Every little thing she does...

Just a little thing. Gracie dipped her finger in the fruit container and put it in her mouth. Honestly, I don't know why anyone would read this blog. All I write about is Gracie and what she doesn't eat and then put these horrid pictures of this messy child. But with Gracie every little thing she does is a big step.
I never realized how much little things that we take for granted amount to big things. Gracie makes eye contact with me all the time now. Just a year ago , I was lamenting that she never looked at us! Now whenever she sneezes she runs up to me with big eyes and a smile and I say "God bless you, Gracie! You sneezed!" For some reason, it tickles her when she does and then she tries to force one! She is so funny. She made a face on vacay that made all of us laugh and she did it 2 or 3 more time so we wouild laugh at her! I think I have a class clown on my hands.!

Interesting.

Tonight's "dinner" was a little different. On the menu was banana blueberry puree and strawberry banana chobani ( because the Greek yogurt is supposed to have more protein- too bad it doesn't have better flavor> Why can't someone make yogurt that doesn't taste like yogurt?) So there is no nutella here so what happens?
She goes for the darker colored berry banana first. Then she tries the yogurt ( likes the texture, not the cold) . Next the BB makes it just into the mouth. She puts the tip of her thumb in and just touches her teeth but it's in. As she tastes it, she CROSSES HER EYES> I tried to get a picture but I don't think I got it right. Too funny.
Next she tries the yogurt. Not as successful as the BB puree. Crossed her eyes again. Now comes the mash up! She is going to have the softest skin because it's all over her arms and her hands. By that time, I guess she's done but she tries another swipe with her hands.
I think I am going to video dinner everynite and post it or better yet, stream it live! It could be better than the evening news!

Vacationing with kids.

Even when it was just Joy Lin, vacations were somewhat of a challenge. At least for the first day and nite. So we had no idea how Gracie would do on a short trip to Williamsburg VA last week. It turns out, she did just fine. Except for the first nite!!! and the last nite. So it wasn't too bad at all.
It also turns out she is a trooper when it comes to following her father around an amusement park. We tried a few rides and that didn't go over at all. But she hung out in the heat in her stroller and managed to stay most of the day( or until mom said she had had enough!) Then we went to the water park the next day and she didn't want to do anything again. I felt bad for her because she was just watching everything. Then Joy Lin found a lazy river "ride" that we all could go on. It was just 4 ft deep and you just floated around a track like a piece of paper till you wanted to get out. Gracie loved it! She even loved getting water on her face! So Water Country USA turned into a hit!
We went to dinner twice and Gracie sat nicely at the table and "ate" her nutella without grossing too many people out. She did really really well. Miss Trish was very proud when I sent her a picture!
So even though Chris broke his ipad and lost two credit cards it wasn't a bad vacation at all. Both girls and dad had fun.
It was another big step for Gracie!

Eating out.

Tonite was the second time in a week that Gracie went to a restaurant with us. Let's just say the first time didn't go well. so much so that I was afraid to go on vacation this week, We got to Williamsburg VA in the afternoon and did a little shopping then found a place for dinner. At first, I thought we were in trouble. But I got out our new travel nutella and dinner was saved! She sat in her chair and ate nutella on a plate and didn't even make a mess or a noise. Top that with being an angel on the way down and we just might have a good vacation!

Pudding.

It turns out our girl has a taste for chocolate. Who knew? Nutella, Hershey's syrup, and now pudding. Not just chocolate pudding but DOUBLE CHOCOLATE pudding. On tonight's tray was the aforementioned pudding and pear blueberry fruit puree. At first the thumb went in and she wasn't sure because it was cold. But the thumb went in again. Then she started to fingerpaint, sort of. But that meant the fruit was mixed with the pudding and by the end of dinner she was swiping her HAND across her mouth!!! I am guessing she liked it! It wasn't pretty but it was a success!!

The artist in the family.

Joy Lin is our artist. I began drawing for her when she was little at restaurants to keep her occupied during dinner and since then she's left me in the dust. I have to have a picture to work from but she can draw things from her head. I am going to try to get her a job drawing coloring books for Hasbro and the Littlest Pets. Hasbro owes us for buying so many ponies and Little Pets anyway! ;)

Feeling like a balloon.

I went home after therapy with Gracie feeling..."deflated." Chris said I had my three days to bask in her success and now it's time to get over it and move on. And at therapy, sure enough, it was just that. Ok. I know there is along way to go, I guess I just wanted to savor the moment a little bit longer. We are going to limit the nutella, obviously. It crossed both of our minds that it would not be good if she decided the only thing she wanted to eat was nutella. But now I have to withhold it. And she is not eating anything else.
It sounds like I am complaining. I'm not though. It's just sometimes I feel like I am on a treadmill and not really moving. But I know Gracie's battles are small compared to some other kids. Even when I was with her in the hospital after she had her palate repaired, I was aware that there were some parents how had to spend days and even years in hospitals with their children. Gracie is not malnourished. She is happy. She is healthy and she is ours. SO we just keep going one day at a time and take the successes with the bad days!
Today was a bad day. So we take one more step and keep working tomorrow!