Repost: Natalie's Day

Today was the big day for Natalie. Monday was the prep day for her procedures… not a good day here. The first medication we tried made her vomit, so we called the doctor’s office and he told us to try another one. That didn’t go over well either because “it tastes so nasty.” We resorted to a third medication after that, and by the time we were done she was very unhappy with the entire experience… especially me.
We had to arrive at the hospital at 7:30 a.m. I am definitely not a morning person, and neither is Natalie. However, the nurses were great, and kept her totally at ease. She even got to go to the nurses’ gift room and select a stuffed animal. Her doctor had a very calming presence so that helped tremendously. He’s very friendly and laughed at her jokes so that made Natalie really happy. When she went back I grabbed breakfast from the cafeteria. When I was done I went back to the waiting room, and her doctor came out 10 minutes later and gave me the rundown of her procedures. (Everything went well, no complications.) He was able to eliminate two possible diagnoses, and he will call me in a few days with the biopsy results. Then we will discuss changes in her treatment plan.

Here is Natalie before the procedures.

I went back to Natalie's room shortly after we spoke. She was really uncomfortable and crying pretty hard when I got there. It took her nearly an hour to calm down. I felt so bad for her. She would let me stroke her hair or rub her back every so often, but then she would get really mad and throw my hand off. Whatever helped her get through it was fine with me! Her nurse gave her a bit of medication at the end of her crying jag, but she was already feeling a lot better. I do think that helped her calm down even more. After that she got back on the bed, had her IV removed and got a purple Popsicle for her troubles! Natalie after she was done. Her lip was all bloody on the left side from some of the instruments.

Once that was all done she got a ride on a wheelchair to the car, and was a little sleepy on the way home. As soon as we got home she shot right up and was fine from then on. Grandma Susan came over with a small Frosty after we got home.

Natalie with one of her nurses (Linda, I think). She loved getting a ride in the adult wheelchair!

As a reward for being brave, she and I went out for a girls' night. She wanted to get pedicures and go to dinner. However, she decided at the last minute that she would rather see a movie instead. She and I went to see Igor (I hope I never have to see that movie ever, ever again. She liked it, but I had a really hard time sitting through it.), then dinner at Arriba. She did not even want to go to bed tonight!