Testing went okay

Sophie did great at the hospital yesterday. The doctor didn't see anything abnormal, which we figured. He took a tissue sample, so we'll hear the results of that in 7-10 days or at the follow-up visit along with the pH probe readings. He said valve between the stomach and small intestine was wide open with no restriction, so that's good. Every time we do this test (this is the 3rd endoscopy she's had), we think we shouldn't do it again, so hopefully this is the last one. Her anatomy is normal and there's no signs of reflux damage. The pH test might show us that there is silent reflux, though. At least now we'll know and have some facts to decide what to do next.

Toys & books

But the overall experience for Sophie couldn't have been better. One of the books in the original Curious George series is Curious George Goes to the Hospital. Apparently Massachusetts Children's Hospital asked H.A. Rey to write a story for about George's visit to a hospital so kids could see what happens to him and help them understand and make them more comfortable. It worked! George eats a puzzle piece and has to go to the hospital. He gets an x-ray and the doctor does an operation to reach down his throat with an instrument and pull the piece out. Tuesday when I told Sophie we were going to the Dr. so he could take some pictures of her tummy, she said, "I ate a puzzle piece!" And she talked about it all day and still today, that her doctor got the puzzle piece out and now she feels better.

Child Life Services

The hospital has a Child Life Services person, too, that helps kids transition in and understand what's going on. She brought a doll that had a tube (they call it a noodle because it looks like a spaghetti) taped under her nose and a little box like the recording device Sophie would have to wear. Sophie had her dollie, too, and while Sophie was under for the procedure, the helper put a noodle and little box on Sophie's doll, too. Also, while we were still in the pre-op waiting room, she brought a doctor's kit, bunch of bandaids, tape, anesthesia mask, alcohol pads, EKG leads, oxygen monitor leads, and Sophie got to play doctor with the dolls while she was waiting. She had a ball.

Hospital dollie with pH probe

Cook Children's also has their own story/coloring book of a child coming there. The child gets to choose what scent they want for the anesthesia mask, says good bye to their mommy and daddy, and goes with the nurse to the operating room. That's how it went down. The procedure was quick, and then Sophie had a popsicle and watched some PBS kids shows in the recovery area and we went home.

It was difficult keeping track of her with the tube and the little recording device, which was in a little carrying case with a shoulder strap. But she pretty much spent the whole afternoon on the couch watching more PBS kids shows, which the only times she gets to do things like that are when she's sick.

Baby Stevie

This morning she had breakfast and we removed the tape and tube. We take it back to the hospital and then we'll find out more on the 20th.