*Post Disclaimer – If you don’t want to see a picture of a feeding tube (it’s not that bad), then don’t read any further!* 🙂
Philippians 4:8 reads, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
Whenever I am tempted to get anxious about the Happy Baby’s feeding tube (and the issues surrounding it), I remember that verse.
And I set my thoughts to thinking positively about it.
Here are my excellent and noble thoughts about the Happy Baby’s feeding tube (i.e. the Second Belly Button – thanks to a dear reader for that fun perspective!) and why I think everyone should have one.
Excellent Thought #1 – Sleep Through the Night.
Yes, you read that right.
How many people do you know who brought their baby home from the hospital and on the FIRST NIGHT slept 12 hours straight?!
We simply program the feeding pump to give the Happy Baby’s tummy a little bit of milk every hour and voila!
No midnight snacking!
Excellent Thought #2 – Med Wars No More.
With the Happy Buddy I practically have to sit on top of him to make him take medicine when he is sick.
With the Happy Baby I simply push it through the feeding tube with a small syringe and he doesn’t have to taste a thing!
Excellent Thought #3 – Worry Free Feedings.
I never EVER have to worry if the Happy Baby is eating enough.
Simply dump whatever amount you think he needs through the tube and set your mind at ease.
Excellent Thought #4 – Venting.
Holy Cow.
This is the BEST feature of the feeding tube.
See Sad Baby.
See Syringe.
See GAS come flying out.
See Happy Baby Again.
The Happy Hubby is an awesome Vent-er. It’s a very self-gratifying job – instant results. Good for the male ego.
Excellent Thought #5 – In a few months the Happy Baby’s going to get the hang of the whole eating thing and we’ll be able to get the tube removed and all that he will have left is a tiny scar – his second belly button.
That last thought is more like wishful thinking.
But, hey, we serve a God who can do “immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine!” (Ephesians 3:20), so I am going to choose to dwell on that.
I’d say that is the most excellent and praiseworthy thought EVER!
Happy Positive Think-ing and Anxiety Free Live-ing! 🙂
My daughter is 3.5 yrs old now and had a feeding tube placed at birth. We have the same exact pump and same extension that goes into her belly. It can feel pretty frustrating at times, but I’m glad you are able to see the positives. If you have any questions or just need to vent about the feeding tube, feel free to e-mail me: [email protected]. — joanna
Love your attitude, Julie. We have three children with Type 1 Diabetes, the first of which was diagnosed before his second birthday. I must confess, I never made a written list of positives associated with insulin replacement therapy, but I have seen good come from walking this road while continuing to trust wholly and without qualification in the wisdom and grace and goodness of God.
My hat is off to you! I have 4 kids and only 1 of them is type 1. I know what a hard road it is, and I can’t imagine trying to manage 3 kids’ diabetes. You are a very strong woman! It is only through God that we’ve been able to walk this road with our daughter, and we still have setbacks from time to time after all these years. You’re doing a great job!!
It took me a while to get to that “love the feeding tube” place in my life. Now I’m there, and I feel so much better about everything. My son is 2 and 1/2, and has had the tube for 2 years now. And he totally has a better diet than any other toddler, I can say that for SURE. I blend up fruits and veggies every day for him, mixed with his formula. 5 a day? At least! 😀
And what a cute happy baby you have!
when my daughter had a feeding tube, we loved the venting!! amazing relief, sometimes comic, sometimes physical 😉 praying for you. thank you for your honesty and witness…
I think its awesome that your child has worry free nights with is feeding. But not all of us are blessed that way, we on the other hand 3 out of 5 nights get up about once a night due to tube pinch or it comes unhooked. Among other reasons. But we would much rather have him with no Feeding tube . But we are very glad that your son is doing great.
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Jason! First of all, it was supposed to be a happy, upbeat post about the feeding tube, so I purposefully left out the unhooking and getting up several times a night to change the bag. 🙂 The baby might be sleeping peacefully, but mommy and daddy are not. 🙂 I will never forget the first time I went in there and realized that the pump was feeding the baby’s crib instead of his tummy! What a mess! Hang in there. Yah gotta make lemonade – right? 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Happy Home Fairy.
He looks healthy and is gaining weight. I am sure sometime in the future he will be able to say goodbye to his feeding tube but for now he is a happy little baby.
Excellent Thought #6: Seeing the feeding tube as a get-out-of-jail card. So glad you’re all home and together and Happy Family-ing again! 🙂
Great perspective and great reminder of God’s goodness & sovereignty!!! I’m still just so overjoyed that he is home and praying that all these issues are truly just a temporary side effect from that icky virus!! xo
He looks so healthy and happy – he is one of the prettiest and brightest babies I think I have ever seen!!! It is hard to imagine everything he has been through – looks can sure be deceiving…..best wishes to him and you and your family.
Life, no matter the circumstances or trials seems so much better when you look through spiritual eyes. Your eyes and heart for God have taught all of us so much. Phil. 4:8 is the verse that walked me through almost a year of Surgery, Chemo & Radiation with my 25 year old daughter. I was reminded lately in my own life the awesome power and comfort of our Great God as I was potentially walking another path of a health issue with one of my children. I clung to your blog Julie, looking for your strength as I know many have along with the comfort and peace that God gave me. When we are weakest, our God is Strongest. Maybe because we finally learn to let go and let God simply do his job. I am often reminded if I simply get out of the way and let God work, most of my fears seem to disappear and what remains is, God’s Peace that Passes understanding. Thank you once again for your transparency. Jane
What an amazing and sweet post! You are truly an inspiration as you look for and find the positive things going on among all the trials you’re facing. I don’t have a feeding tube but I do have a drain and I know that dealing with it over the past two weeks has definitely taught me a lot about having patience and thanking God for every good day that I have. I find so much joy and encouragement when I read your blog. Thank you so much for sharing your life so openly with us. God bless you and your sweet Happy Family!
So glad that he’s doing so well! It never gets easier looking at our children with machinery hooked up to them, but I’m so very thankful for the technology that allows them to thrive with these devices. My daughter has type 1 diabetes and has an insulin pump inserted in her stomach like the feeding tube, and she wears a pump attached to her 24/7 every day and will for the rest of her life (unless they find a cure)…. so we have to do what you’ve done….set your mind on things above and look at it through God’s perspective. We’ll be praying for you!