possible side effect, so we had moved to smoothies and swallowing bites with pudding. November 18, I called the docs and the speech therapists. Libby had a small swallow study on Tuesday that didn't go well. Even though we knew that Libby can only have pudding consistency, the therapist freaked out when Libby aspirated with applesauce. Ugh.
We did the dutiful thing and called the docs in Wednesday and got her in for her swallow study on Wednesday. We met a new Pediatrician on Thursday evening and Friday afternoon she had an NG tube implace. Libby spent the weekend pouting and refusing to smile and go to the restroom. She was listless and really not pleasant Sunday. She was excited to go to school and yet didn't want everyone to see her with her tube.
Monday morning, November 25, she began throwing up before 10:00. By 11: something- she had honked out her tube.
We were at the doc that afternoon- and checking into the hospital that evening for observation, a swallow study, tests and general poking around on my kid.
(We've never stayed at this hospital even though it's only 45 miles away from our house.)
No bad blood results.
Failed swallow study.
Nose tube instead of stomach tube.
Doctors here and in Ft. Worth wanted to avoid possible scar tissue and infection for something that we believe will be temporary. We wanted the tummy tube because we were already having some swallow issues and are planning in following through with some Botox several times a year. The path that allowed for the least long term side effects won.
We were home for Thanksgiving. Due to illnesses our meal Thursday was Mariah, Grandma Linda and us. We had Grandma Linda's meal, as is traditional, on Friday.
All in all a time to be grateful and to re-evaluate what is the most important.
Introducing Mary Tubaca, Libby's lifeline and arch nemesis.
Doesn't matter where we are that tube can still be hooked up!
The idea that I would be pulverizing my kids food and giving her bites of pudding and taters many times a day would have never occurred to me. It's funny how the amount of planning we do doesn't really matter because stuff happens and we adapt. I am
Grateful for the ability to adapt.
