We're here -- just not sure why...

Well, the good news is, Greg got to watch the Alabama/LSU game. All of it. Including overtime. At the hospital. In Springfield. In true hurry up & wait fashion (we’re getting soooooo good at that!), we were told around noon he had to go to St. Louis (after we had been told he wasn’t going, after we had been told he was), and then a flurry of activity started: Got to get one last dose of IV antibiotics going! Got to call for an ambulance for transport! Have to pack! Have to get the charts in order to send! Yadda, yadda, yadda. "We’ll tell you just as soon as we know when the ambulance will get here!" Then we sat. And sat. And sat. Thank God for football. Finally, at 5:15, they told us the ambulance would be there at 6:15. Hooray! Then, at 6:15 Alabama/LSU went into overtime. First time we were happy that things weren’t running on time. The ambulance guys didn’t get there until 6:45. It really was a great game, but had I known I was going to sit there all day, I would have spent the day with Eric & Matthew instead. Sigh.


Anyway, I digress. The ride here was pretty uneventful. I drove up separately, left before the ambulance, & got here after. I thought I had a lead foot. I guess there aren’t many troopers who’ll stop an ambulance for speeding. Greg had a great time with the boys on the ambulance, but he was a little disappointed they didn’t get to use the siren or the lights. They also wouldn’t let him drive. Bummer. It’s a good thing Greg is feeling well, though. The ambulance guys didn’t know where to go once they got here. Greg had to direct them. Unfortunately, we both could give tours of this place.


We got into the room a little after 10. He’s on the floor above the transplant floor, which was all new, shiny & modern. This floor hasn’t been remodeled since 1958. I expected all the nurses to be wearing capes & funny little hats. And the walls are mint green. Pretty nauseating, actually. By the time we saw the doctor & got settled, it was well after midnight. Then, the night-time round of IV meds starts. No rest for the weary. The good news is that they don’t start the morning stuff until about 5:30, so we got a solid hour or two of sleep. So important when you’re sick.


I find myself a little confused as to why we’re here. I thought it was because of the low blood counts (he really doesn’t have any red cells, white cells or platelets), but the doctor last night didn’t seem terribly concerned about that (!). So, I don’t know if he was sent here because of the counts, the infection, or just because Springfield didn’t know what to do with him anymore. I’m waiting for the doc to come in on morning rounds to find out. Maybe I’ll know before I finish writing this. But, it doesn’t really matter. Whatever they tell me now will be different by shift change.


Greg’s mom & sister are on their way here for an overnight visit. We just hope to get some sleep today. Greg’s had a total of four 5-minute naps so far. As soon as he falls asleep, someone comes in to do something.


Eric just called to check in. He told us Nik Brinck swam a time to qualify him for All-American yesterday. Congrats Nik! Eric is taking a well-deserved day off, as his last swim meet was yesterday. Although he didn’t make it to the State meet, Eric is now the fastest 200 IM swimmer on his team. Go Eric! Not bad for just having taken up swimming this year. He still has hockey, but at least its not every day.


Matthew seems to be having a good time. He has interrogated the Altoonians on their political affiliation, and appears to have satisfied himself that they voted properly in the recent election. Thank goodness they passed the test! That kid is amazing. I just can’t figure out where he gets it from! I hear he’s going to the zoo today. Hope its not too cold (and yes, I KNOW its colder in Wisconsin!)


Well, I guess I’ll go ahead and post this now, as it doesn’t look like we’re going to see the doc before noon. They are keeping us busy. We just feel like we’re running in place. Its very time-consuming to be even somewhat sick in a hospital. The whole reason for coming in in the first place was because of the fever. Well, the fever is gone & now he has a rash all over, dangerously low blood counts and fat ankles (yes, as our loyal readers will remember, we’re on the saline/lassix Merry-Go-Round once again!).


I’ll try to post again later, after they change their minds about everything they’ve told us up until now.


Thanks for everything. Keep the prayers coming.


Love,
Us


P.S. Oh, and Ian, the next time we’re sitting around the office trying to decide where to go for lunch, and you get that look in your eye, and suggest, with that little hopeful lilt in your voice, "How about St. John’s Hospital cafeteria?" I’m going to smack you silly.



Have a nice day!