MRI update

Yesterday was My Little Reader's MRI. She was such a trooper. No one told us before hand that she was going to need an IV. That was not a fun surprise at all. The needle scared MLR and it hurt, too. After she calmed down they prepared her for the test. She got earphones and was settled onto the table. They strapped a band across her head to help her keep still and slid her in. She did such a good job. She tried so hard to be still, but every once in a while you could see she was on the verge of crying again. At some point the technician called in the radiologist to review the pictures. It was decided that even though she had been so still, it was not still enough. So, they made the decision to sedate her. After the first 10cc were given you could see that she was getting sleepy. But suddenly she got agitated and said that her arm was bleeding. They checked the IV and sure enough it was leaking the sedative. Drats. They gave her a total of 30cc more over the course of maybe 10 minutes. She tried so hard to go to sleep. When they thought she was finally out they strapped her down and slid her back in the machine. Unfortunately, as soon as she was all the way in she tried to turn sideways, like she normally sleeps. The doctor and nurse decided that she wasn't going to be sedated enough and decided to end the test.

Unfortunately, that means we get to do it all again. MLR was so cranky and emotional waking up. She was also incredibly hungry, poor kid. As promised we took her to BJ's for lunch, but she slept through the whole thing. She is pretty unhappy about having another MRI, mostly about having to get another needle. I was hoping beyond hope that when they repeated the MRI they would give her the other IV sedative that the nurse had discussed with us, but as it turns out they have decided on general anesthesia which will require that she is intubated. I am assured that this will be easier on her and that it will ensure that we won't need to schedule a 3rd MRI. My Little Reader was still pretty sad about the whole thing last night.

I wanted to be sure that she understood that we would be doing the test again to help prepare her. She is scared of having another needle. I asked her a bunch of times yesterday if she wanted a blessing from her daddy, both before and after the IV. She insisted that she was fine. However, last night while we were talking about doing the test over I asked her again and with tiny little tears running down her face she said she needed a blessing. I asked her who should give her the blessing and she declared Big Opa. So Sunday we are heading to Mesa for a special blessing from her Opa. She tells me that she knows the second time will be easier because Opa will say a special prayer. How can you not just love the faith of children?