Heimlich Maneuver

So the Heimlich Maneuver really does work.  

Unfortunately I know from experience. 

Tonight we had Ben's favorite meal.  Sketti and BALLS!  With heavy emphasis on the balls.  In, fact he has almost gotten to the point where he will leave the noodles and just eat the meat balls. 

Tonight, as I was getting supper ready, I sat 3 meatballs on a plate at Ben's place at the table to cool.   He HATES anyone touching or cutting his food, so I left them whole.  I had my back turned while I was getting the rest of the plates ready, and the little stinker sneaked in and dug in to his favorite meal.  I realized this when I heard him start to choke.  Sure enough there were only two meatballs on his plate.  

He actually got up and started kind of running in place, all the time trying to breath and making choking sounds.  My first instinct was to pat him on the back, but then I remembered that can actually make things worse.  So I quickly grabbed him under the rib cage and lifted up.  Out popped the meatball on the first try.  I was both shocked and relieved that it popped out so easily.  

The whole thing took less than 5 seconds, and I was amazed at how calmly I was able to get to Ben, get my arms around him, and lift him up.  I only got a little shaky when I sat down and realized what had just happened.  

Needless to say the rest of his meatballs got cut up.

And he did throw a fit about it.

  

Too bad little man.  You scared Mom enough for one night. 

Here is a refresher, for anyone who might want one.

Summer Vacation

It is going to be a long summer. School got out early this year due to the construction on the school building. The last day was Friday. The big boys started day-care at Son Shine Day-care at the Methodist church in town. The first day they were both up at 6:00 to take care of the dog and get ready. The last couple days it has been more of a chore to get them ready to go. It looks like the day-care has been doing a good job of coming up with fun things for them to do, but it really can't compete with going swimming and going on field trips like they used to do at their Lincoln day-care summer program.
Ben is still going to a home daycare in Lincoln for the summer. He has scared the heck out of us quite a few time lately, when he seems to choke when he eats. It is really strange in that he is crying, and obviously still breathing, but it is like he has something stuck in his throat, and is coughing and hacking. It usually ends with him throwing up a frothy version of what he ate, and then he seems fine. Yesterday it was peaches that were cut up very small. A couple weeks ago it was sweet potato. Not sure if it is just going down the wrong way, and just hurts, or what, but it is very scary. I am planning to ask the therapist today to look at the way he swallows, to see if there is an issue.
Getting ready to head to sunny Florida. Can't wait for vacation!