Hold Tight and Pretend It's a Plan

For the last 21 days we have not really thought once about this upcoming procedure. Or at least, not with any focus. We have been watching Rebecca and Thalia learn to be in the world together. They are doing a great job. We provide food and a warm house for them and Rebecca does all the rest. They are both adjusting to the new skills they need (breastfeeding is not all that easy or straightforward, but it is worth persisting). Thalia is still cuter than she should be at this age. She cycles through all the baby activities quickly -- sleeping, crying, eating, getting a new diaper. Over and over, as babies do. Today we are back at Hopkins after a long vacation. Jon is right now having a bone marrow biopsy. I used to be allowed to sit in the room while they poked a hole in his back with a big awl, but now they don't let me in. It is such a primitive procedure, using a sharp stick to get through the bone and suck out a sample so they can see what's really going on. I don't know...

I have to admit that we/I did not pay any attention to the details of what to expect today. We have done this a couple of times before, and I have hung out in this waiting room in years past. We were supposed to arrive at 6:30 to check in to Interventional Radiology so Jon could have a central line installed for cell collection. We did that, arriving right on time. They immediately took him back and gave me a number to watch on the board (no more names, just numbers). So I know that the patient is in pre-op. What I don't know is how long this takes, or how far I can wander. Nor do I know when we are expected at the next location for the hours-long pheresis event. Of course, there are reasons for this lack of attention. One is that we trust that we will be instructed as we go, and we are familiar enough with the hospital and its systems. Two is that the baby was the most important news, and this was much less interesting.  In brief, Rebecca had an appointment at 8 AM on Friday, the ...