John became coated in chocolate after eating only one teeny tiny chocolate Teddy Graham. Then he hid under my desk because he wants to play with the wires (which he is not allowed to do). Look at the glee!
Several people have asked me for an update on how John is doing, now 11 days after his frenectomy. We think he's doing great!
Food: John is eating more quantity of food, although not big amounts and not typical amounts for a 15-month-old. The biggest difference is that he is swallowing what he puts in his mouth. I don't think I've seen him even gag once since the procedure. He really seems to be enjoying different flavors and textures. He's eaten such things as (not an exhaustive list): half a tortellini, rotini pasta with spicy red bell pepper sauce, about two tablespoons of little kid star noodles in red sauce, all kinds of crackers, graham crackers, Honey Bunches of Oats creal flakes, those chocolate-flavored teddy-bear shaped "crackers" (cookies), chicken, broccoli (twice--he really likes it), rice.
Water: John has long enjoyed sipping water from a cup. However, until the frenectomy, he usually let it dribble out of his mouth. This week, he learned the sign for WATER as opposed to just knowing EAT, so he has been asking for water all day long. And he's swallowing the water, taking multiple gulps at a time, and probably drinking two to three ounces per day! Also, this week he learned how to suck water consistently from a straw.
Nursing: I didn't think John's nursing hurt before this, but it feels distinctly different and more gentle now. His latch is clearly improved.
Vocalizations: Listening for changes in his vocalizations is an unscientific process. That said, I do think I have heard him making new sounds. At those moments, I've peered into his mouth and seen his tongue doing gymnastics I've never seen before.
Sleep: Perhaps this is not intuitive, but one sign of a tongue tie is very broken sleep (perhaps due to reflux caused by swallowing air, perhaps because the sinus cavities aren't shaped right so aren't getting enough oxygen). John's sleep truly has shown improvement in the last week and a half. He seems to be sleeping deeper. For example, during the night when John wakes, at least once per night I've been able to soothe him back to sleep by merely rubbing my hand on his back. This is the supposedly easy trick that works even on newborns but never even came close to working on my John ever! Once John fell asleep by himself while playing, which was a first. One night he slept a four-hour stretch and the next night he slept two three-and-a-half-hour stretches. I don't have scientific evidence, but I think I am observing John's daytime naps being longer with fewer, if any, wakings.
I haven't even begun any of the at-home tongue therapies I am supposed to be doing with John because at first I was waiting for his mouth to heal and then it slipped my mind because John was progressing so well! This reminds me to find that handout and try a few of the therapies with our boy.
Completely amazing!!!! :)
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