Back on the Feeding Tube

Jereth has been off his feeding tube for almost a month, but has not been gaining weight - in fact, he's been losing weight. So he's going to have to endure the feeding tube again. He'll still get to take a bottle during the day, but the rest of his calories will again be pumped into his stomach at night.

We were really hoping he was ready to take this next step, but he's shown us we moved too fast and he wasn't ready. Yes, it's disappointing, but we need to keep him healthy and growing. So if this is what it takes, this is what we'll do.

Feeding Tube Progress

Jereth's feeding tube has become a fun battle of wills - he pulls it out on a regular basis and really doesn't enjoy having it put back in - but then I can't think of anyone who would like to have a tube stuck up their nose and fed down their throat and into their stomach.

Monday afternoon he pulled it out for the umteenth time while Mom and Dad were out running errands and he was home with Spencer and the other children. Instead of putting it right back in I gave him a bottle (he's been taking an ounce or two at a time in the mornings so I thought we'd give it a try in the afternoon - I figured if he would take as much by mouth as he would have received through the feeding tube he would be fine).