Update from B.C.

I took Wren to Dr Levitt at 8.30 am this morning which is when the practice starts answering phones. Oops. Apparently the doctors only start at 9.30am on Thursday. Dad and I were preparing to wait till 9.30am with the car fully loaded with our gear for the two nights in Vancouver. Canada when I saw Dr L coming from her car.

She very kindly agreed to see Wren right away (even though clinic rooms were in darkness).

The results?

His crackling in the lungs is still there but not worse. His pulse-ox was 94 which is lower than his usual 99 but not enough to account for his lethargy. His worsening cough could be a sign that he is managing to cough it out, especially as he is now only 98.4 while he has been at 99.4 for days (not a fever but still not totally normal).

Dr Levitt felt it was fine to take Wren to Vancouver and we set off by 9.15am. We had not driven more than 5 minutes before Wren was asleep with his pediatrician-lollipop in his mouth. We pulled it out and he slept all the way to the border at Blaine which was about 1 hour and 45 minutes. We arrived at my father's father-in-laws 45 minutes later only a scant 2.5 hours from start to finish.

An hour and a half later after playing in the yard and having a light lunch Wren said he was ready for nap. He slept ANOTHER two hours for his usual nap period. He is now acting happy and more normal although he has suggested we go home to his own his with his own toys. He is watching Dora the Explorer on DVD instead.

We took an afternoon walk to the playground and he went down the slide, on the swings and hid in the hedge. The neighborhood is similar to ours in Seattle but its interesting how many children you see out in the streets, sitting on their stoops and generally running and shrieking. There are many kids where we live but they don't use the streets as much. Perhaps we shall see that more in summer. Perhaps our street is busier than this. Even now I can hear children yelling and shouting. Wren asks what they are saying.

I think Wren was very short of sleep yesterday, waking too early and then only taking a short nap on a bicycle ride. He went to bed late when we were at Tara's so he missed out both ends and probably needs more sleep rather than less with being ill. I shall put him to be early tonight and hope he continues to enjoy it!

Meanwhile, I am loving having Dad here but as always happens on family visits I am VERY behind on my own life. Bills are piling up, I haven't kept up with correspondence [Josh, could you check on the left front pile on my desk and see what date the new school staff wanted our letter about Frost to make class choices?]

I am planning to catch up on coffee with friends, cooking slow soups and swimming when school gets out next week. Dad leaves on Monday.

Next cardiology appointment for Wren is July 6th and Dr Levitt said she would recommend another chest X-ray that week to confirm the pneumonia is cleared. I think I will schedule one for his cardiology clinic to do it at the same time.