Adventure Boy (AB) loves ice cream! Who doesn’t, right? There was a time, though, when he wouldn't touch anything cold, let alone eat it. This chocolate ice cream episode is yet another way that I am reminded of how far he has come💙
When AB arrived home from Russia at 2 years, 4 months old, he was unable to keep a lip seal on a sippy cup or eat any solid foods. He was on completely smooth purees. He often choked and gagged when eating or drinking. Our doctor put him on a liquid thickener and referred us to an ENT because AB’s huge tonsils were impeding his ability to swallow his food. In short order, his tonsils and adenoids were removed and about same time he qualified for birth to 3 services. His occupational therapist was an essential part of helping us introduce new textures and gradually chunkier, then solid foods.
Eventually, AB was able to eat any food anyone else can, but as is common in kids with Autism, he developed quite specific food preferences. We went through a very long period where he would only eat cold hotdogs and rippled potato chips...breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
There has been no magic formula to improve the variety and temperatures of foods AB will eat or to improve his nutrition. It has, instead, been a years-long process of offering small amounts of different foods over and over again. There were times we were discouraged, but kept pressing forward with help and ideas from his OTs, doctors, and his awesome para, Lona! The pay off has been a healthy, growing boy who just happens to have become an ice cream fiend!
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