G-Tube Switch Out...

Much excitement came with Nathan getting his AMT Mini One Balloon Button back in August.

But there was one thing I was dreading...

The responsibility of changing it every three months, by myself, at home. I became a pro at the NG tube and that didn't phase me a bit. This seemed different to me because of the fact there would be an open hole in  Nathan's tummy. I realized that it would be a "healed" tract from the outside directly into his stomach, but some part of me couldn't shake the thought of his insides falling out once I removed his old tube. Impossible I know, but I couldn't help but think of it. Ridiculous me.

Thanks to my dear friend Katie, Nathan's tube switch out was a breeze today. It was done and over with in less than a minute! Nathan cried a bit when I pulled out his old tube, the balloon deflated a bit unevenly and there was a slight resistance when I took it out. I don't know what, if anything, I could do differently next time to help make that easier. It wasn't horrible, keep in mind. I waited for Nathan to calm down so that his stomach muscles would relax enough to allow me to easily slide the new tube in. In it went and I inflated the balloon with saline and we were all finished! I feel confident that the next go round I could even do it alone with Nathan.

Thanks again Katie for getting excited about things like this and being so willing to offer your assistance! 

Our sweet boy makes us prouder and prouder every day! I am amazed at how tough he is!

Boy Will Be Boys...

We had a fun afternoon with our good friends Anne and Justin at the Brunswick Stew Festival today!

Nathan found some rocks to play with!
Ah... boys!

We were all looking forward to nap time once we got home. Nathan had other plans... he was walking quickly with his sippy cup and tripped over something and fell. His head hit the rim of the cup making a fairly deep gash through his left eyebrow. We got the bleeding under control and hopped in the car and headed straight to Kid Med. Nathan was such a trooper, while waiting to be called back to see the doctor, Nathan was running around the waiting room and trying to climb in chairs and hop out of them. I tried my best to get him to sit still, but he isn't a sit still kind of boy.

Nathan got 5 stitches and was super brave getting them! He only cried when they wrapped him up to keep him still and then again when they were injecting the numbing medicine. Once that took affect, he was calm and did great! He actually fell asleep in the 5 minutes it took to place all of the stitches! I love our brave Nathan! He gave the doctor a high five on the way out the door! I guess that was his way of saying, "Thank you!"

The doctor said that Nathan's eye will likely be swollen shut by tomorrow morning, which I can already see beginning to happen. Bless his heart. We will return in 7 days to have the stitches taken out... that should be fun. I know it wont hurt him, but I'm sure it's going to bring back terrible memories for little Nathan. But like getting them, he won't remember that either one day. :o) The next time Nathan wants to skip nap time I hope he chooses a little less exciting way! 

Nathan's self-portrait in the car on the way to Kid Med.

The Culprit

Opening wide to put that binky in!

Still smiling!

All better! 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

What Nathan's Been Up To...

I promised pictures would come soon in my last post, so here they are! Enjoy!

These are from our beach vacation this past September:

Hanging out at the pool at the beach house !

Checking out the wild horses on the beach!

Sandy hands :o)

What's this gritty stuff mama?

Happy Nathan LOVED the beach!

Pontoon Captains! This was Nathan's first time on a boat!

Hanging out with daddy watching Mickey Mouse!

The weather was just beautiful on October 8th, I took Nathan down to the lake with his big truck! He had a blast pushing his truck around on the dock!

These were taken at the State Fair of Virginia in October:

Country boy Nathan.

Nathan LOVED all of the tractors!

Auntie Anne was making Nathan giggle!

Nathan and mommy playing at the house:

Nathan had just finished eating a banana... it was his first real food in several days, because he wasn't feeling well. This was a week and a half after we started him back on the Pulmicort slurry. 

Playing in a toy box!

CHEESE!

Nathan dressed up as his favorite character, Mickey Mouse! Nathan had a great time at the Trunk or Treat at River Road Church!

Bean bag toss! Go Mickey!

Nathan loved playing with the balloons.

Mark has wanted a Radio Flyer for Nathan ever since the day Nathan was born. :o) We were shopping at Target last weekend and it was on a sale we couldn't say no to! Nathan was with us but wasn't paying to much attention to the big box and what was inside. That night after we put him to bed we put the wagon together so that he could be surprised in the morning! Needless to say he was super excited when he came downstairs to find his first wagon! We of course, had to test it out right away. It was a chilly morning, but we all bundled up and had a great stroll!

Big boy Nathan pulling the wagon like daddy!