Carley Marie

Today little Miss Carley had a MicKey button put in. The MicKey button is smaller and less bulkey than a G-tube. When I got to the hospital to see my daughter, she was watching television. But unlike other times where the TV totally controls her, this time she had a sheepish grin on her face. Something didn't seem right. Usually if you get between the TV and Carley, she literally throws a fit. But not this time. She glanced up at me with a "look what I did" look. Then I noticed that her onesie was wet. I called over one of the nurses and when we pulled up the onesie, her mickey button was nowhere to be seen. Her nurse immediately came over and said,

"Carley Marie!??!"

The nurses have even given her a different name. Well, regardless, they were able to put a new MicKey in and Carley was very content with all the attention.

Of course she got away with it. The nurses blamed it on a faulty MicKey.

Here are a few more pictures of Carley Marie.

In this picture she is wearing one of her Valentines Day bows that the Tammi and Grady gaver her for Valentines Day.


Apparently the NICU had a Betty Boop look-a-like contest and Carley Marie won!


Tech's Number One Fan!!




So What is a MicKey ??
A Mickey is "a gastrostomy tube that is held in place by a balloon inflated with saline. A MicKey tube is a "balloon" type. A MicKey is much easier to replace. You can change it at home on your own, which is actually not as daunting a task as it sounds. It can be very convenient when you accidentally pop the tube out at 3 AM. In addition, you may have an actual tube that protrudes from the body (a Gtube) or a gastrostomy button which lies flat, or mostly flat (again, depending on the manufacturer) on the stomach. When using the button, you attach a feeding tube to the button and remove it when you are done feeding the child. Some surgeons will place a g button directly. Others will place a tube first and watch for any complications, then place the button. Guidelines for replacement are also the choice of the doctor. Some like to replace every six months regardless. Others wait until there is a leak or other problem."