Well, it's time again for another treatment post. I believe we just finished up treatment #23.
This time on the way to the hotel we stopped at the Denver Temple. It was so nice to get out and stretch from the long drive and just sit for a while in front of the beautiful and peaceful temple. Gabi enjoyed the fountain most of all.
Once we got to the hotel she of course persuaded everyone to the pool so she could get in a good swim. She practiced her side breathing with freestyle and she is doing so awesome! I can't believe how graceful she is in the water and her technique is so good for a five year old! After she swam with Ben for over an hour practicing flips and tricks and jumping off Ben's shoulders and head she was ready for some food and relaxation. We filled her belly, got her showered and dressed and then I turned on a movie for her while I painted her toes and braided her hair, just the way she likes it. She soon fell fast asleep for the night.
Morning came quickly and we were to the hospital by 6am and the doctor was already waiting for us. She was in treatment by 7am, a record! I guess there was a patient that was going to be before her the had canceled, so we were able to sleep in a bit and get right into treatment. I wish it happened that way more often! She was so tough when we had to use the mask again. She decided to choose a flavor this time so that it would smell a bit better, but I don't know that it helped much. She woke up i recovery with me there an hour and a half later and she was in some pain. She received 19ml of ethanol and she was feeling it. They gave her some Phentenol and she fell right back to sleep. It's always better with her the longer she can sleep off the anesthesia the better she recovers. She spent two more hours sleeping before she ate and drank some. When it was time to be discharged she took out her own IV again. I think it is so crazy that she prefers to do it all. The nurse just stands there with gauze and a Bandaid while Gabi does the rest. She even pulls out the IV tubing in her hand and places the gauze on it to stop the bleeding. She is just so amazing to me.
We left the hospital in good spirits, although we knew there was going to be a whole ton of swelling with that much ethanol. We were prepared and she does so well taking her Motrin and Prednizone jut as she is supposed to. It makes such a difference in her recovery and I think she knows that now. When we got back to the hospital she ate tons, drank tons, used the bathroom and then slept until 7pm. She woke up to take some medicine, eat and drink more, and then she went right back to sleep until 6am when we were leaving to drive back home.
She really is a trooper! For her sake I hope she is done soon enough for her to keep her spirits high, and her confidence even higher.
