Puke on Demand

Have you ever met anyone with a sensitive gag reflux? You know those people that smell something weird and start gagging and then throw up? Or they eat something that is less than desirable and instead of inconspicuously removing it from their mouth, they just barf? Before having Collier I was convinced that people who claimed to have this issue were up in the night. I thought is was an exaggerated way of getting some attention. But, like my change of heart that occurred during my pregnancy regarding carpal tunnel, I have become a believer of "puking on demand" as well. I have become so close to the issue that I could start a support group or 12 step program.

First off, you must know that Collier is like a Hoover vacuum cleaner without any sort of bag filter. He takes in a great deal of things that are not necessarily edible. In addition, he also has asthma so he is preconditioned to bouts of excessive coughing. Those two activities alone are a land mine for someone who has a sensitive gag reflux. There is probably not a day that goes by that one of these activities goes a bit too far and we are chanting to Collier "stop gagging you are going to make yourself throw up." We have done this so often that we have even heard Harper coaching Collier from another room when he sees it coming. You just learn when you see certain facial expressions paired with disproportionate coughing to stand clear or you might become a victim to the after effect.

Interestingly enough, Collier now plays games with us and when we start our chanting of "please don't puke", he will intentionally make himself cough more and even throw in fake coughs for dramatic effect. He is learning early that having a twisted sense of humor can often put you in the spotlight - and trust me, our little Collier is starting to feel right at home in the spotlight!