Hangovers

Last night I had all these brilliant titles for my blog fly through my head. Today I woke up in my cloths with a nauseated feeling, looking for pain killers. But lets start at the begininning. yesterday, Saturday, we had company. Riley barely ate any breakfast,. he is not into hospital food at all. Thanks to my sister and her daughter for Baskins and Robins the night before, Riley is not wasting away. Pills go down with yogurt. No problem these days.

The doctors come through on rounds. They surprise us with the news that Riley can go home at seven tonight. They will give him platelets this morning and red blood later then discharge us since Riley is responding so well. They will want to see us at Dornbechers for clinic on Monday though.

I feel a little guilty. The doctor who originally diagnosed Riley at home is semi retiring in a couple of months. But I really liked him and had expressed to the Dornbecker doctor my wish that he would take the case, take Riley as a patient. The Dornbecher doctor has put on the full court press. He has called our clinic several times and spoken to this doctor pleading our case. Riley's original doctor is a nice pediatrician, but I just loved this sharp, smart intelligent and experienced doctor who initially took one look at Riley and ran to hold the labs . Nothing is better than an experienced doctor. Even if he is part time. I thought he might find our case interesting enough to take. Under duress and pressure he has agreed to be Riley's doctor. Read the labs and follow up, thanks to pressure from Dornbecher doctor.

So we are set up to go home. Then the company arrives. Every one arrives at the same time. My brother and his son ride up the elevator with one of my best friends and Riley's very oldest and best friend. They chat and realize they are visiting the same people. My girlfriend from longview arrives with her daughter, the another girlfriend from longview arrives baring gifts. She brings a big bucket of toys and junk food, candy chips subway sandwiches. Riley is in heaven
with all the attention.



The kids play playstation 2. My brother tells me my nephew has a tennis match in Gresham . I am dieing to see the boy play. He is quite talented and my brother is able to give him the opportunity to become great eventually. The boy is competitive and driven. I would love to see a game. But not today, today I am still at the hospital with Riley. I am sure the doctors think it strange that I have all these people in the room while they talk to me. But there is nothing to hide and these are some of my nearest and dearest friends and family. I would just have to repeat everything to them after the d0ctors left anyway. The news is so good, it should feel like a party.

The only part I hesitate over is the red cells. Today they must happen in order to go home. No more putting it off one more day. Platelets came this morning before everyone arrived. I was even impress by the speed they set on the injection. Ten minutes it seemed and the platelets were done. Riley was on a drip though of fluids to facilitate it, so he is tethered to his coat rack. he has called it his Christmas tree.

It makes for good drama for everyone. When ever he gets out of bed to use the bathroom everyone makes room. I am grateful he is going into the bathroom and not using his corner by the door like he usually does when its just me in the room. He looks so well. without the tree you might wonder what he is doing in this isolation ward.

There are not enough remotes for my nephew to join in the kids games so my brothers makes arrangements to see us at home, having heard the good news. He slips away with my nephew.
The teen agers play on, while all us mom's talk. I have a delightful time. Riley looks good and the plan is to be home tonight.

I then realize I haven't told Tom the change of plans. He still thinks Riley is coming home Sunday. I quickly call him. He freaks. What? We're not ready!. With the noise in the room, he makes me go out in the hall where he has my undivided attention to hear the list of questions he want me to ask before discharge. OK