We are not sure whether or not Eric will be needing another surgery just yet. There will be tests run in another month and we will find out then. Eric may just have weakened it because of all the gagging. He really doesn't throw up as much as he used to. Unless things get really bad, we may just opt out of it. It is a lifetime procedure that affects him his whole life. The GI specialist is on the same wavelength. Surgery is a big deal and it is always best to avoid it if possible.

What we really need to fix is the eating problems. Eric is completely refusing the bottle at this point. We have stopped the pump feeding at night and are working on transitioning him from the feeding tube to oral feeds. It is a tricky process. If you push to much, it increases the aversion. If you don't push at all, it just gets worse. Eric has always been a lazy eater and will not let you know when he is hungry. He has never enjoyed eating because he associates it with the pain of the acid reflux.

We have tried everything possible to get him to eat, different bottles, cereals, veggies, fruits, yogurt, melts, puffs, Cheerios, baby cookies, juice...if it is food, he won't try it. The only thing he will try is water in a sippy cup. Even then, only a couple of sips.

It is just one last hiccup. Not a bad thing considering how wonderfully he is doing in other areas.

The Developmental RN has come and gone. She is the one who evaluates Eric and decides if he needs to see a specialist. Since Eric is having serious issues with his eating habits, DevRN is going to start the process of Eric seeing a feeding specialist. This person will help Eric eat better and overcome his hyperactive gag reflex.

We had inadvertently started the process already when we purchased the vibrating teething star. There is also a vibrating spoon that we can purchase that will help. Also, because Eric is teething early, we have been massaging his gums with a baby toothbrush that fits on your finger. The point is for Eric to get used to having things in his mouth so that when we get to the solid food stage, we won't have so many problems.

The problems stem from having been intubated. This leads to the hyperactive gag reflex and the oral aversion. Oral aversion means that Eric dislikes anything in his mouth and will avoid it when he can. This would include the bottle and breast. If untreated, it will lead to texture aversion where a child is unable to eat certain textures of food. This can lead to a lifelong issue. I've finally gotten his father to eat vegetables and fruits, even somewhat spicy foods. I really do not want to deal with another fussy eater!

For Eric, it is not just a matter of calories. It is also a matter of hydration. Since he only eats about 20oz (on a good day!), when he is sick or teething, he can drop down to 14 oz. Continued low feedings can lead to dehydration and another ICU visit.

These are the tips I was given by the EIS Development RN:

1. Tap around the mouth with a finger or your mouth (kisses).
2. Use a vibrating teething star.
3. Start your child with a vibrating teething spoon. This is not for feeding but to get your child used to something in his mouth.
4. Make a blanket with several ribbons of different textures. The ribbons should only be and inch or two long. This is to expose your child to as many different types of textures as possible before solids are introduced.