PROGRESS FORWARD, I THINK

We busted out of here right on time Tuesday evening - 6PM - headed to our hotel in Covington. Kinda sorta drove right past the turn for the hotel. Had to take the bridge over into Cincy, loop around, then found the hotel. You know, the scenic route! We also hit a thunderstorm on the way home around LaGrange. Other than that, no troubles with traveling. No traffic jams, no Colby choking, etc.

Once we got checked into the hotel, got everything unpacked and Colby settled in, we ordered some LaRosa's pizza. Mom and Kenny wanted to watch the DWTS finale. Huh, you're kidding me, right? But they were kind enough to take us to these appointments, so I was kind enough to stomach through that crappy show. Got to bed around 11PM, then Colby proceeded to jabber, and jabber, and jabber loudly for another half hour or so. That kid wears me out sometimes.

Got up, busted ass, checked out of the Hampton Inn and headed for Cincy Children's. We arrived right on time for Colby's hematology appointment, 15 minutes early even, which is unheard of in our little world. Then we waited. And waited, and waited. I was told they wouldn't take the blood for Colby's platelet aggregation study from his port because it gets heparinized. They would have to do a peripheral stick. Fan-freakin-tastic. I said okay then, only the Vascular Access Team can do it. Sometimes I wonder if they only have 2 people on the VAT in the whole hospital because it took them 2.5 hours to come do Colby's labs. Not that it mattered. We also had an appointment with the hematologist at 2:00, so we were pretty much stuck there all day. Everyone else in the room was so calm while we waited. Colby was watching Spongebob on his portable DVD. Mom was reading Reader's Digest. Kenny was working a Sudoku. I was pacing, cussing, poking my head out the door going where is that damn VAT?! Can you picture it? Once the VAT came to do the labs, the nurse was super, super nice and cool, so I couldn't be mad at her. Most of all, she was able to access Colby on the first stick. Heck, now she's my new BFF! They took 11 vials of blood from Colby. E-le-ven, holy crap I couldn't believe it.

Then came the waiting game. I said if there was any way the hematologist could see us early, it would be much appreciated, since that was the only other appointment we had for the day. And he did, wow! Showed up at 1:15 instead of 2:00. Actually now he's my new BFF. I had just finished my Gold Star Chili 3-way and here comes Dr. Gruppo. Awesome! He asks me a ton of questions, gets the lowdown on Colby's medical history. Gives Colby the once over. Then he looks at me and says well, I don’t think this blood work is going to show anything, so you need to go ahead and get his surgery back on the schedule. I didn't know whether to kiss him on the mouth or punch him. Good that probably Colby has absolutely nothing wrong with his blood, it clotting, etc. Bad in that surgery has been postponed, we've gone to Cincy 3 extra times to get told, yeah, nothing is wrong, and it's been mentally taxing for us. But what do you do? Then the doctor wanted one more blood sample. Luckily they had left Colby accessed just in case, so I let them go ahead and do it. They will call next week with the results of his platelet tests.  

So, first phone call of the day will be to Cincy Ortho to get this damn VEPTR surgery rescheduled. Also need to call Colby's school and let them know he will be back in school until the end of the school year. Also need to unpack from the hospital, call in some prescriptions, etc. So I better get going. Just wanted to give a Colby update.