It Was Only a Matter of Time...

The first time i observed Sam watching me administer meds to Henry thru his G-Tube via a small 5ml syringe, i actually HEARD the wheels turning inside his little brain and saw the "A-HA!" moment appear on his face.

"Hey Mom... can i see that when you are done?"

So i gave him one of his own. And for a good 15 minutes, he sucked and shot water out his syringe outside.

Every month, we get a shipment of medical supplies for Henry. Mostly feeding bags (that get replaced daily) as well as notched-out gauze pads to dress Henry's G-Tube site. But what we also get are these GIGANTIC syringes, which I can only guess MIGHT be used if Henry were to start 'gravity feeds,' which means you put the food in a large syringe and literally hang it or tape it to something and let the food dispense at a natural pace, via gravity. At one point, Henry did these kind of feeds, WAY BACK during his first preliminary stay at CHOP. This was before his reflux went haywire, so i don't imagine this technique is going to be used any time soon, if not forever.

So what Sam doesn't know is this: the last batch of these big syringes just went in the garbage can. I cannot be keeping stuff around that i'll never use - all this STUFF can get outta hand if i don't keep it in check. HOWEVER, with the next shipment, and i hadnt thought of it til Sam's brain churn: i'm going to give them to him for 'water guns.' He'll suck way more water in for a longer squirt. I'm hesitant to inform the med supply company of my non-use of these syringes because for whatever reason, if i DO need them again, i'm not sure the red-tape i'll go thru to try and re-add them to the order. I'm leery of these medical suppliers... perhaps unfounded, but still... I think i'll ask for some guidance on this topic while i'm here in Philly this go-round.