Sorry for the delay in Posting

Hello All,
Today is Weds and I aplogize for not posting sooner over the past few days. Tim came down with a sort of stomach virus that kept him down for the past 2 days. Today he is feeling better but still taking it easy. Alex has been going up and down with regards to eating. Somedays have been better than others. The directors have maintained that this is very normal. They really understand the children and the way that they view food. They are very adamant that we not try to overly encourage Alex to eat but just to provide food for her when she is ready. This is very hard work for the children. The speak very frankly with the children here and they really do understand everything that is going on. They realize that they are here in the program to eat. They all have an internal battle going on. They want to eat but view it as they are giving in if they do. Yesterday, I made toast at the apartment before we left for the hospital. She held on to that piece of toast through 2 train changes and a ten minute walk to the hospital. I asked the PT why she did that and not take any to eat. She said very simply that she knows that she needs food but is still not ready to give in just yet. This is the purpose of the entire program. It is very structured but in an unstructured way. This is about re-training Alex that she is not in control of her surroundings anymore. Many of these children were sick when they were younger and because of their medical conditions they have learned very early how to manipulate those around them to get what they want. It is very hard for them to accept boundaries and not have everyone jump when they ask. Alex is still very strongly trying to maintain her independenance when it comes to her physical therapy. Ava is the PT here and is awesome. She had Alex figured out the minute that she took one look at her. She said this is a very nice, very confident child. Boy does that hit the nail on the head. Alex is not short on knowing what she wants and figuring out the best way to get it. Up until know that meant crying, or kissing us or whatever she had to do. Now we are excercising our role as parents and not jumping when she says so. This is very confusing for her. But, she is behaving better in restaurants and seems to be learning that she has to wait for certain things. Eventually this should translate in to eating food. We have been trying to do some sight seeing. Yesterday, Alex and I and our new friends Reinhold, Bate' and their daughter Moana took a very long walk through the woods yesterday. We sat by a very pretty lake and saw ducks walking across the ice. It was a welcome break from the hosptial as Alex had a pretty rough day yesterday. It has been very up and down, just when we think she is never going to eat she picks up something and suprises us. This is as much training for us as it is for her. For example, there is a child here that was weaned from the tube last Easter. The mother did not follow the hands off approach with regards to the childs eating and the child slipped right back in to her old habits and is back here for re-training. The directors are a husband and a wife that specialize in childrens eating habits. Anywhere from not eating to anorexia and bulimia. The BIGGEST contribution they say that contributes to childrens eating refusal is pressure by the parents to cajole, or convince or bride the child to eat. They believe that it makes the children go in the exact opposite way. It makes sense, this is definately a way that a child can aggravate and push the parents buttons. Sorry to go on and on. Overall, we are doing well and appreciate all the posts and well wishes. Friday we will go out to see the Advent lights at night for Alex's birthday. I will try to locate some party hats for the children to take pictures at playpicinic also. If I can find them, I will post the pictures. Love to all.