Lower GI Contrast Study Oct 12

Today started out with the lower GI contrast study. Grace was taken to the x-ray area of the hospital. I tell you, it was a long walk with twisting, turning hallways. I joked that getting a lower GI study happened in the bowels of Children's Hospital. The x-ray technician laughed and loved that saying. He said he would have to remember that one. :)
Grace was wheeled down to get her study in her warming bed. The room and halls in that area were decorated like space. Lots of talent went into decorating this hospital making it more appealing to children. Great idea!

Grace was placed on a small, narrow board which rotates around so that the contrasting liquid could fill all the areas in her colon for the study.

 She was strapped to not move anywhere. She could sneeze and not move anything.

Getting her head strapped in

Her body is strapped in all comfy cozy

This picture was taken for Brandon,
Meghan and Tyler...diapers are TOXIC!
(They didn't have anything else to put
the diaper in...hilarious)

Poor baby had the tube inserted, then taped to her tiny bum. The worst kind of enema!

Putting in the tube enema

Taping it to her bum...poor thing

All snug and ready for the test to begin

X-ray centered and set for many snapshots

 It was very fascinating to watch the study as the contrast was inserted. It made her colon and part of her large intestine dark and 3D. You could see anything that might be a stricture, obstruction or puncture very easily.

Turning her sideways to get the contrast to
take a sharp turn in her colon

The first view of contrast

3-D looking colon

All finished with her study. Pacifier was sucked on the entire
time. Good girl, Grace. You were brave!

They finished with saying everything was free and clear. Great news for Grace, even if she doesn't understand.

 Now it is time to warm up. The room was chilly and she was out of her warming bed for a while. Her belly was very large after just her lower GI test was done...good thing her upper GI wasn't done at the same time!

 The day ends with good news. She'll have two days to pass all the contrast so the upper GI contrast study can be done. The other big thing is her move to a large white crib instead of the warming bed. They want to see if she is well enough to keep her heat. We were able to do Kangaroo Care (skin to skin, chest to chest) in their rocking chair. She always loves that as it is very comforting to her (and mom). *smile*
Sleep tight my little one.

Gracie's off to Seattle's Children's Hospital

Monday October 11th-

Meghan and I put together these really fun "Thanks NICU nurses" wagons with appreciative sayings. I was planning on doing a weeks worth until she was released but plans changed. That seems to be the way things go. They were fun even though it only lasted for two days.

NICU nurses are worth a mint

NICU nurses deserve kisses
(Germs are not a desired thing in the NICU
so this is the way Grace gives kisses...germ
free) 

Today started with energy to get her test done so we could see what was happening inside of little Gracie's intestines. After rounds with Dr. Z, we came to the quick conclusion that the best thing for little Grace would be Children's Hospital in Seattle. She was willing to do the GI contrast study but if Grace needed to have surgery she would be sent there anyway, then they would do the tests again. So for the sake of Grace having to do the tests twice...away we go. From the time Dr. Z  and I made that decision, I had 1 hour to get home, pack and get back...which was tough as 30 minutes were tied up with just the travel time. John came home from work, quickly took the boys to Seminary and made it back in time to return me to Kadlec Hospital. I walked into the hospital and within 5 minutes the transport team was there. They had flown immediately out from Seattle's Children's Hospital in a Lear Jet. They put Grace into a travel isolette and we were off. The travel time in the jet was told to me to be 1/2 an hour. So within one and a half hours we were in Seattle. I didn't even have time to call but just a few family members and a few friends who needed to know to be able to help out with my family left behind. I was able to ride in the ambulance and ride on the jet with little Grace. Thankfully! 

Air Medic checking Grace for a safe trip. Nurse Nancy, on the
left, loves Grace so much. She was thrilled to get Grace this day.

Tech medic making sure all the machines are tweeked for Grace.
Isolette is on the top of the machines and stretcher.

Little Grace inside the very small travel isolette.

Puffy, puffy little Gracie. TPN through IV is NOT a friend to Grace.
She gained over 19 ounces of fluid over the past week. One promise
I have to you, Grace, I will go wherever I have to to find
out what is wrong.

Nurse Nancy must have picked up my camera
and captured me trying to line up housing
in Seattle for myself in the few minutes I had
before leaving. Thanks Nancy...you're the best!

Into yet another ambulance.

The suitcase and two bags is all I could take. I had to even leave
Grace's clothing and blankets at the hospital. I guess the plane
is very small.

I captured a picture of the plane I was flown on one month
ago before she was born.

This is the Lear Jet set aside for Gracie. Girl, you are travelling
in style!

Did I forget to mention that Tom Cruise was the pilot? I got
to meet everyone on this plane. Pretty cool when they come
up to you and introduce themselves and shake your hand.

Here comes Grace into the plane. They board from the back to
the front, so I was first.

Into the plane she goes.

One of the two pilots checking on their little patient, Grace.
He smiled and reassured her she would be safe and ohhh
how cute she was. Nice guy.

Hmmm....water to drink, earplugs to drown out noise, a fire extinguisher and an emergency exit all within easy reach. Should I worry? Should there be a reason for all these things within reach...not very comforting. *laugh*

To my left where my arm rested

To my right, do you see that??
EMERGENCY EXIT...Scary! How would I
make it out with those bags there anyway?
LOL

Ok, this guy was cool. He was so friendly.

Maybe I should have worried when the guy in front of me asked if I've ever been in a plane doing a "short runway takeoff". I hadn't so he told me they rev the engines while the brakes are on then quickly take off the brakes. Consequently, you speed down the runway at rocket speed. It was so cool. I was stuck to my seat with my cheeks back where my ears were...well, you got the picture. I also had the best seat in the whole plane. I sat in the middle where no one else did so I had the view up the walkway, through the cockpit and out the front window. It was awesome.

The cockpit

TAKE OFF!

Richland airport without a control tower

The dark hill on the right in the middle
is the hill on which we live...eventually
Grace will call that home. I sure miss my
family.

Somewhere down there is our home.

There was a curvy river...wish I new what
one. 

The clouds were beautiful, so puffy and white as if saying we were surrounded by angels. It was heavenly. As I looked out the window snowy Mt. Saint Helens was right out the window. Very incredible. 

 Here we are again in Seattle. This time for my daughter, not me. I love seeing things from the air. It gives such different look to what I see when I'm on land. What a wonderful world. Can you see the curvature of the Earth?

The different depths of the water was very clear from the air

Space Needle

Downtown Seattle where Swedish Hospital  is located.
Home to Gracie and I for one month.

Stadium

Floating Bridge

Warehouse district

And the best part of flying is landing safely! You agree?

This picture was taken with Joseph in mind. These planes
were all lined up so perfectly.

Smiles cover everyone's faces when a successful landing
occurs. Check out those cool red earplugs I got. 

Out goes Grace

Check out the great pink breast cancer ambulance!

Grace is ready for yet another travel to Children's Hospital.

This picture was taken for Brandon. Look at those cool
little planes. They looked just like your little RC plane.
They were basically a bubble with a tail. Cute.

We're off to Seattle's Children's Hospital. Pray for little Gracie as she goes through all the tests to come. She has come so far in her short life. She's a spunky little girl who loves life. She'll do great!

Our first view of Children's inside.

Grace's new warming bed.

You know you are in Seattle when you
get a cup made from corn. Does that
mean you can eat it? COOL! Tasted
like plastic. Bummer. I thought I could
drink my water and eat corn too. :)

This is a two-story stained glass Alaskan whale hanging at
Children's hospital. Very nice.

The whale

This is on the way down a hallway towards the cafeteria. This
picture was taken for Meghan who loves, loves, loves horses.
Pretty awesome! 

This is the same hallway with different scenes

Poor Gracie needed to have lots of blood lab work done so tomorrow they can have a baseline for her. After all the tests and admission prodding, Grace gets to rest for at least 3 hours. So goes the hospital life.

Sleep Grace, sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a big day meeting
doctors, specialists and having tests done. You are my hero.