It is finally near! The intensive feeding therapy program we have been interested in for a few years and been on the waiting list for 6 months is finally ready to take Kaden. He will be admitted on Monday the 18th. This is an inpatient program so he will be living there for at least 4 weeks, more if needed. For the first 10 - 14 days, the family will only be allowed to see him in the evenings. We are allowed to stay the night but they want you to make a decision one way or the other before the first night. Basically if you are there the first night, they want you there every night for the rest of the time he is in there. If you don't stay the first night, they prefer you not stay at all. Given that I have Collin at home and still in school, I will not be staying the night with Kaden. So, for the first 2 weeks, we will only be able to see him from 6 - 9 pm. They do intensive therapy during the day including at least an hour of occupational therapy to help him get over his texture aversions. They also do 5 - 6 feeding sessions with a feeding therapist and a psychologist. Their method is very strict...he is given foods to eat and is instructed to take 3 bites, then must drink 1/2 ounce, then 3 more bites and so on. He is on a timer and the choice to eat is ultimately his, but they are there to help him get over the mental side of it. They dont let a parent be there for the first period of time because they dont want the distraction and want to get Kaden into the routine and knowing all the rules. Then for the third week, I am required te be there for at least 3 - 4 meals a day just as an observer. They have feeding rooms with the one way glass so I can observe and he doesn't know I am there. They teach me their methods and answer all questions that may come up. Then for the fourth week, I will be the one in the feeding room with him and the Dr's will be on the observing side of the glass. If all goes as planned, he will be able to come home on June 12th. It may take longer depending on how he accepts things and how satisfied they are with his progress and mine.

This is not going to be an easy month!! I will try to keep everyone informed of the progress but we are going to be very busy! The hospital he is going to be staying at is in downtown Dallas which is almost 30 miles from home so I will be putting on alot of miles also!