feeding update...

Dilation…to most not a big deal…or wonder what is that? to Maddie’s and me…it has made eating time survivable…dilation for Maddie is a stretching of the esophagus….the other day Chad said…Kim you do realize it is not normal for someone to eat for an hour…I responded- but it is our normal…the dilation that Maddie had the last time she had a constricted airway…has allowed her to eat our food…no more baby food…she is now eating shredded (pre-chewed like) smaller then a cheerio…steak, pork chop, noodles, rice, broccoli flower, anything that is easily mashed…so most food is fair game…this is a huge step for Maddie and has made for a happier girl…since her dilation March 2^nd we have only had one choking incident…pre-dilation it was at every meal every day…she has also begun to chew and swallow…she really seems to be getting the hang of what her mouth is supposed to do! Maddie can now chew a whole cheeto and cheerio…no sucking…just chewing…Maddie has also began to have real interest in self feeding…yesterday she was able to grab pieces of steak and put them in her mouth! huge steps for my little girl….so all that is left is the medications…I was so eager to get her off…now I ask why…why be in such a hurry…they are helping…they are doing there job…no side effects -yet…so the worry has passed…all we need now is teeth…