In Pictures

Here is our PCMC experience in pictures. LOTS of pictures. (And a few words. I can't help it!)

MONDAY 8/4

We arrive at the hospital. Sirri thinks this is going to be so much fun. It's like a hotel with cool beds that go up and down and a t.v. in your room, any movie you could ever want and you get to order food on the phone and they bring it to your room! This will be great!

Hey, wait a minute. Who are all these people and why do they all keep poking my tummy and looking in my mouth and asking me all kinds of questions?
I think Sirri quickly re-evaluated her first theory about hospitals. And while she was at it, got really good at her evil eye!


TUESDAY 8/5

Mike, the Child Life Specialist, gave Sirri her very own doll that she named Brooke. Mike used the doll to help teach and explain to Sirri about some of the things that she could expect during her hospital stay. Mike was awesome!

Here, Sirri has given Brooke an IV and is filling it full of pink medicine!

Sirri and Grandma during her sweat test that checked for Cystic Fibrosis.
Thank goodness for Grandma! She was an absolute blessing to have there. Sirri always wanted her Grandma by her side and Grandma could get Sirri to cooperate for things that Mommy couldn't. Thanks again, Mom!

WEDNESDAY 8/6

The BIG day of surgery.
Sirri didn't go into surgery until late afternoon and had a grand ole ball all day just playing. She thought she was on vacation.

And then the big moment. As soon as they put her in her bed and started to roll it down the hall, she knew the vacation was over and she was not happy and felt scared. This is where it started to get real and hard.

When we got downstairs they gave her some loopy medicine. It worked fast. Just look at that goofy grin. And THEN, just as suddenly as it calmed her down, she was upset again. She was dazing in and out of consciousness and was sobbing and her cry sounded so weird and labored and it was awful because we had to leave her like that. I think that was one of the hardest moments of this whole experience.

And then the next time I saw her, about 3 1/2 hours later this is what she looked like. That was really hard too. I can remember hearing my dad say before, that you need to prepare yourself when you see someone come right out of surgery. They don't look like themselves and it can be scary. I'd never experienced that before, but was thankful I had remembered him saying that becuase it was true. It is very difficult to see your child and have them look so different that they are almost unrecognizable.

THURSDAY 8/7

Dad and grandma both had to go today. I hated to see them leave and it was very hard for them both to leave Sirri. Aunt Cindy flew in that evening and boy was I thankful. I thought that I would have been okay by myself for the week but I was so glad to have her there.

FRIDAY 8/8

Trying to perk Sirri up.

And not doing a very good job.

Good thing for Aunt Cindy. She knew that a back scratch would do the trick!


SATURDAY 8/9

Another chest tube today. BUMMER!

SUNDAY 8/10

Happy happy day! My friend Michelle brought over her laptop with a webcam. I was able to see my other two babies and I was so happy! It was a sweet moment. Thank you Michelle!


MONDAY 8/11

Monday morning Sirri felt well enough to go for a little spin around the unit on "her " bike. She had a great time even with all the tubes she was attached to.She didn't last long before she was pooped.
Grandpa Bigelow was flying home from LA, so he changed his flight to have a lay over in Salt Lake all Monday afternoon and evening. Sirri was so glad to see him and to have a napping buddy!

TUESDAY 8/12

Grandma and Grandpa Jensen took us "out" to lunch! This was Sirri's first time out of our unit in a week (minus her daily chest x-ray and CT scan.) We went down to the cafeteria and Sirri actually ate. Okay, the bite she is taking of the pretzel in this picture is all she ate, but it was progress!

She didn't eat much more of her ice cream either. THAT is how you know she really wasn't feeling well.

And our little field trip wore her out!


WEDNESDAY 8/13

Sirri was able to go outside after 9 days stuck inside a hospital. She was so happy!

THURSDAY 8/14

Daddy rode a bus back to Salt Lake this morning so he could drive home with us. That was a wonderful reunion.

Sirri packing up her very own gift shop.

Our very favorite nurse, Irish, eating Sirri's last (and week old) cupcake Cookie Monster style. Irish was always able, and sometimes the only one, who could get Sirri to smile. He called her Bug, always did a "stinky feet check," and had his very own farting machine. This guy was the best.

This girl was happy to be going home!

And so was this one.
I sure loved PCMC, but couldn't get out of there fast enough!