Let me tell you about my day….and just keep in the back of your mind that I’m seriously anemic and can’t do too much in a day.

Gillian stayed home from school today so that we could go see her Gastroenterologist for a checkup. The school had contacted him about the IHP or 504 we’ve been trying to get for the last 2 1/2 years, so that her needs can be met with a legal document. He needed to see her and discuss our game plan for getting her taken care of, and although we had to drive 45 minutes to get to his office, I was glad we had him on our side.

If you’d like to get caught up with Gillian and her Celiac Disease, read this post and this post, but it’s not necessary unless you’re interested…just know that he wanted to do bloodwork. That’s the important thing to know, because when they took six vials out of her tiny body, she started to pass out. Her eyes rolled back in her head and they were yelling her name at her, and she wasn’t responding. We had to get her lying flat on a gurney (the doc’s office is in one of the two local children’s hospitals – it’s fabulous), and get ice on her neck and a cold towel on her forehead. She came around saying “I want my brother,” which melted my heart.

So that set us back around a half hour, and I had wanted to stop at Trader Joe’s for a few things (I love that grocery store), but now we didn’t have time, so while I was cruising down our interstate going about 85, I heard something fall off the back right tire. I got over to the right and started to slow down, but them something else flew off. I was sure I was going to blow a tire, and I have AAA, but I was more worried about Gillian being in the car. And the amount of things on my calendar for the day, and how I was going to do them without a car.

I called Matt at work and told him he needed to come home because I had a totally packed day and would have no car.

I was headed to drop Gillian off at my parents’ house anyway, so I called over there and asked my dad to follow me to the Exxon station where our wonderful mechanic works. I got Gillian safely to the house, and then drove slowly down the mountain to the mechanics. It just so happened that my dad’s car had just been worked on and was there already, so (wrap your brain around this) Dad met me there, I dropped off my van, took my mom’s Cadillac that my dad had been driving, and he picked up his car. So magically, I had a car.

I caught Matt still at work and told him to stay there.

An aside….anyone remember that scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off where there’s that tiny little woman in a huge car, swerving from side to side as she looked at the road through the steering wheel? That Cadillac is a boat, and I’m 4′11″. And if we drive her car we can’t change the seat settings, because she can’t get it back to where she’s comfortable. I’m lucky my hair’s not grey, or I’d have been a dead ringer for the old lady in Ferris Bueller.

So I took the Caddy and headed off to meet Gillian’s teacher for her parent-teacher conference. It was now 1 pm, and I realized I hadn’t eaten. No time, so I made the conference and managed to stay on the topic of her schoolwork (she’s a great teacher), and off the topic of Gillian’s Celiac (with which she’s not being cooperative). Ends up Gillian’s at the top of the class, wonderful, no problems, going to be recommended for accelerated classes next year. I stayed too long, and only had 10 minutes to get across town to yet another hospital, where I was to get my iron infusion.

I said to hell with it and stopped at Wendy’s for some chili and an iced tea. I showed up at the hospital 10 minutes late and a bit frazzled…and really, truly tired.

The woman who was attempting to place my IV missed, despite the fact that I’ve warned her that my veins roll, and then she blew the vein trying again. She tried to get blood out twice, and then told me she’d collapsed it. She didn’t sound very concerned. I was very happy that she wasn’t worried. I was.

I finally got to relax with a decently placed IV of iron and my Ipod. The Steeplechase Cancer Center is turning into my happy place, because I get to curl up with a very fuzzy blanket, a pillow, and my favorite artists and be undisturbed for 2 hours at a time. The first time it was me and Suzanne Vega.  Last time it was David Bowie. Today it was Tori Amos. It’s amazing how the “Little Earthquakes” album can still make me cry.

Dad picked up Aidan at the bus stop, and brought him back to their house. I took the Cadillac home and went to bed. Matt ended up coming here from work, switching cars, taking the Caddy up to my parents, and then having my dad drop everyone off at the Exxon to pick up the car at 9:30 tonight.

I used my alone time at home to continue the endless work of putting together 50 separate posts for the giveaway contest. I’m excited about it, but who knew it would be so much work!!

And with all of this, I was definitely stressed, but no anxiety attack, no need for medication. It was a miracle.

So how was your day?:)