You Can Thank Mother Nature for This

We awoke to a blanket of tornado threats across the Midwest and Mama Hop decided it would be best to head home early and avoid the inclement weather.  Aunt Leanne was not happy about this decision.

Her beloved Catfish with Ketchup decided to sleep in this morning and Leanne insisted they stay until she awoke.  When Josie finally opened her eyes, her doting Aunt was there to greet her.  Aunt Leanne typically avoids wearing her glasses around the babies because of their eager hands, but this morning Josie was excited to see those teal spectacles and the first words she uttered were "Glasses - cool!"  to which Leanne enthusiastically replied "Thanks, JoJo!"

After ensuring Josie had a fresh diaper and plenty of affection, Mama Hop and Aunt Leanne hit the road.  While we regret their early departure, we are happy to report that they made it home safely.  We'll make sure they return again soon and have a chance to stay a little longer.  In the meantime, special thanks to Mama Hop and Aunt Leanne for the fun-filled, albeit brief, visit!

Drinking, Bribery, and Becoming Cool

There have been many blog posts devoted to Josie's difficulty with drinking and our attempts to get her off the feeding tube.  Unimaginable energy has been spent on this pursuit by ourselves, countless therapists, medical professionals, and well-meaning friends and loved ones.  Always searching for answers, I recently read an article on a behavioral occurrence called "Shaping" ("Helping Children Cope with Everyday Activities, pg 11).  In a nutshell, shaping is when continuous reinforcement leads to a gradual change in behavior.  Shaping can intensify an undesired behavior but it can also be used to ultimately move an undesired behavior in a positive direction.  Essentially, a behavioral change can occur by having the child take gradual steps towards the desired outcome and using positive reinforcement (bribery) to celebrate each success.

Desired Behavior: Drinking (Pediasure, people.  We're not "shaping" at a frat party)

Gradual Steps: We started with 3 drinks per meal, built up to 5 drinks per meal, and  we are currently on 10 drinks per meal

Positive Reinforcement: Sunglasses (Josie's latest obsession)

Unanticipated Outcome: I may have misinterpreted the article; I'm not sure if my "shaping" technique is actually teaching Josie to drink or to count to 10.

Please excuse Josie's sumo wrestler hair - it's the quickest way to get her hair out of her eyes before breakfast.

I'd like Josie to hold the cup by herself.  She can; she just doesn't want to.  Once again, "shaping" involves gradual steps.  Ultimately, I'd like her to receive all of her required fluids orally and no longer use her g tube.  We're still a ways off but it's progress.  I'm getting what I want, and Josie is getting what she wants so everything is cool!

Christmas Eve Email From Aunt Leanne and the Big Christmas Card Reveal

Special thanks to Sarah Maxwell for creating these cute Christmas shirts!

Can someone please explain why when wearing jeans and a tee shirt I get oodles of smiles from my children but break out the frilly dresses and all bets are off?  Seriously!  My Children + Frilly Dresses = No Cooperation at all!  Especially Josie; her aversion to frilly dresses goes way back (refresh your memory here)!

Anyway, on to Aunt Leanne who is sporting a new accessory these days.  

She emailed me to tell me all about it:

crristmas eve

new glasses

blue and green

frames

less creafter

we went to lunch on friday

chicken stripes morrrela stick

chesese fry

onion

rings

honey musrdard

ranch dreesing

and water

to drink

leanne

love

Love the new specs, Leanne!  I'm sure you can read restaurant menus a lot better now, which is important so you can clearly select the greasiest fried appetizer platter available.  What the heck - it's Christmas, right?

Speaking of Christmas, it's time to unveil the 2011 Christmas Card...

Be Merry!  Or don't...apparently I can't make you.