Another Surgery

Caydence still isn't doing well at all with bottling. We were rather optimistic after her heart surgery since she no longer had the gag reflex, but she just can't seem to grasp the concept of sucking on her bottle. So Caydence will be having surgery next Wednesday, February 10th, to get a G-tube.

The NG (nasogastric) tube that she has now is really only meant to be a temporary solution, like 2-3 months and she has had it 8! The G-tube placement is a minor surgery and will take about an hour to complete. Caydence will be put under general anesthesia and will require a 1 to 2 night hospital stay just to make sure it is working alright.

The kind of tube she will be getting is called a PEG tube. It will remain in place for about 2 months which will allow the opening to heal. Then she will go in for an outpatient visit at the sedation clinic and get a balloon type G-tube put in it's place. It's a type of tube that is held in place with an inflatable balloon. They lie flat against the skin and the is no external tube attached. It kind of resembles the inflation valve on a beach ball.

Josh and I are nervous and excited all at once. Nervous because, although it's a minor surgery, it IS still surgery! And excited because once she has the G-tube, Caydence doesn't have to keep her hands in mittens all the time anymore and we won't have to worry about her pulling out her tube like she did yesterday. She won't have to have a tube taped on her face all the time. Her little cheeks can heal and we can see her whole face, SANS TUBE! :)

Meanwhile, Caydence is learning to eat baby food. Thus far, she has experienced rice cereal, prunes, and sweet potatoes. She's seemed to enjoy them all, but I can't really tell how much she is actually swallowing. A lot end up on the bib, her hands, and face. Someday she will learn how to drink from a cup and suck on a bottle or straw, but it will take some time.

Anyways, wish us luck! <3