Peaking at her Innards

I decided the night before that 6am was the time I needed to be up and out of bed in order to carry out my morning routine and still get Mindy to Riverside hospital by 815am. To that end, I was up just before that at 555am. I quickly started some coffee then whipped out calisthenics. It was 615am when I headed to the PC with coffee.

I spent more time fooling around online than perhaps I should’ve. I had to rush through a stretch and meditation to get out the door for my run by 650am. I didn’t bother taking Mindy coffee. She wasn’t allowed any. During my run I decided to trim it back a mile to just three. It was clear but still chilly and below freezing, about 28 degrees.

Back at the house by 720a, Mindy was out of the shower and getting dressed. I took a quick shower and was dressed and ready by 740am. I asked Mindy what time we needed to leave. She suggested 750am. Yikes! I woofed down a leftover waffle and then packed a very light lunch. Since I planned to work from the waiting room, I packed up all my gear as though I was leaving for work.
At Mindy’s prompting, I warmed the Accord. We left the house at 750am just as she suggested. We took the back way purposefully avoiding the freeway, taking Trabue to Riverside Dr to Lane and then Tremont to Kenny to North Broadway. We encountered only one tiny slowdown on Tremont near a school. Not a problem, though. Got Mindy to the hospital right on time. The green parking garage was very contiguous to the building and wing she needed to visit. They have a nice Tim Horton’s right inside the door. We didn’t stop.

The wait wasn’t long at all. Called Mindy back after 5 minutes. I went ahead and logged onto my laptop. There was a 930a call that I needed to join and several important issues going on that I needed to help address. One of the nurses came after me 10-15 minutes later. I was rejoined with Mindy who was prepped and just about ready to be wheeled off. We visited for a few, me still joking about the smiley face we drew on her butt. Wouldn’t the doctor be surprised!  Soon the nurse returned to fetch Mindy and told me that I needed to go to the bar, uh, I mean the waiting room. Said she’d come get me as soon as they were done.

While Mindy was in having her smiley face evaluated, I joined that call as well as placing a couple others. I was busy working away when they came after me again approximately 30 minutes later. They explained that Mindy would almost certainly have some amnesia and might ask the same things over. Sure enough. She was stoned and barely conscious. The actual doctor was there to greet me and share that she was all clear. No polyps and no cancer. That was relief.

I checked out and then photo’d her vitals displayed on a monitor next to her rolling bed. I noted that they anesthetized her with 5mg versed and 100mg of Fentanyl. Took a photo of Mindy to show her later. The nurse returned about every ten minutes as the meds began to wear off. Slowly but surely Mindy became more and more coherent. She asked me more than once if I talked with the doctor. Soon they had Mindy sitting up in the bed. I was surprised when Mindy asked for the coffee the doctor poured for actually before the procedure and promised she could have it waiting when she came to. That was sweet!

The nurse went over all the details of the colonoscopy, including answering all of Mindy’s questions. Apparently the only thing they found was some very small diverticula on the large intestine, but said they were not the source of her issues. They took a biopsy of tissue to have it analyzed for anything cellular or possibly even microscopic. Immediately my thoughts turned to all the antibiotics Mindy’s taken over the years I’ve known her. That could very well be the source of her issues. Antibiotics destroy good (necessary) bacteria too. According to the nurse, we’ll know in about two weeks. I was pleased to see that photos accompanied Mindy’s packet. Now we can compare colons.  Personally, I think mine is much better looking.

It was around 1115a when Mindy was able to get dressed and walk out on her own power. Of course they said she couldn’t drive, drink, or operate machinery until the following day. That’s good because she’s got a lot of laundry to do.  She seemed almost undaunted with the walk to the car, though complained of being tired. Of course she also complained of being hungry. Asked that I make her macaroni and cheese once at home. She hadn’t eaten anything since Tuesday’s dinner.

Mindy called her mom asking if she could bring Bella home sometime during the afternoon. She agreed to. At home, I quickly started Mindy’s mac & cheese. Jacob soon joined us downstairs. Took about 20 minutes to prep the mac and cheese. I left for the office once Mindy was set with her lunch. I’m thinking that was near 1215pm.

Arrived at the office and immediately kicked into gear. Talked with both my boss and a peer. Despite the late arrival into the office, the afternoon seemed to drag. But it wasn’t because I wasn’t busy. No sir! I was very busy. Mindy called late afternoon but I was in the middle of a conference call. I had a lot going on and ended up at the office until after 530pm. Called Mindy on my way home. Darwin agreed to take Bella to gymnastics. I would then pick both kids up at 8pm. Mindy reminded me that I needed to pick Jacob up from soccer too. Oh yeah. Forgot that she couldn’t drive. Arrived home around 6pm.

Mindy heated some of the leftover chicken and pasta - Tuesday’s dinner. That didn’t sound good to me. But eventually I decided to stuff some of in a burrito shell adding cheese, sour cream, and green hot sauce. It was very tasty.

It was about 645pm. The evening was very sunny though still a little chilly -46 degrees. Mindy suggested we take a walk. Why not? We leashed up the pug and headed out. Walked for about 15-20 minutes. Lots of people out for a stroll. Asked Mindy what time we needed to leave for Jacob. Soccer practice over at 730pm. We left the house near 712pm taking the Pilot.

Arrived at the Hilliard Soccer complex at 733pm. Almost empty save for a girls’ team just finishing up their practice. Uh-oh! Mindy suggested we drive over to the other soccer field just east of where we were. Sure enough, that’s where Jacob was. One of the parents was giving him a ride over to the complex we just left. Apparently others made the same mistake.

Jacob espoused how hungry he was. Mindy suggested that we might be able to stop but not until after we picked up Bella and Lane. By then it was 740pm. We figured to be a few minutes late getting to the gym. We took Hilliard-Rome to 70E to 270S. A little slow but we managed to get to the gym right at 8pm. The kids seemed in no hurry to end the open gym session, at least not until Kelly declared the gym closed and turned off the lights. Mindy chatted with Kelly a little while Bella and Lane dashed out to the car.

Stopped at Wendy’s on the drive home. Fed all the kids. Jacob and Lane both ordered a spicy chicken sandwich. Bella ordered chicken nuggets. We were expecting Lindsey to drop the boys at the house at 830pm. They would be staying the night and then all day Friday while Lindsey works. Mindy felt it far easier for them to stay the night thus not being dropped off at 615am and waking everyone. She also suggested Lindsey bring her laundry so she could knock it out too. That’s a lot of work but will afford us a completely kid free weekend. 

Jacob invited Lane to spend the night as well. In turn, Bella asked if Makayla could stay. Yes and yes. We dropped Lane at home so he could ask his parents and then get a shower. Said he needed one badly. It wasn’t long before we had a house full of kids, seven to be exact: Jacob, Bella, Rocky, Landon, Lane, Makayla, Emily. I fell asleep watching some Jesus show on History Channel. I think it was called something like, Jesus, How he got his Power. Headed for bed at 1010p.