Hopefully what I did can help some others out.
Looking at the hose from the top, there is a small black shield on the manifold side right beside the PCV valve. We used a large pry bar (long enough to reach down there) and bent it just a little towards the front of the car. Then I could get my hand through to grab the PCV valve and pull. All it took was a wiggle or 2, and the whole thing popped itself out.
I then put the new valve on the hose, set it into the hole in the block, and used a long screwdriver against it to push it in. Not nearly the huge PITA I have read about when it comes to changing it. I have been dreading doing it myself, but it wasnt nearly as hard as I thought it would be