Tulips and Pee Pee Puddles

I'm back in Chicago now, although this time is THE time. It all still seems pretty surreal, I've waited so long for this transplant to actually happen, it sometimes feels like I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Someone to say, "Oops, sorry. Go back home. Not this time."

I arrived yesterday morning after flying the red-eye from home. When I got to the hotel they didn't have a room ready for me, or so they said. As I was hanging out after I got breakfast, I heard them check in quite a few other people. Anyway, I left the hotel for my appointment with the neurologist, hoping that by the time I got back a room would finally be ready. I was so exhausted by the time my appointment rolled around it was pretty pathetic. Apparently, what I should have been doing this whole time of waiting for my EDSS to go back up was just fly overnight before my appointment. My EDSS was the same as it was when I was here in January...my first green light.

As I was hoping for, my room was ready when I got back to the hotel. I immediately poured myself a drink from the minibar, took a much needed shower, ate lunch and crawled into bed. I've started watching both "The Good Wife" and "GCB" on this trip, so that took up some more of my time until I figured I should venture out for a Walgreens trip and dinner. Oh, did I mention that the day before I left I started getting a major cold? I'm keeping my fingers crossed this will ease up and won't affect any of my testing next week. Besides, it's a great excuse to be lazy this weekend!

While I was walking around last night, I noticed how many tulips are already in full bloom here, and thought back to my own flower bed full of tulip bulbs at home. I wonder if they'll be blooming when I go back home at the end of May. I also laughed a little to myself about life in a big city, where puddles on the sidewalk are sometimes more than just slightly questionable...you never know if you're about to step in some leftover rain water or some homeless person's urine. A gross thought, I know, but what can I say? It's the truth.

I didn't get a best night of sleep, the combination of the time change, my late nap, this cold that has left me without the ability to breath properly through my nose, and just generally missing my boys I left at home. Hoping tonight will be better, and if it isn't, I'm fully prepared to NyQuil or Benadryl myself into a more appropriate bedtime and restful sleep.

No more testing for me until Monday, when my week of appointments begins. So until then I fully plan on resting, relaxing as much as possible, and counting the days until Mason and Todd arrive. I promise to be better about blogging this experience, both for anyone who cares as well as for myself to look back on someday when it's all over, so.......stay tuned!