Another day, another 275 miles

 
Right off the bat, I'd have to say that getting up at 4:21 is not my idea of fun. (why "4:21" you ask? I'm funny that way...I hardly ever set the clock for straight on the half hour or even in five-minute increments. I like something more snazzy, such as 7:43 or 4:21)

Besides being quite early, it is also amazingly dark, with the inside lights making the contrast all the more stark. But what's more important...that certain people can work on their Calculus and Algebra 1/2? Or that almost 50-year-old eyes see halos around all of the lights?

The sun started coming up just after we passed Waterloo...or it might have been Cedar Rapids....it's so hard to tell when one is asleep.

(by the way, if anyone is passing through Cedar Rapids and on to Iowa City, I'd beware of the potholes down the middle and sides of the road. They average 6-8 inches deep and are the same width. Pray you don't have to change lanes)

Ma kept herself awake via a 20 oz diet Coke. This necessitated an extra rest stop but sacrifices have to be made. I figure I've had the equivalent of three large cokes each of these past two days and now that the long drives are over I hope to be pop-free, again.

The check-ups went well for Derek and Carolyn. It's a matter of routine, meant to watch for changes. Echos and EKG's just take time, as does breaking in a new resident or fellow or whatever the current "helper" is for each check-up. (on an unrelated note, did you know you can fit six people into a 7x5 room, including desk, sink and exam table?)

The Report:
--Derek and Carolyn both had echos done, including the carotid artery in the neck. (apparently they'd never had the latter done in the past)
--ejection fraction = 60 to 69 percent, which is quite normal and good. Also, they both have a slight mitral valve prolapse, which we knew beforehand
--Derek's EKG showed a Junctional rhythm
--Carolyn's was a sinus rhythm

Junctional rhythm has an inverted P wave, which you can see here. Compare it to the normal one at the sinus rhythm site and you can see the difference. The P wave being the little one before the BIG one that goes "up." Oh yes, I shoudda been a doctor.

No big revelations from the check-up. Derek goes back in 6 months--barring something unforeseen--and Carolyn will return in a year.

Ma also brought up the question as to whether Derek should take Physics next year, he being quite sick of Calculus, time and material-wise. Of course the good Doctor L. gave a vote for physics, claiming he often calculates rates and angles and such while in the course of falling. Not sure if we believed him. The lady observing the other doctor-person just happened to be a former math teacher so SHE put in her vote for Physics or at least Statistics, and thus Derek was rather outnumbered.

Ma may come up with some creative alternative that Derek would truly enjoy, but until that time it is certainly nice to know that all the docs concur in making teenagers miserable.

The appointments having started at 8:00, we finally pulled out of the University of Iowa Hospitals complex at 11:50, with Derek and Carolyn both sporting 24 hour Holter monitors.

We felt there might just be strength enough to drive to Cedar Rapids to eat, where the most amazing thing happened...Ma went to two new destinations and did not get lost!

Yes, and I have witnesses to prove it. That, plus getting to Ardith's yesterday with NO wrong turns means Ma's brain can work above minimal capacity. For short periods, anyway.

Owing to a real boon of coupons, we dined at the famous Chez Hardeez, where mother and son took advantage of a "buy one Jalapeño thick burger, get one free," offer. I would just like to say that these babies are scrumptious! though messy. They don't seem that hot, until you get towards the end and notice the back of your throat burning.

I would caution people against the bacon cheddar fries, however. Not exactly up to Ma's expectations. And don't worry, we only shared one batch of killer fries between us. Didn't want anyone thinking we had acted irresponsibly upon leaving the cardiologist, hee, hee :-) (Hey...it's electrical, not cardiovascular, people...so no Ma-bashing, please)

And I don't think I would have made it home without the free refill of diet Coke. (notice the "diet?" I can be "good")

From there it was a simple matter of arriving alive in Waterloo to shop for the week. Carolyn and I were dragging ourselves around the store like limp noodles. (Derek had retired to the car and his Calculus after finding what he needed)

The journey home was semi-sleepy, but leftover ice chips in Ma's coke cup saved the day.

Approaching the homestead I spied something black and white ambling down the gravel road...

...which was a little dicey as the skunk in question was heading toward our house.

This image is a tad weird, the head not being easily discerned, but there are only so many risks I will take when I'm driving 25 feet from a skunk with the window rolled down in the Green Dragon Lady Lincoln.

Of course, it would have been different had I been driving Loren's car.

I'm pretty sure the skunk had a head, though.

And now, I really think I must retire from travel for the rest of the week.

Counting the minutes until bedtime...
 

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