Mud Puddles, Mischief, and Love: Feeding Tube Decision

Well, we have come to the decision that Maddox needs the g-tube (feeding tube that comes out of his stomach). 2 weeks ago he had his follow up appt and the GI dr. wanted Maddox to keep the n-g tube for another 2-3 months. At first I was ecstatic. But then his face started breaking out from the tape. He has been bleeding under the tape and scratching until he bleeds. He has decreased the amount of food he will eat significantly. (although today he ate a lot for him). Craig and I came to the conclusion that Maddox is not going to eat enough with the n-g tube. His nose, throat, and face are too irritated. We also talked with his fabulous speech therapist, nutritionist, GI dr nurse and everyone is in agreement. The therapist in me says this is what needs to be done, however the mom in me desperately wants to find another way. It's so hard.

2weeks ago we also switched up his feeding schedule. We are done with the nighttime feed!! We are all in our own beds and sleeping through the night. Glory day! What a difference a good nights sleep makes. (although he sneaks in bed with us early in the morning...I don't have the heart to send him back to his bed because it's one of the few times I can snuggle with him and he is still and quiet). He gets a short feeding of 10 ounces 4 times a day, and we need to be pretty careful on the times he gets the food, because if they are too close together he throws up. We also added a 40 minute night feed before we go to bed because he isn't eating enough and was getting tired and irritable again.

We are going to take out the n-g tube the last week of this month and see how he eats for a week or two. If he does well we'll hold off on the g-tube (which would be wonderful). This way he will at least be tube free on his golden birthday and hopefully the excitement of Christmas will help with the adjustment. We will have to go back to night feeds for a couple weeks, so that will stink, but a's long as I know it's temporary, I can live with that.

Well be spending at least two nights at the hospital in the cities.

Mason turned 9 on Saturday. I can't believe he is 9! Next year he will be in the double digits. Crazy how fast time flies. We had a family party and the friend party is this Sun at the bowling alley. This is the first party he hasn't had at home. He's growing up ;). I just love that boy and cant imagine my life without him in it. I was going to try and write something profound here, but my brain is not cooperating. He really is a great big brother. Today at Cub he was teaching Maddox how to bag groceries and he was so patient. Maddox adores him. He just sobs when Mason goes somewhere without him. (that's not to say they don't have their moments. At Walgreens today they tipped a cart over because they were arguing about who was going to stand where)
Homeschooling continues to go well. We both enjoy the new curriculum and he really likes the challenge. He also started attending a Spanish class once a week and loves that. Maddox is even picking up some words and is beginning to count in Spanish and name colors.

We have been loving this weather and even made it to the beach twice in the last 5 days. That great big lake is magical. I always leave feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. What a gift.

Ok enough talk. I'll leave you with some pictures of then last couple weeks.

The boy should weigh 80 pounds with all this junk food. But he still won't eat it.

So, Maddox had a Captain America costume, but refused to wear it Halloween. He didn't even wear the helmet trick or treating. Mason threw that costume together the day of Halloween.

Our Ninja. An old costume (actually I purchased this costume just for the baclava for that eagle costume I made two years ago, you know, the one I traumatized Mason with)