The tube was taken out at about 12.15pm today, with Eva, Prof Dunitz, a nurse, Rob and l there. Eva came to watch as she has never seen it being removed before and l was amazed at how quickly it was done. I thought that they would stitch it closed but the Prof simply deflated the balloon and popped a plaster over it. Let's hope it heals nicely...
We were told that if it was oozing alot by tomorrow we would have a surgeon look at it but since we know how fast Tayden's stomach does go closed (when the peg has fallen out!) we know that this will not be a problem at all.
Tomorrow we change the plasters and by Wednesday he will be well enough to even attend his swimming class that he enjoys so much, so that is great. We will just put a waterproof plaster over it and Bob's your uncle!
We started off with OT this morning and Tayden did very well, l was most impressed with my little man. For the first time he actually got down on his hands and knees in the crawl position by himself in order to get something. Ok, admittedly this position didnt last long but he did do it and that is great!
Ingrid, our OT therapist is very happy with him. She has suggested that we get some mats to use at home, pretty flat ones and then also a larger kind of foam pillow that is quite solid and a different level for him to be able to climb on it, over it as well as a tunnel for him to crawl through. We have been encouraged to go home and make tents and caves with interesting little things in it for him to WANT to go in - and have to crawl to get there. He CAN do all the things, there is no phyiscal reason as to why he cant do anything, he just needs the practise and the confidence to do it, which will come in time.
We have such a laugh this morning, Tayden was standing on a thin mat (but not 100% solid so he doesnt feel confident on it) and he started overbalancing. The problem was that he had a toy in one hand, and a bottle in the other and wasnt willing to let either go, so he stood there swaying, with Ingrid ready to catch him in case he fell. Luckily he didnt, but it was just so funny to see as he considered his options and decided that he wasn't letting anything go!
We have been told to get him toys that encourage and need him to sit on his knees to play and enjoy, like a train set that will hold his attention and have him reaching and interacting without even realising he is doing it.
Other things for his tactile issues include lentil baths where he actually gets into it and puts his feet and hands in contact with the lentils, playing with lentils and hiding toys in it for him to find, vibrating toys, balls with little tassles (for want of a better word), as well as a vibrating electrical toothbrush. The vibrations of the tooth brush apparently overrides the body's tactile defences and we have been told that we will have luck in actually getting a toothbrush into his mouth now, which is better than what we are doing at the moment! At the moment his toothbrushing is non existent!
After OT we met Eva and Sylvia to do some 'outdoor training' as Eva calls it, with Tayden. The background here is that Tayden refuses to walk and hold our hands and we use the harness (we have spoken about the issues with that here in Austria! LOL...) so Eva reckons she can get him to walk without his harness and took him for his first outdoor training session this AM.
So there we go, Eva, Rob, Sylvia, Tayden and me...and Eva calls out merrily to one of the other staff we are going for outdoor training - l am not sure if they realised the training was for Tayden and not Rob and me! LOL...
Tayden walked like a champ with Eva (felt like such an idiot as he walked so nicely!) and then she handed him over to Rob and he was fine with Eva holding one hand and he the other. Then Eva hands him over to me...and he starts performing and wont walk. We had to laugh, it was just so funny. On the bright side Eva does say he is more likely to listen to her as she is not his mom - thanks for that Eva, l feel better now! LOL...Also, what made my day was that he threw his toys and had a lekker little temper tantrum with Eva on the way back, just having reached the clinic...had a good giggle to myself...and felt much better!
So, the peg came out and we went to play picnic. Tayden made his entrance and lifted his shirt to show everyone at the picnic is was gone then said 'yay' and clapped hands for himself. Too cute for words!
After a sleep for Tayden we went through to the River, ready to throw the peg into the gushing waters. Rob and l were still discussing how to best get a nice picture when Rob said to me how l am going to throw it away. I answered and said it isnt mine to throw away, Tayden must do it. So l handed him the peg and said to him, "You must throw your peg far away into the water, you are a big boy now and don't need it anymore."
Before we even had time to register, he had thrown it and if you look at the pics we posted, you will see a little white spec on one of them. Look closely, and then look again, that is the only pic we got of Tayden's peg being thrown, he was just too quick for us!
We walked around town and met up with Laurie and Johnny with their son Patrick. Patrick had a gastronasal tube in which he took out himself a couple of days ago and his parents havent replaced yet (see the latest pics for one of them at play picnic today). After ordering food, we went with them through to the B&B where they are staying and where we will be moving to tomorrow. What a lovely place to be, l can see Tayden is going to have a ball there, especially since there is a cat for him to terrorise!
Please keep Patrick and his parents in your prayers. A more down to earth and honest couple you wont find and their precious little guy really does have some major issues to deal with. Patrick - aged +- 17 months - has hearing problems, down syndrome and many other problems and it is an inspiration to me to see how well his parents are coping. Hats off to them for the good job they are doing and the courage they show on a daily basis!
We spent a lovely evening with them, enjoyed a meal and just sat and chilled for our first time in Austria, where Rob and l felt relaxed, with no stress about the tube or Tayden. It was divine!
I am posting some new pics under Tube 12 today, so check it out.
Thank you to all for your support and reading the blog, we are eager to see how Tayden deals without the peg in the next few days and how it heals up. Thanks too for all the birthday messages, it has been a good one!