Day 3, no signs yet. of the girls..... but then we were not expecting such, yet.

There is a rhythm to the floor.  Lots of comings and going.  Shift changes at 7:00.  All the nurses are huddled at the pod desks and there is a significant amount of information exchanged.  The trays of food that won't be eaten are delivered, the linen guy shows up and  house keeping begins their constant vigil and battle against germs and the never ending detris that collects.  Caps, bits of uneaten popcorn, scraps of paper.  The TBI(Radiation) kids are being bundled up by the ambulance drivers  and whisked away to University.  Lots of busy movement and activity.

The kids are passed out. Tracy always speculated that as the day became busier, the kids withdrew to some quiet place so not to participate in the ensuing busy activity. 

Parents are sneaking out of their rooms in search of coffee (8 shots for me this AM) and a shower, a moment on the  computer before waiting for the Docs to show up.    We are all waiting.  Some are waiting for test results, some are waiting for discharge, some are waiting for good news, some are expecting bad. 

I have come to realize we are on the quiet part of the floor.   The newly diagnosed are running around with that great fear and anxiety hung around their necks.  They are trying to hard to keep it together and are reading and talking and consulting and doing more talking and texting and .......... I try to let them know, it gets better.  

I endlessly approach them and try to help.  One poor Mom was running around with her son's tray trying to find a spot to put it.  They were trying to clear out their son's room.  I gave her some direction. Sort of like the older kids in school, we try to be kind to the kindergartners.  Help them find the good Starbucks, let them know they can ask for real food for their child.  Just let them know we all can survive this process, this place and help them get into step and accept the rhythm

So here we sit.  I am not anxious.  No, lets see what I have planned on my list today:
1. Rearrange my anti-room so I can watch the sun rise and set, do 10 miles on the bike, string all the cranes, write thank-you notes, begin a book  Dummies Guide to the SCCA for the weary parent, finish my book, answer all my e-mails, play words with friends, have coffee with three or four moms, Draft a questionnaire for the nurses, parents and kids.......No anxiety here. 

We are waiting for Ellie May and Pearl Ann to finish the job they started 4 days and I am going to stay as close as I can to Mary-Elizabeth.