You know You are a Tubie Mom

Feeding Tube Awareness Week

Yes feeding tubes seem so serious, scary and can sound like the beginning of the end.  However, I like to take the approach that we can find humor in just about anything, even feeding tubes.

Thus, you know you are a tubie mom when:

• You no longer panic that there is an actual hole right in to your child's body.
• Hearing the sound of any beeping, you immediately look at the feeding pump for an error message (for me it is trucks backing up and our dishwasher beep). 
• Hear a beep and you still look for the pump even when the feeding pump is not with you.
• You have loose syringes in purses, pockets, cars compartments, etc. the way most people find loose change or gum.  You cannot find a pen but you sure can find a syringe.
• A perfectly sized syringe makes you happy.
• Delivery of medical supplies is a little exciting.
• Your child's closet is less about clothes and more about medical supplies.
• Medical supply companies can make or break your day.
• Any measurement you now think in terms of mls or ccs, even when cooking.
• You no longer notice tubie breath.
• You are grateful for the feeding pump until it malfunctions in a way you cannot fix.  Then you want to toss it out the window, run it over, smash it with a hammer and more.  And it always malfunctions in the middle of the night.
• You know what 16 French, 1 cm means.
• You consider the Gastroenterologist a close family friend.
• Mickey - no longer means Mickey Mouse but the Mic-Key button.
• Extensions, Balloons and Buttons have a completely different meaning to you than the rest of the population.
• Your other children have participated in the tube changes...perhaps in the parking lots during their basketball tournament?
• Your other children know how to operate the feeding tube better than they do the washing machine.
• You know that smell.  The smell of formula.  Formula that has gone rogue...a leak, a spill, the tube came apart. 
• You can change a your child's button just a smoothly as you would change your earrings.
• Still wondering how poop can change every day when you child gets the same food, same amount, same time, every day.
• Your blizzard supplies do not just include milk and eggs but: Charged Feeding Pump, Bags, Formula, Water, Medications, Syringes, Extensions, Extra Buttons, etc.  Remember to charge the feeding pump (and back up pump) in case of power outage.
• Packing for any trip, day trip or week trip, is a process.
• You have replacement kits every where, just in case your child requires a change.
• You immediately identify with other tubie parents.

All to say that you are actually grateful your child has a feeding tube because it does improve their quality of life.  It gives them nutrition, ease of giving medications and it gives this mom some peace of mind.