Tube Feeding: How to NOT Feed the Bed at Night

When Nick was fed overnight (for years & years), this is how I attached the tubing to his Mic-Key Low-Profile Gastrostomy Feeding Tube and diaper so that it didn’t disconnect or twist & kink. 99% of the time, we made it through the night without a beeping pump and we NEVER fed the bed We had to use the 24 inch feeding tube, not the 12″. He’d wind up with the hard connector at his hip with the...

Only Change One Thing at a Time

Many of you may know by now that we have a boy (Nick) with special needs. He’s our little sweetie, and these days, his good days far outweigh the bad days. But this wasn’t always the case. Figuring out what is bothering him can be nearly impossible at times because he is non verbal and has great difficulty communicating his needs. His frustration peaks to the point of self-abuse. He’s loaded with sensory...

Stress Busters

These tips were contributed by Lindsey Petersen. Be sure to read her blog titled Raising 5 kids with Disabilities and Remaining Sane Blog. I think the title says it all! Thanks Lindsey! Thoughts on things I do to reduce stress and remain sane: Ø    I buy each person in my family their own brand of socks.  That way, matching them and giving them to the proper person is easy. Also, if the dryer eats a sock, there is...

Administering Medications Through a Feeding Tube

Do you administer medications through a g-tube? Read all about it here. If you’re new at this, hopefully this blog will help you to feel more comfortable with the task. If you’re a veteran, maybe you’ll pick up something new. I also recommend that you read Prescription Medications: Avoid Mistakes and Get Organized. Administering Medications through a G-Tube: Tools of the Trade Syringes: When you have liquid...

Prescription Medications: Avoid Mistakes and Get O...

According to Consumer Affairs, it’s estimated that 7,000 deaths occur every year because of incorrect prescriptions. And as stated in an article by Forbes.com, medication errors affect 1.5 million people every year.  These are astounding statistics. And yes, I have caught a pharmacist making a very big mistake. Our son Nick was supposed to get 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of a medication, and the label said to give him 1 ml....

Using Themes When Buying Gifts for Special Needs K...

One way to go about choosing gifts for kids with special needs is to choose them around a specific theme. For our son, this helps him with his congnitive skills. You can tell by the look on his face that he’s making a connection between the toy in his hand being the same figurine as the one in the movie that he’s watching. I love that look! Let’s use the movie Wall-E for example. Personally, I absolutely...