Sunrise....Sunset....swiftly flew the day!

Our chauffeur arrived promptly at 5:25am and we were hugged and kissed out the door by Ashlynn and Teddy!  I think we made more noise than we had planned...but there was also some concern on their part...they insisted on saying "bye".  The traffic's momentum brought us safely through Chicago and we walked through the door at Comer's Children's Hospital an hour and twenty minutes before our appointment.  Time to explore!

His eyes lit up when he saw us!  Ha ha ha  Alisa's eyes rolled at her Mom's request!

We sat, colored, chatted, and laughed as Alisa kept pulling out special friends out of her bag.  I had no idea what she had included...six stuffed friends!

Mommy and Miss A focused on keeping Alisa's mind occupied.  Alisa kept Mommy and Miss A focused on everything but the coffee smell drifting down the hall.  We couldn't bring ourselves to get anything when Alisa was on restriction...but coffee had been calling my name since 5:45am and before! 

We quickly fell into hospital time!  MRI was backed up and we had to wait for about an hour.  Our new Child Life friend, Amy, took us to the playroom!  WOW!  There was even a playground outside and a lady there to do an art project.  We just didn't get to do everything!  What a wonderful place to help children through their not-so-pleasant-days!

Amy took Alisa through everything that would happen, so there would be "No Surprises"!  By the time the last picture was put on the blue strip, Alisa fell apart.  It was time...but she did so well!  Everyone was so kind and helpful.  The iv was placed quickly and Alisa got to take a nap for her scan.  The scan took an hour and the big girls went to get their coffee...no naps for us!

Waking up was hard to do, but we had to go meet our new doctor.  The prescribed methods...lights turned brighter, kisses and hugs, encouraging words, Max and Ruby cartoon, cool cloth, bed to sitting position, and coaxed sips of juice. It was actually the smell of Oreos that helped revive our girl much to the big girl's amusement.  Our designated driver once again stepped up to the plate while Mom took a picture and read the signs.  It is fun to sight see, right, girls!

Dr. Frimm and his team were a blessing to this Mom.  He knows who Dr. Albright is!  He knows two of the doctors on the team at AFCH personally!  He engaged Alisa with lots of silly questions, but she was still too out of it to respond with her usual spark.  Next time (6 months from now...it will be April...and as Miss A pointed out...the snow will have come and gone by then!),we will have another scan with no sedation per Dr. Frimm.  Alisa's scan shows that healing is taking place.  There is some scar tissue or bone cyst there..."we are not sure exactly what is squishing the nerve...but there is something there.  We will continue to monitor Alisa with a scan in 6 months.  Should there be a change in pain or quality of every day life, please call immediately.  Scar tissue and cyst both collect the contrast of the dye...so it is a wait and see approach at this time.  Pain isn't an issue.  Movement isn't an issue.  We will prescribe physical therapy to build some strength and try to regain movement.  We will err on the side of caution...if that is ok with you and watch her closely.  We will discuss her case during conference tomorrow.  I know insurance told you to stay in Illinois and I get to be your doctor.  Can we be friends, Alisa?"  She stared at him and barely nodded.  "Sorry, our cheese isn't as good as Wisconsin cheese, but there are some really cool things to do here in Chicago!  There is the two floor McDonalds downtown."  Dr. Frimm tried...we told him he was missing the real Alisa...and Miss A laughed heartily!   

Dr. Frimm will follow up with us and bid us good-bye so we "wouldn't get stuck in Chicago for another five hours...in rush hour".  What a funny man!  Truthful...in a funny sort of way!  We all agreed...a helicopter would have been a more exciting form of transportation.  But we are thankful for the "uneventful" trip we had through both rush hours...God helped us get where we needed to be...when we needed to be there!

Alisa fell asleep as we made our way northwest toward home.  We woke her up to eat Panda Express and watch the cars go under the oasis.  "It tasted so good...I didn't have breakfast or lunch...you know."

The fortunes...the top one was Miss A's and we laughed as we watched all the cars come toward us non-stop!  How did they know?  Alisa's was the middle one...yep, that's what we were doing today!  And mine...NO...don't let your instincts, fears, worries, plans, or whatever get in the way of God's reasons!  He knows best...and He once again gave us His best.  We heard all day from many different people, "Dr. Frimm is a wonderful doctor.  People come from all over to see him.  You will like him.  He has a good team."

God is good...all the time!  He gave us a beautiful sunrise and sunset to remind us...ok...to remind me...He was faithful yesterday...and I could trust Him for today! 

This part of Alisa's health history is still being written.  There is still an issue...and will be...for how long...we don't know.  There could be another surgery at some point.  There could be new treatment options or ideas.  There is still a work that God wants to do.  Ted and I still have a peace that God will do what is best.  He has given us friends and family to help record these events in our daughter's life.  Today's ink was laughter and its cover was prayer!