Greetings from out Ioway City

First of all, Derek is just fine.

Secondly, the car is not.

Thirdly, we stayed at a motel in Iowa City last night, conveniently located next to highway 80 and what I believe to be a significant bump in the pavement and quite handy for passing semis.

Fourthly, although the cardioversion was technically sceheduled for 2:30 and we had been asked to be there by 1:30 to get the EKG and maybe squeeze him in early, Derek was not taken into the procedure room until after 4:30 and thus I do not have to feel badly about arriving at the University of Iowa Children's hospital at the tardy time of 1:40.

Fifthly, I had my handy dogged-eared crossward puzzle book in my voluminous purse so I was not without resources, though I was tempted for a short time to paw through the defib bin in the prep room across from the cath lab.

Sixthly, Derek is in a decent rhythm though I cannot quite remember whether the good Doctor L. said sinus or junctional, in part because I was in a semi coma from not having eaten hardly ANYTHING since 8:30 that morning and more importantly, I WAS OUT OF CHOCOLATE!!

Seventhly, the procedure seemed to take a wee bit longer than last time and the doc said that shortly after the cardioversion Derek had a short run of atrial tachycardia but it only lasted for about 20 seconds and they watched him a bit and then wheeled him out.

Eighthly, we had to spend about an hour and a half in "recovery" where I discovered the inadvisability of having your son wear a winter coat from Goodwill that had "Michigan Wolverines" on it within the University of Iowa (Hawkeyes) Hospital system.

Ninthly, the male nurse seemed understanding and said he would not press charges.

Tenthly, I arrived back on the tippy top level of the more distant parking garage to discover the previously working car that only had a stuck heater, a non-working clock, a non-working right rear window and a burned out left side-view mirror....*takes deep breath*...now had a non-catching starter.

Eleventhly, after consulting with el hubbo several times via cell phone that I'd had the presence of mind to charge up on the way down, it was determnined around...oh, 7:30pm or so that life may have necessitated a change of plans from driving home and stopping at SUPER Wal*Mart for the weekly shopping and say...hadn't I better get back to the Main Lobby of the University Of Iowa (HAWKEYES!!) Hospital where I had negligently left my 16-year-old son sitting on a bench, defenseless in his "Michigan Wolverines" coat?

Twelfthly, Derek was still alive when I got back from the Stupid-Car-Of-No-Starting.

Thirteenthly, upon calling Ardith to beg for a ride back to her house to stay overnight, it was learned that she had a cold. Probably from being exposed to the little Trevor-sniffly-nipper-boy over Thanksgiving Holidays.

Fourteenthly, ensuement of guilto extremo.

Fifteenthly, el hubbo was again contacted and the Ronald McDonald House was suggested.

Sixteenthly, the Ronald McDonald House said they could only house relatives of people currently IN hospital.

Seventeenthly, re-consultation ensued with the nice young mens at the info desk.

Eighteenthly, a list of hotels with "hospital rates" was perused, for which certain factors had to be studied:

-price
-whether or not they had hospital transportation (mostly the more expensive ones)
-might there be an adjoining eatery?
-whether or not they provided complimentary breakfast

Nineteenthly, Ma finally picked the 3rd from lowest overnight price which did not have the same name as previous dives she had stayed in and had the added inducement of a "deluxe continental breakfast."

Twentiethly, nice guys at desk dialed number for cab company. Dispatcher said driver would arrive in twenty minutes and something about a vehicle "with a black sign."

Twenty-firstly, called back husbando, reported in and heard hushed groaning sounds.

Twenty-secondly, called back daughter and reaffirmed she would be off the hook as well as apologized profusely and claimed, "I don't understand...no one else got sick..."

Twenty-thirdly, commented to son, "Isn't this fun?"

Twenty-fourthly, cab arrives. Find out it is a black "Cyon" (or whatever that make is called)

Twenty-fifthly, listen to cabby's life story while watching the fare tally up and idly wondering why we seemed to be driving so slowly.

Twenty-sixthly, arrive and check-in to reasonable looking lodgings.

Twenty-seventhly, make YET ANOTHER CALL TO HOME and figure out game plan for the morrow.

Twenty-eighthly, eat in adjoining restaurant. Carefully count out remaining money to include waitress's tip and cab fare back to hospital in morning.

Twenty-ninthly, go back to room and patiently work crossword puzzle while obsessed son does more schoolwork.

Thirtyithly, nullify remaining acadamia for the day and initiate son into the joys of two M*A*S*H episodes :-D

Thirty-firstly, sleep for a couple of hours, lie awake for several more trying to decide whether to risk waking son to get up and take more pills for migraine.

Thirty-secondly, get up, take shower and realize they probably give the hospital rate rooms to people who won't complain about bathtubs that don't drain properly and broken fixtures and fuzzy TV reception.

Thirty-thirdly, find welcome surprise that "deluxe continental breakfast" is actually quite comparable to one eaten at Hampton Inn in Sand Springs OK :-)

Thirty-fourthly, send son back to room to study and then kill time waiting for weather to moderate so car will hopefully warm up enough to start-maybe-possibly by going on sole lobby computer and pouring out troubles on blog...

Thirty-fifthly, give nary a care to any mispellings.

 

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