mean never eaten that much in a day before. Ever. In addition to the yogurt, he ate some small pieces of diced pear at each feeding, about twenty goldfish crackers during a walk at a park, and a few other nibbles of fruit, etc. sprinkled throughout the day. Richard O. actually stole rice and a few pieces of naan off of my plate last night at dinner at an Indian restaurant. He is interested in eating. Hallelujah!

Today has also been great -- not only is he now opening his mouth wider, but the pace at which he eats is rapidly increasing. We have been instructed to make our feedings last thirty minutes or until he finishes his 3 oz. serving of yogurt, whichever is shorter. Most of yesterday's feedings took about half an hour, except for the last one, which whizzed by in seventeen minutes. Today, twenty minutes has been the average time. Amazing. I hope he can show off his new skills tomorrow when we return to the center.

My mom came down to replace Hubby, who had to return to work in Ithaca this week. After watching Richard gobble down his yogurt, she actually got teary. If I wasn't concentrating so hard during each feeding session, I think I would be just as teary. Seriously, this feels nothing short of a miracle.

I expect that this week's focus will be on increasing Richard O's variety (so far, they've really made us stick to just yogurt for his official feeds), and possibly on introducing the cup. I imagine that we will once again encounter some resistance, fussing, and crying again, but I am confident that we can weather it, as we weathered the difficulties that we encountered this week.

Well, I believe that Mom has finished bathing Richard O. (how nice to have a bit of a break!), so it's bedtime for the peanut. I need the sleep, too! Thanks, friends, for your prayers and positive thoughts. I'll let you know how things go when this week when I can manage to grab a few minutes to collect my thoughts.