Settling In... Sorta

So in many ways this seems like OLD NEWS - as though we've been doing it forever. At least the newness and excitement level has gone down. Of course - to be expected.

The logistics still need some ironing out. Whether to pre-syringe or not. How much to blend in one sitting. Days? Weeks? Months? A combo, using different procedures? Even the types of syringes to use.

Insurance will grant us 30 plunger syringes a month, any combination we choose. There are different sizes. Going into this blind, and having to make an order before we started blending 100% (which turned out to be like the next day), i ordered twenty 60mls and ten 35mls. Turns out i would have ordered 30 of the 60mls. Bygones. No big whoop. That shipment should be arriving today or tmw.

I have learned in the course of the few days here, using this TYPE of syringe (pic at left), that the rubber tip breaks down FAST. I had read about this, but had not experienced it first hand. What happens is the plunging becomes very hard, almost impossible. The lubrication that comes with the syringe breaks down, i believe, during washing, even sans water. I had read that some folks rinse in cold water only to prolong the life of the syringe. I'm not entirely comfortable with that, concerning food safety and bacteria. I am okay, however, not using soap, which i hadn't, and they still died on me near the end of Day 2.

So then i thought: what if i eliminate rinsing between refills, if i refill the syringe IMMEDIATELY after feeding him. That is, turn right around and syringe up more food while there is still some in the tip, for the next meal, and store in the fridge as usual. I am trying that idea today. Well - sorta; i did not communicate this idea to daycare, so i'm sure they'll rinse and fill as per my original instructions. Bygones again.

A better solution, i'm convinced, through more reading of course, is to purchase what is called an O-ring syringe (pictured right). They are also affectionately called "squirrel syringes" as they have been used to rehabilitate sick squirrels and other animals' needs to be fed by hand. It has a silicone ring at the end and people are reporting them lasting YEARS, even through washings (either with or without soap). I'm not exactly sure of the cost per syringe, but i'm guessing it will be worth the investment and the avoidance of frustration.

Just Tuesday night, before i remembered the whole break-down of the rubber tip and it starting to get sticky thing, i was thinking the tube was clogged, every BD parents' headache. It's not a NIGHTMARE, but more of a nuisance. There are a variety of solutions, all of which i tried, including switching out his button altogether with a new one. I checked the one that came out of him for a clog or a balloon problem, and nothing, and that's when it occurred to me about the sticky plunger. There is even the trick of spraying the rubber end with cooking spray before reinserting it in the tube. That didn't work. FELT like it woulda worked, but it didn't.

Any day, the Blendtec will arrive. That will entirely amend how i blenderize his diet from now on. No more expensive baby food (even the cheaper stuff). I am still doing research on the most streamlined way to go about this whole process. Do i blend said foods in one big batch? Do i blend fruits/veggies separate and freeze in ice cube trays to later add to said blend? And WHERE do i store it? In containers? Squeezy bottles? Freezer bags? etc. A bit to think about...

Here is how a couple parents do it, on the BD Facebook page, that i really like (combining ideas...):

So yes - a ton of trial and error to come, before i settle into a routine, and blend(s), that work best for us. I am not going to just blend what we're eating, which a route many folks go. Not for Hank. At least not now. I'd like to stick as close to giving him 1200 balanced calories that i can, and for that, i will follow the Choose My Plate guide in an earlier post.

GOOD NEWS! - Hank is now able to take 200 mls in about 8 minutes. No problem. Happy as a clam the whole time sitting with me, including about a ~20 ml bolus of flushing water on top of that. GOOD BOY!!!

I will report again when the Blendtec arrives! More planning of foods to use!! More creativity!!!!