Trial & Error.

I am so tired of buying replacement items!!!!!  Ok, just saying that helps me feel a little bit better.  We went shopping before surgery to make sure we were stocked on the 'must haves' on our list.  There were vitamins and supplements, medicines, protein, calcium, antacids, juices, water, spoons, sippy cups, yadda yadda yadda. It was overwhelming trying to guess what we would use, and what we wouldn't. After analyzing everything, we finally felt prepared.....and then we came home from the hospital!  We had 4 new prescriptions to fill.  Half of the vitamins we bought ended up being too difficult for him to swallow, even being cut in half.  He struggled getting them down, and couldn't stomach them crushed.  So we had to find replacements.  Double the cost, double the stressing over whether they would work.  In the end, it wouldn't have mattered if we had waited to buy them or not.  We still would have chosen the options we originally did, and would have had to find replacements at some point.  There just isn't any way to know what will work until you actually try it.  We bought some baby food fruits and veggies (because they are approved options for his new diet plan) and he isn't able to stomach those either. The taste makes him gag.  I try not to laugh, but it's hard!  :)  So finding veggies I can make at home and puree is just another added stress.  Things we commonly eat like green beans aren't so bad, but others are difficult since no one else will eat them and making very small amounts seems ends up being kind of wasteful. We've tried various forms of water flavors, protein flavors. and juices.  Ended up ordering specialty items online from a bariatric supply company because they have the best options, even though it's twice the cost. When we end up finding something that works, it almost makes me want to do a little dance.  I think this has been the most draining part of the process for me.  All the shopping, replacing, and trying new this or that.  I know we will eventually get it all worked out, but it feels stressful at the moment.