Day One?

Yesterday was rough; at times.

It seems at least annually I get to a point where asthma and allergies conspire to try to put me down.  They were nearly successful throughout my youth.  Nowadays, it results for the most part in needing to get a Z-Pack to get me over the hump.  Yesterday was that day for me.  This article is not about that, per se.

That it was yesterday and that it aligned with other things yesterday and that it seemed providential is what this article is about.

When I woke up yesterday, I was simply planning to go to a CVS minute clinic to get re-upped for an inhaler and whatever else I needed, but Jodi suggested I could wait a couple of hours and get in to my newly-found real doctor.  I chose the latter.  With an 11:30 appointment, I was out by noon and on my way to gas up the Yukon, drop by Kroger for some lunch provisions, by Walgreens to pick up my Z-Pack and then was headed home to let George out, grab some lunch and get back to work.

Phone call from Jodi, 12:50 p.m., 30 second duration.  Ainsley was a little stressed about a 1:40 appointment with Dr. Nale.  A had just left school, so if I could meet her there, I could provide comfort.  This is a no-brainer.  I was also a bit concerned; because of the Googles.

The previous night, Jodi asked if I'd seen Ainsley's knuckles, they looked swollen and her hands were hurting.  Jodi also mentioned her knees and elbows were hurting and swollen.  I know web diagnosis are not very uplifting and in our case, having arthritis show up in most of my search results had me skipping to the 3rd page of results before my drink more water solution even hinted as being a fix.

By 1:00 I was at the doctor's office and the doors were locked with the office at lunch.  Cool, I'd made it before Ainsley and could chill on the bench and see her at the elevator.  Once they unlocked the doors, they moved her in immediately and since Ainsley "didn't care" if I was in the room with her or not, I decided to wait as she went in by herself.  About 10-15 minutes later Dr. Nale came out to speak with me and scoped out the room to make sure it was private.

My heart was already in my throat, when he confirmed that Ainsley has arthritis.  Not may have.  Has.  He did a Doctor Dan hand motion to signify moisture coming from Ainsley's eyes.  As if it was foreign to him - it's far from foreign to me.  However, I was going to keep it together for her sake.

Was there a family history?  I couldn't think of any.  Then he brought up Lupus.  My oldest sister has been dealing with that, but only after going through her first time with chemo and radiation.  I didn't know Jodi's side's story.  We talked about the steps and the urgency was implicit.

It was easy and natural to give her a big hug and say it's going to be okay.  The good doctor, bless his heart, "well, not okaaay."  We chatted some more and he left to get the nurse to draw blood.  I asked Ainsley if I could pray for us.  "Heavenly Father, we are thankful for the skilled hands you've placed in our path.  Help us use this to your glory.  For us to not be anxious.  For your will to be done."

Ainsley vascularity is awesome.  I could have hit one of those veins.  They chose the left arm.  I moved to her right side and Ainsley was a champ, watching some movie from the phone in her right hand while they drew blood from her left.  I joked nervously about her checking off a bucket list item.

Doc returned to give us a card and let us know he'd already scheduled an ophthalmology appointment for today.  Something else to look up.  As I'm typing, I've already received an update that the optho reports no swelling or degeneration and his call back to Dr. Nale for blood results are showing nothing, so far, whatever that means.

Ainsley didn't want to go back to school and I was 1000% in favor of that and in finally getting my lunch, giving George his, getting my z-pack going, etc.  After confirming Ainsley was comfortable driving, I followed her - pretty darn closely followed here - home.  Coming in the front as she came in the back I also was able to grab the mail.

I handed one of the packages to Ainsley, a tiny envelope.  I kind of assumed she was going to take a nap and don't remember what prompted me to check on her after letting dogs out, feeding George, getting my lunch going, who knows what else?  My timing was incredible though.  The little package was apparently a little dress she'd purchased for this weekend's favorites dance.  Wow!  I don't remember what I said to her - I'm sure it was super upbeat, because I was.  But holy cow I was not ready for the descent from that high.  I went to the kitchen and blubbered.  Called Mom, ugly cried.  Talked to Jodi, wept.  Checked e-mail, work restructuring note went out.  Whatever.  Cried.

After school, a couple of Ainsley's awesome friends came by and gave me an excuse to check on her, napping this time. Some more work e-mail for me and then Jodi got home and things seemed to have buoyed some. The normalcy of dinner, The Office and homework interrupted the unproductive thoughts.  Homework and Ainsley being able to hold a pen was a welcome relief.  Press on.