A Reason To Party

Meet Noodles aka Lewis.  Notice anything different?

That's right.  He no longer has his gtube button.  Let's take a trip down memory lane shall we?

   +first there was the NG tube and the DREADED feeding pump
   +several different prescription formulas that ultimately didn't sit well
   +then we had the Gtube (trying out everything from a MINI One to the Mic-Key Low Profile)
   +Farrel valve bags and Hollister clamps to combat leakage as well as reflux
   +countless times the button has been accidentally pulled out
   +numerous times cellulitis caused from a skin infection around the gtube site
   +unfathomable amounts of time spent combing the internet for facts and solutions
   +four different medications to help with an unhappy, uncomfortable stomach and intestines
   +what seems like an inordinate supply of 2 ml, 5 ml, 6 ml, 35 ml and 60 ml syringes
   +at least a half dozen tubes of calmoseptine, bacitracin and triamcinolone ointments
   +bottles and bottles of stomahesive powders
   +silver nitrate sticks to burn off excess skin forming over his port
   +gauze pads, drainage sponges and elastic, tubular dressings galore
   + more weight checks then we could keep track of
   +and obviously much, much stress and worry

The tube was officially removed today at the doctor's office.  We are going to have a big party (just as soon as I can find some time to plan an appropriate celebration. Until then we will drink copious amounts tonight!).  This day truly has been a light shining in the darkness.  Thanks everyone for all your support you have shown our family with all our feeding difficulties over the years.  A new chapter begins.

We're taking Plan D for the dental game plan.  We have an appointment on Monday with one of the very few private practicing, pediatric dentists in Northern Virginia who can perform procedures under general anesthesia at Children's Hospital in DC.  LJ will be slated to have a root canal, two cavities filled, possible tooth extraction and sealants put on all his back teeth.  We are hopeful the bad tooth can be saved and will not have to be pulled but we have little control over it since it is causing Lewis a lot of pain.