Praise be to the good Lord. He is good isn't he. That is a statement not a question.  After all of the worry all the way to Greenville and even during the cookie swallow we have some encouraging news. At least the news allows for Speech Therapy to come in and help strengthen the muscles and begin to work with swallowing and speech-maybe Gage will even yell to the Heavens "Aunt Kim". Beth will also be allowed to give him small, very small baby spoonfuls of baby food once or twice a day for taste.  Gage also did not have that awful retching during the exam. He had one small episode afterward but none during. Praise be for prayer, and I know there were prayers surrounding us.  Anyway, when we were sitting in the waiting area I kept telling Gage "this is what we are going to do-you drink the stuff, swallow, and no retching, and we go home".....I kept saying this over and over.....It was very funny because as I was saying this a couple of times Gage raised his eyebrows like Ok I got it or maybe he was saying Aunt kim you have lost it-I got it the first time you said it.....Gage did not swallow/suck on the bottle and the only really good swallows on the test were with the spoon with liquid/semi-liquid nectar consistency material.   I was behind the screen within about 3-4 steps from Gage and Beth and Beth was feeding him. He was exhausted after a few attempts, but you see he has had nothing by mouth for 6 months that amounted to anything. This test actually really just helps us get Speech to come and help with assessment and strengthening of his throat muscles etc. So although it wasnt an A+ test it allows us a start. He is still aspirating and we will have to make sure that all that we feed him does not end up in his lungs and pneumonia which is my biggest fear. Also, he was tired and the more exhausted he gets the less he will concentrate on eating/swallowing and whatever we put in his mouth will slide into his lungs. But the amount Beth is starting out with will be very very small, plus Gage meets with the Feeding team monday and they may tell us something totally different or they may say give him steak and potatoes.  That sometimes is the frustrating thing when one MD says why isnt he eating too and the other MD says absolutely No Food by mouth.  The biggest catastrophe that happened was after the test gage had barium all over his mouth and clothes etc and he needed to be suctioned (we have our own machine).  Aunt Kim unstrapped him from whatever torture device they had him in and took out his pacificer and laid it on the table where the cups/spoons were and suctioned him. Well, the pacifier was thrown away.  He loves that pacifier. He uses only one type. We went to 2 stores in Greenville searching for this specific device.....I told Beth to buy at least 4-5 when she found them and Gage and I stayed in the truck as I promised Never never to do this again........We found one. Today Meme, pam, and Beth and Gage are at Duke at Dr Buckleys at the Eye MD and hopefully I will have more news.  But Praise Be for the No Retching or Seizures.We also added another MD appt onto next Wed at Duke.....We will have Gage's feeding tube taken out and replaced with a new type due to leaking and his growth. We will start early Wed and be there with our last appt at 4pm on Wed.  Also, His Urologist has returned form Haiti and if his testicles have not descended this will have to be surgically repaired b/c there is too much of a risk for complications. We now have this appt on Thurs 4/22/2010 in the afternoon. So Gage has alot going on in the next few weeks. But thank the Lord for today because we are not guaranteed a tomorrow. But isnt today a nice day, and I had a wonderful day with Gage and Beth yesterday. I am truly Blessed. Thank you for your Prayers. I hope that you have great day and thank the Lord for all that he has blessed you with today. I thank the Lord for all of you.  Aunt Kim

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