Mason and Sensory Integration Issues

So as I said in my last post, Mason doesn't eat well.  It is so bad that our pediatrician recommended that we see a see a Behavioral Pediatric Psychologist.  We saw Dr. Dillon Stout on Tuesday.  We explained that Mason eats pears for breakfast, Lentils and Brown Rice for lunch and Sweet Potato Bisque with Cinnamon for dinner....everyday.  When we try to "encourage" him to eat a new food, he gags...every time....even cake and ice cream.  What kid doesn't eat cake or ice cream?  He will also eat cookies, graham crackers, and mcdonald style french fries.

Dr. Dillon Stout believes that Mason could have sensory issues, specifically with food (sight, smell, texture) and maybe sounds.  Logan has a similar problem with touch, but has never been evaluated.  So we have a short term game plan for Mason and he will go to an Occupational Therapist for a sensory assessment.  If he does have Sensory Integration Disorder, it needs to be treated or it could lead to OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Short Term Game Plan:

1.  Cut out juice or water down juice (80 % water/20% juice)
2.  Introduce protein at each meal (pea size cheese, chicken, peanut butter,etc.)
3.  Ignore him if he throws the food on the floor.  Keep replacing the food.  The goal is to get him to swallow it.
4.  If he eats the food, tell him "Good Job, Mason" and then give him his regular meal.  Do not feed him (I did this in the past because it made the meal go faster).  Allow him to play with his food.  This is part of the sensory experience.

The Results so far:

We cut out the juice.  He hasn't eaten any new foods.  When we give him cheese or PB, he gives it back by saying "Here you go" constantly, until we take it from him or he throws it on the floor. He doesn't want to throw it on the floor, but he cannot tolerate it on his tray.  I am not sure how to respond to this.  Do I put it back on his tray or in his bowl.  I know we are supposed to ignore it, but isn't the purpose to get him to eat it?  How do I do that if it is on the  floor?  It is also kind of gross to continue giving him something that has been on the floor...repeatedly.  The theory is to make it familiar so that he tries it, and hungry enough to try anything...but in reality...this isn't easy.

In addition to all of this, life is interferring.  We cannot have a starving child with a brand new sitter.  So we have to feed him something.  AND he has stopped eating his baby food.   If I don't feed it to him, then he doesn't eat.  So, I caved and feed him breakfast yesterday and today....he screamed through lunch yesterday and we tried to ignore him. He alternates between crying, saying here you go or throwing his food on the floor.  We need a week of no school, no work, and no sitters.  I don't see that in the foreseeable future.  So we will do the best we can.  Please pray for us as we start this new challenge.

Mary