When I die...

I'm surely going to Heaven. No matter what I do from here on out - I'm guaranteed a spot in Heaven. I just know it.

Today was our appointment in Norfolk with Harlie's plastic surgeon. He only sees patients in his clinic one Tuesday a month. Next month he won't be there. So, his next clinic day is in December. So, today was my only shot to see him, have him look at her CT scans from Friday and tell me what he wants to do, then tell his scheduler, so I can get a date for her next surgery.

So, I drive all the way down there. I wait in the waiting room (well, I had to wait mostly in the potty because the only time Harlie ever wants to use the potty is when there's a public restroom to use so I have to wipe everything down about a hundred times so she can pee every 15 minutes, whereas, at home, she won't go on the potty. Bonus).

So, he comes in and we briefly go over things. I give him the treasured disc with her films and he goes to the computer. About 30-40 minutes later they come to get me to tell me that they can't find her craniofacial films on the disc. WHAT???

Seriously. You have no idea how many times I asked Radiology in DC if her craniofacial CTs were on the disc they gave me. While we were waiting for Harlie to wake up, I talked to Radiology on the phone. I told them I had to have her craniofacial films on disc when I went home. I did not need her spinal films. Okay Mrs. Holton, just come by and get them anytime. Great. So, Brandy, trying to save some time, went by Radiology while I was sitting with Harlie. They gave her the disc. When I saw the label, it just said CT - Spine. So, we went back by Radiology and I specifically asked if her craniofacial scans were on the disc. She told me yes - that they were on there. I even said, "Wow, I'm just so surprised that all her films fit on one disc". And we went happily on our way.

Yeah, well.. NO. HER CRANIOFACIAL FILMS WERE NOT ON THE DISC!

So, I went all the way to Norfolk for ... NOTHING!!!!

I can't even begin to tell you how mad I was. I am. I mean, what was I supposed to do? Jump over the desk in Radiology and shove the disc in their computer so I could see for myself that the craniofacial films were on the disc as promised??? Promised, I tell you!!! I mean, c'mon!!!! Can I get a break here???

So, of course I asked Dr. Magee what he was thinking. He said he can't tell me anything until he sees the CT scans. He did tell me that at this point, surgery would have to be after the first of the year. He's only in town about two weeks between now and the first of the year. He leaves again on Friday. So, we have very little time to get the films in front of him so we can get an idea of what's ahead.

I seriously can't believe that after all the hard work I put into getting everything scheduled so it would all work out - that it didn't work out. How frustrating!!! And time consuming!!! Eight hours and a half tank of gas. For nothing!

To make things worse... they gave me a validation for parking. But, you need the parking ticket, which I left in the car. On the 5th floor of the parking deck. Across the street. At first, I said, forget it (I actually said something else, but I'll refrain here). But, I have more time than money. So I grudgingly went to the car, got the ticket, went back to the hospital got my stupid validation and went all the way back to the car again.

All the while I want to eat my arm off I'm so darn hungry. About to faint of starvation kind of hungry. And I'm still really mad. Even more mad, actually, that I had to walk back to the stupid car. Twice. Hungry AND mad. Not a good combo.

So, back at the car, getting all settled in, I feed Harlie her first half of her feeding. Right after feeding her, she throws up. I now keep a Gladware container handy so she can throw up in that. It makes for less laundry and it makes it easier to catch really. And my hope is that Harlie will learn to just grab it herself when she feels it coming on. She already will hold her hand up to catch what comes out (yes, we've had to do that many times).

So, she throws up in the container. She's all done, and I look for a trash can to dump the stuff out of the container. But, there's someone standing there, over the trash can. No biggie, he'll just throw his trash away and leave, and then I can do my business and go on about my day. Nope. I don't know what this guy was doing, but he stood there for like 4 minutes. Which sounds like nothing, but 4 minutes just standing there WAITING FOR A FREAKING TRASH CAN!!! And he wasn't just standing next to it. He was all bent over it. So, me saying, "uh, excuse me, sir, I just need to throw away this vomit here, thanks!" didn't come easy.

You gotta be kidding me. Really? I want you think back. How many times have you had to WAIT to throw something away in a trash can? I had some time to think about it. And I can honestly say I don't think that's ever happened to me. Especially on the 5th floor of a parking deck at a children's hospital.

So, Tom called me. I told him what happened. He was very mad. And he doesn't get mad often. So, he said he would make the phone call to DC.

They have called to apologize. The person making the disc didn't wait for the second disc to come out. They got to work the next day and saw the disc there. I don't know why they didn't call me, but whatever.

The disc is being overnighted to Dr. Magee. And with any luck, he'll be able to look at it before Friday and tell me over the phone what we're looking at.

Now, I'm taking my stuffed up nose and scratchy throat to bed.

Ahhhh, just another day in paradise. It's so good to be me! I love life! And life loves me!
~Christy