Day 17: The Usual

Eight hours later and after a very 'drugged' little boy finally gets something to eat we are on our way out the door of the hospital. Yousuf was shaking tremendously from the anesthesia but it was not stopping him at all from inhaling chicken nuggets and waffle fries on our way down the elevator. I realized today that there is such a thing as "Elevator Wars". This morning I decided to be the one to grab coffee across the street realizing that I could get a way with scarfing down a chocolate chip coffee cake while away. We usually try to not to eat or drink anything right along Yousuf to TRY to make it easier for him. I think the hardest part for him is starving from all the steroids he gets and than not being able to have anything but clear liquids for almost 20 hours! On my way back it took me entirely too long to catch an elevator going up that had room for me and Omar's stroller. This other lady and her son and I were literally racing against crowds of people who always managed to hover in front of the elevator that did go "bling" and open up. People didn't realize we had missed three open elevators before. People don't care, they just come, see an elevator and rush inside. Finally, after a very long time and a now cold cup of coffee (for Abu Yousuf) I think I may have rolled over some one's foot to try to force myself through a crowd not to miss yet another elevator going up. I held it open and yelled over the crowd of the people for that other poor lady with her little boy to hurry up (as I made room for her). Alhamdulilah, we made it! I reached upstairs to no longer see them in the waiting room. I asked the front desk clerk where my son and husband were. There was no screaming or crying from the room she pointed to, so I was certain she was mistaken. As soon as I peeked inside, Yousuf began to wail.

Even though this whole thing has been difficult with these long hours jumping from one waiting room to another, I have found pleasure in small things now. I find myself getting excited for my turn to go down stairs and have my break. However, now I am getting tired of the same coffee shops, the chic fil A, and the gift shops in the hospital. I wish the food court area was set up like a circus, where they can just take there tents down and a new "show" can come with different exciting things to choose from.

I'm wondering if there will be a day when we go to the hospital or give Yousuf his medicine and he just says, "Okay!". Until then he is making sure to torture us as we are torturing him. Today we were squeezed in for the sedation since it was normally supposed to be Wednesday but since he had that allergic reaction was put on stand by for today.

The doctor called back a little later after leaving the clinic to tell us the results of the bone marrow test. She left a message saying it was good so I am assuming from that that his blast has cleared from his bone marrow, insha'Allah. Next week I am happy to know there is no bone marrow test allowing this hungry pop belly baby to eat and drink to his hearts delight next appointment!