Post by charlie on Apr 12, 2014 12:49:15 GMT -5
After alot of organisation I can with delight report that Megan survived and enjoyed a 4 day residential trip with the school.
It was quite amusing that the school that for years has not believed me that anything was wrong with her suddenly realised a few months ago that if they were going to look after her for 4 days that had better start listening, just in case......
It took alot of planning but these things are very possible and then suddenly there is your precious little one with all these major diet restrictions out there in the outside world coping along with all her peers, and coming back as healthy as she left.
I think we had a total of 4 meetings about it. #We have medication to factor in and night issues too so we had a meeting about medication and making a care plan, that took 1 hour.
Then we had another meeting about food, how to keep her fuelled and her night issues.
I had a lengthy conversation with the catering manager at the centre who did not get it to start with and that was the most complicated. We have starch restrictions too so trying to explain that jacket potato 3 times a week would be too much starch..... "oh but they are going to be very busy".... "yes, but she cannot breakdown the starch so she will have less energy" - this is a CSID thing by the way not an HFI thing. "No, bananas may be good energy sources but NOT FOR HER ....." Crisps as an emergency back up snack, "Oh, but we have a healthy food policy here, no crisps, just fruit" ..... deep breath, "Yes, but she can't have fruit, that will make her sick..."
Anyway, in the end we managed to go through the whole menu plan and what bits she could have and what i had to supply as a frozen ready meal for them to defrost and microwave. I supplied all puddings, all milk (she is on Lactofree again due to CSID) and a back up energy cake. I also then went through the food plan with Megan and wrote it all down on a piece of paper sent in the very heavy cool bag.
I then had another meeting with the teacher mainly responsible for her for the trip so that she had it clearly.
On top of that i typed out a sheet of what food she could have, as that is quicker than what she can't..... How to keep her fuelled, and what signs to look out for when things are going wrong.
Then I spent a frantic weekend cooking up everything, buying the spare stock and labelling everything, whilst trying to keep nervous but very excited child calm...... then came the day and once I got her onto the coach I went home, locked the door and collapsed with relief. I was hoping to go out and enjoy myself but the truth is I was that exhausted i actually felt ill from all the pent up stress so i just went to bed. It was amazing how much extra time i had just with not having to think about her meals.
Anyway, she had a whale of a time, they coped very well with everything and everyone was happy. So all those wondering if that day will ever come, it will, it is doable and a very important step for them.
It was quite amusing that the school that for years has not believed me that anything was wrong with her suddenly realised a few months ago that if they were going to look after her for 4 days that had better start listening, just in case......
It took alot of planning but these things are very possible and then suddenly there is your precious little one with all these major diet restrictions out there in the outside world coping along with all her peers, and coming back as healthy as she left.
I think we had a total of 4 meetings about it. #We have medication to factor in and night issues too so we had a meeting about medication and making a care plan, that took 1 hour.
Then we had another meeting about food, how to keep her fuelled and her night issues.
I had a lengthy conversation with the catering manager at the centre who did not get it to start with and that was the most complicated. We have starch restrictions too so trying to explain that jacket potato 3 times a week would be too much starch..... "oh but they are going to be very busy".... "yes, but she cannot breakdown the starch so she will have less energy" - this is a CSID thing by the way not an HFI thing. "No, bananas may be good energy sources but NOT FOR HER ....." Crisps as an emergency back up snack, "Oh, but we have a healthy food policy here, no crisps, just fruit" ..... deep breath, "Yes, but she can't have fruit, that will make her sick..."
Anyway, in the end we managed to go through the whole menu plan and what bits she could have and what i had to supply as a frozen ready meal for them to defrost and microwave. I supplied all puddings, all milk (she is on Lactofree again due to CSID) and a back up energy cake. I also then went through the food plan with Megan and wrote it all down on a piece of paper sent in the very heavy cool bag.
I then had another meeting with the teacher mainly responsible for her for the trip so that she had it clearly.
On top of that i typed out a sheet of what food she could have, as that is quicker than what she can't..... How to keep her fuelled, and what signs to look out for when things are going wrong.
Then I spent a frantic weekend cooking up everything, buying the spare stock and labelling everything, whilst trying to keep nervous but very excited child calm...... then came the day and once I got her onto the coach I went home, locked the door and collapsed with relief. I was hoping to go out and enjoy myself but the truth is I was that exhausted i actually felt ill from all the pent up stress so i just went to bed. It was amazing how much extra time i had just with not having to think about her meals.
Anyway, she had a whale of a time, they coped very well with everything and everyone was happy. So all those wondering if that day will ever come, it will, it is doable and a very important step for them.
