Bronchoscopy

We dropped the kids off with our friend Amanda VERY early (thank you...I know I promised I wouldn't say thank you again, but I can't help it.  I'm SO thankful for friends!)

We arrived a little early, so we went and sat in the garden at CHOA.  

This is the same garden we paced with friends and family as we wondered how Elena would ever recover from her surgeries 10 years ago!

 It was so nice to enjoy some time alone with our giant daughter.

We checked her in to the day surgery where she was prepped and then we waited and waited.  We played games and waited.  We were visited by our friend and CHOA nurse, Rosie, who kindly brought us coffee! Then we waited.

Then something neat-o happened!  A nurse came in to do more paperwork and check in stuff when I said, "Is your name Brenda?"  It was!  This is a picture of Brenda with Elena 10 years ago!  

 Picture of Brenda with Elena now.  So neat!  Brenda helped us a ton with Elena's ostomy bag issues when she was an infant.  She even came to our home!

It was closer to time for the bronchoscopy!  We learned about all that would be done before she was taken back.  The scope would be inserted down her throat into her lungs where they would take a series of pictures.  Then the would "clean" out her lungs by inserting saline in and then sucking it back out to gather a sample from both lungs for attempting to grow cultures. Finally, they would do her breathing treatments for her by inserting the meds directly into her lungs.

The longest process is the putting to sleep and waiting for that to wear off.

 It was time!

 She did so well!  She was gone for about 2 hours.  Her recovery took longer because she needed a little extra oxygen.  Once she was awake and felt like talking, she wanted to see the pictures.  Daddy showed her all the pictures of her lungs.

 Then he was Dr. Daddy which got her to smile a bit!

 We arrived at 7:30 and we were out by 2:30.  Elena had not eaten since the night before so we headed for a Mexican feast!

 Then we went to pick up the other E's from Amanda where we were greeted by Becky and her kiddos.  Elena wanted to visit shortly.  Nothing helps with recovery better than time with friends for Elena AND Mommy and Daddy!

Elena wanted to read the last chapter of the last Harry Potter book on the way home from the hospital.  She finished it all!  So....

 Naturally we spent our relaxing afternoon watching the first of the 2 part finale of Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows!

We should learn about the results of her scope next week.  Elena will follow up with her awesome doctor the week after that.  Until then, she will be started on a round antibiotics.