Back to the Doctor

Yesterday we made the all day trip to the pediatric urologist for Zach's first exam since he has been living with us.  Because Bladder Exstrophy is so rare, only a few doctors in the country are qualified to treat these kids.  Luckily we have a very good one, just 2 1/2 hours away from us.  Steven has been going there since birth ( every time we go and see tiny babies there, it brings it all back ).  Zach was understandably worried about seeing the Dr.  When you have had as much medial stuff and surgery as these kids have, the fear of going to the Dr. just comes with the territory.  We assured him is was just for the Dr. to take a look, picked up my mom to go with us, and off we went.  It is May, and I didn't even think what that meant - construction season has begun and we were delayed on the highway.  UUUHHH.  Then, Mom reminded me about he last time we went in May, since the hospital is at a college, we happened to hit move out day for the students, and the normally confusing roads were made more so by closings and temporary one way streets.   I was already worried because the construction had set us behind schedule, PLEASE, PLEASE don't let today be move out day!!!  Luck was on my side and it was not.  Next challege, finding a parking spot in the parking garage, usually a chore at anytime of the day.  We just starting looking when my eagle eyed mom spotted brake lights - she saw a car getting ready to pull out of a spot close to where we were- better yet, REALLY close to the doors of the hospital.  OK, that hurtle down, off to the registration desk to get his blue registration card since he's never been here before.  Luckily, I had given all the info over the phone when I made the appointment, so they only needed to print the card - no one in line ahead of me so in and out of that area.  Last challenge - this was not our usual Dr. from the Ped Ur. Dept, and the office was not where I usually go in the hospital.  There are ALWAYS lots of helpful staff in the halls and we quickly were pointed in the right direction to the office.  (Later we found out this section of the hospital has just re-opened last week and everyone has been moved around, we went to visit the office we usually take Steve to after Zach was done and they are no longer there either).  Our appointment was scheduled for 10:30, and I hit the office registration desk at 10:32 ---Whew!  I get 3/4 through the paperwork on the clipboard, and they call Zach back to the room.  We had a bit of a wait for the Dr. but I had my Kindle and books on it for Zach, so we did a lot of reading out loud while waiting.  I really liked this new Dr., however he is the partner of our usual Dr, and our regular one handles most of the BE cases.  I at least feel good knowing that if we have to see his partner again, we will be in good hands.  Zach has now been assesed (all looks good), we filled out the paperwork to transfer his records from the Dr. who did his surgery here in the USA.  We have a Dr. note on the way for the Dept of Immigration to extend his Visa.  And an appointment set up for tests and another Dr. visit next month.  Best of all for Zach, Grammy bought him a Happy Meal from McDonalds for lunch, and I even caught her in the play area shooting baskets with him - Who are you and what did you do with MY mom (who NEVER in a million years would have allowed ANYONE to call her Grammy)?  Zach had been telling me since we dropped my mom back at her car what a great day we had.  Good Dr. experiences like this really help setting his mind at ease for future appointments.