At the Hospital

Mom had a stress test (on her birthday!!) and the doctor was a little concerned that her heart had been slowing down over the past few years. He wanted to shoot a camera up her veins and check on them. She had to be there at 6:00 in the morning!! I joined them. I was worried about Dad getting lost. I'm not sure he ever remembered why it was they were going to the hospital. We got checked in and unfortunately they only allowed one person back. Mom (and I) thought I should be her extra person. It took two hours to go through all of the questions and get her changed. Mom and I chatted about various things like Marissa and Jake searching for a house. Some of the ones they have looked at have an apartment over the garage that people can rent. She thinks that would be perfect for Taylor. She said Marissa and Jake were looking forward to having a house. They've always lived in an apartment or condo. I mentioned that means Jake will have to start mowing and Mom said the house they are looking at has an astroturf lawn! Can you imagine?

Right after they gave Mom the medicine to make her woozy, the nurse came in and said there had been an emergency and it may be awhile before they take her to surgery. I went to make sure Dad was still there. He was, but he was surprised to see me. He didn't remember that I had come. I went back to Mom and she had been so out of it already that she didn't even realize I had left! We didn't have to wait but about thirty minutes before they finally took her. They led Dad and me to a different waiting room halfway across the hospital where we sat for about forty minutes. Dad read on his Reader's Digest and I tried to read some in my book.

Finally, the doctor came in and declared that Mom had perfect veins. He did not have to put in a stint and she would be free to go home after a bit. He told me I looked just like Mom and commented that he enjoyed having all of her art in his home that he had bought from her at a show many years ago. A guy came and let Dad and me back through the hospital back to the recouping room. Interestingly, both of us were allowed to come in that time. Odd. We chatted about going to lunch, but in the end they decided they would just get take out and head home. I grabbed pizza and took it home. I was out of it the rest of the day, either dozing or reading. Getting up at 4:30 am is not fun. Neither is going to the hospital. I was very grateful Mom was okay. They are just going to adjust her medicine and see if that helps any. I inherited the tachycardia that apparently all of her brothers and sisters had (didn't know that) and I hope I also inherited her pristine veins.