Well, the deed is done. E's huge tonsils have finally been removed. She is doing really well and we are anxious for her to get feeling normal again.  On Thurs. we headed up and when we got there they informed us that they were ahead of schedule so we had hardly any down time. They got us right in for the initial exam and then we met with the doctor for a second and then onto the anesthesiologist who was great with E. and let her listen to her lungs and heart. E. brought her purple doggie and her purple blanket. We walked with the anesthesiologist and a nurse down to the big double doors where they had us give hugs and tell E. that we love her and we would see her very soon. Then they walked away. E. walked the whole way down this long hall just chatting away with them! We watched for as long as we could before the doors closed on us - we couldn't believe how brave and how big she seemed. They gave E. laughing gas to put her out and then gave her the IV. At the class the night before they taught her that she should breath in the yummy air and then if she smells something yucky (once the medicine started to flow) she should take a really deep breath (at which point she'd probably be out) and then blow the yucky smell away. We went down to the cafeteria to grab something to eat an headed up to the waiting room. We waited about 10 minutes before the doctor came in and said everything went well....what relief!!! He also said, "Her  tonsils were huge and so were the adenoids!" From that statement we derived that he'd decided to remove the adenoids as well. When they called for me to go back to see her (only one of us could go which killed Bryan) she looked so drugged but calm, but as soon as she saw me she started crying and grabbing onto me and practically jumping of the bed. She kept pulling at the IV in her hand and doing this cry/cough that she totally did as a baby! Finally, after she kept trying to clear her throat (which made me cringe every time) she said so sadly, "There is something in my THROAT and I have to get it OUT!" Once we finally got her to calm down and got her to start eating a slushy we were able to explain to her that there is nothing in her throat  that she can get out and that if she keeps doing that it will hurt more than help. Finally Bryan got to come back with us and we spent the next couple hours watching the Disney channel and shoveling slushy into E. Some of the Utah Blaze players came in to visit the kids and one of the quarterbacks came to talk with E. and gave her a stuffed animal of Chief, their mascot. Finally we were able to leave and E. wanted to be pulled in one of their wagons out to the car! By this point she was chatting it up with everyone and being so pleasant! We couldn't believe how good she was doing! Everyone at the hospital was so great! What an amazing system they have up there PCMC. We couldn't be more grateful for all the caring and professional people who cared for E. that day!

On Wed. night we attended a pre-surgery class at Primary Children's Medical Center where a nurse and some child-life experts walked all of us through the next day's process. We watched a movie about a little robot who came to the hospital for surgery and then the child-life experts let the kids play with all sorts of doctor's tools. They sent each child home with gloves, two medical hats, a mask, and a doll (with out eyes, nose or mouth as E. always points out) that they could use as their very own patient. Then they took us on a tour of all the different rooms and areas that we needed to know for the big day. The class was incredibly helpful and E. had a really great time - it really made the next day not so scary.

Saturday was a big day for Eliza! She reached the lofty status of 4 year old...something she's been looking forward to for quite a while! She now thinks, since she's 4, that she's "the oldest!" I don't know exactly what that means to her, but it's quite important and she's quite proud of being so big! We had fun on her birthday morning opening her gifts, having her favorite breakfast ("Popeye Pancakes" - German Pancakes), and then celebrating with good friends at Chuck E Cheese's. She had a fabulous time and we hope that all those who joined us had a little fun too! Eliza felt quite special with all the fun and you could see the wonder in her eyes all day. Thanks to all those who helped us celebrate!