First Button Change

Cooper had his first button change on March 17th.

Doctors say after the first change, it can be done by a parent at home, but I think I would rather pay the copay and drive an hour there, and an hour back.

It was bad.

Cooper has VERY minimal granulation tissue, but it is still connected to the tube and he was not happy or feeling too great when the doctor changed his tube.

When the tube is changed, you take the small syringe and put it in the side of the tube where you check the water inflation of the balloon holding it in place.

You extract the water to deflate the balloon so the tube is just a peg and can be removed from the stomach.

You then make sure to have gauze to cover the site, and slowly pull the tube out.

This then leaves a hole where the tube was, which is why it is important to keep the gauze over the site, to ensure nothing gets in it.

You then take the new, never inflated button, place it in a lubricant, and position it under the gauze by the site.

You don't want to force it in to the hole, so when they breathe in is the best time to slide it in.

Once the new button is in place, you inflate it back with water and you are done.

It took all of 30 seconds for the surgeon to do.

However, because Cooper is older and can put things together, like specific events and pain, we now have a struggle 99% of the time we go to touch his G-tube.

He remembers how it feels, and he doesn't want you touching it, which is the main reason I will not be doing the button changes for a while, 

apart from the fact that it kind of bugs me out to see a skittle-sized hole in my baby's belly.

When he is old enough to discuss and understand what is going on, we may try to do it ourselves, but until then, I don't want him associating me coming to touch his G tube as painful.

Poor little bug.

On the plus side, Cooper loves going to the doctor's office and is such a champ! 

He runs up and steps on the scale, he stands under the height measurement station and giggles, and he gives his hand when they need to take the pulse-ox.

He may have had a little too much practice to get this good at it ;)

In the waiting room

Cooper was having so much fun with the little girl sitting in front of him.

Getting measured

Pulse Ox

He kept jumping from tile to tile and saying the colors 

Also, Happy St. Patrick's Day!