Wednesday the day of blood letting and I have been working myself up since Monday! Got the kids off to school, Tony had left at the crack of dawn for work so he could come home early and take me to Romford, home of the vampires. Had a little chat to Kerrie on FB and then into the bath for a hot, deep, bubbly and hopefully relaxing soak. Stayed in way too long and got out sporting wrinkles on my wrinkles! Did the washing up and tidied the kitchen, hung a load of laundry on the clothes horses - it was raining here and made myself some lunch. Used up some more of the ham I baked Tuesday in sarnies.
All too soon I heard Tony's car on the driveway, he nipped in long enough to change his clothes and we were off...he made me check TWICE I had my bloodform (we have gotten down the road before I have realised it was still on our noticeboard in the kitchen!) and we were off. It was a grey rainy afternoon here in Essex....bit like my mood! Halfway to Romford and I realise the heatpad Tony had got me, was still in the boot of the car.....not gonna do much good there is it! He offers to pull over and take it out but I decide to just keep going now, the vampires stop work at 4pm and we usually get there around 3.30pm which doesn't give us much leeway if there are traffic problems.
Walk through oncology and see Heather my favourite receptionist from when I was having RT, she tells me how fab I am looking (obviously she doesnt notice my nerves) and we are on our way to the bloodsuckers. Ticket number 509 and they draining patient number 503....5 minutes and I walking into the vampires lair, bay number 3. I see the smiling oriental man who's name I couldn't even read on his badge let alone relay here and remember he drained me the time before last and was really good. I sat down and could feel the tension leave my body, I told him this was a pre-chemo bloodtest and he apologised that the tourniquet would have to go on a bit tighter then. I reminded him he had drained me before and was good and I trusted him...."please don't say that till I have got some blood, too much pressure now". Well true to form, after a little pumping of the hand (and he actually gave me a speciman bottle to hold rather than have my long nails dig into my hands as usual) and a bit of smacking my arm he was in without any fuss. Two vials filled and cotton wool pad and micropore dressing on, I tell him I will be having an MRI in a month or so and if they have the same problems as last time, I am going to get them to send for him. He laughs and says he would if he could, but he can't leave his post! I leave, smiling. Tony is relieved to see me happy and tells me I am silly to get so worked up.
As we make the long walk back through the hospital corridors I can't help but look into the RT waiting rooms, no familiar faces but a lady and her husband are being lead to the simulator room and the assistant is explaining to the husband whats going to happen to his wife. My heart sinks for a short while......it never stops, just the faces and names change. Back in the car and on our way home I phone Sean as he is always the first one home from school...."everything OK babe?"...."yes, I gave the dogs a treat when I got in"......"anyone else home yet?"......"nope just me, I am playing Command & Conqueor"..."ok babe, ring me if there are any problems"...."OK MUM". Half an hour later we walk through the door and I make a cuppa tea and coffee. My sister phones just after 5.30pm she is taking the kids out for Pizza tonight and has got home from work early, do they want to go now, she has to ask.......two teenage boys! and Lara. They had all gotten themselves changed out of their uniform with no arguments and soon there's a toot and their chariot awaited.
The house was quiet, what to do? Its payday Thursday so Wednesday is always "how much have we got left" day....so we went to the pub on our development (yes right by Tesco's lol) cheap and cheerful. I had breaded mushrooms for starter and Tony had lamb kofte kebabs, I had chicken, chips and coleslaw and ordered battered onion rings, while Tony had a Surf n Turf and Chicken. Pint of Stella for my man and I had half a lager n lime. Stomach full we headed home to a quiet house just after 7pm. I sit and catch up on the blogs, they come fast and furious on here now and Tony played Command and Conqueor. My sister phoned at 8.40pm to say they got back quite early from the Pizza Hut so went back to hers for Hot Chocolate and a game of charades (did I hear that right....my kids) apparently they behaved impeccably (of course, they always bloody do for others, they just try and kill each other when they are out with us). They had taken some helium balloons back to Aunty Sharons and all had fun doing the funny voices. They all walked back together - she only lives round the corner to me - and said they had a really good time and that they might do it again next week! Sean had bought me a paper "chefs hat" home from Pizza Hut and insisted I put it on, saying I should wear it to Tesco's tomorrow as it covers my bald bits! Cheeky bugger.
Finished the evening with Sean making us a drink and watching the new NCIS Los Angeles. A day I was dreading turned out to be another good day (you were right Jools). Didn't take any photos today, so thought I would share one of my favourite photos from last autumn.
Thought for today:
Nor need we power or splendor, wide hall or lordly dome; the good, the true, the tender -- these form the wealth of home.
Sarah J Hale
