Clinic visit April 19

 We had our fifth visit to Duke on Friday, April 19.  I actually had to double check my calendar to make sure that was right...five visits are done!  We only have one left, and that will be on May 8.

The back seat buddies

 The sheer logistics of these trips has been interesting and challenging at times.  Ian is generally a good traveler, but we have to have everything in place to make things go smoothly.  In the car he watches movies on his portable DVD player.  We have snacks with us to minimize the number of stops on the road.    Of course, things have gotten much simpler.  We used to have to travel with the pack and play, the high chair, diapers, bottles, etc.  Now I just have to remember the electronics and all the accompanying chargers!

I'm not without my entertainment needs.  While Ian watches Kung Fu Panda for the 900th time, I'm listening to an audiobook on the GPS Rob gave me for Christmas.  The drive between Richmond and Chapel Hill is a fairly boring one, so I have to do something to keep alert for almost 3 hours each way!

The North Carolina Welcome Center

 Now that Ian is 11 (although he looks much younger) taking him into the ladies' room is getting a little awkward, so I'm thankful for the North Carolina Welcome Center.  It's about halfway on our trip, and it's always clean and they have a very nice family restroom.  I highly recommend it if your travelling that way!

Another one of Ina's cocktail recipes

 We arrived at Mary and Jim's in time for the evening news and cocktails.  The pictures of the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings had just been released.  Mary had made another fantastic meal and we had a nice evening.  I'm so glad we had the chance to stay with them for 4 of our visits.

The view from the parking garage

 On Friday morning, Ian had to have his first dose of medicine at 5:30 so we actually got to Duke early.  We're old pros now with the parking garage routine.  And here is where Ian started doing some really nice things.  We usually take the elevator down to the level with the "bridge" over to the clinic, but it was running slow and there was a HUGE crowd.  So, we took the steps, even though I was worried he would freak out with the change in routine.  Not a bit, he just followed me like it was the way we'd always done it.  Then, instead of going to the clinic, I wanted to go to the Food Court for some coffee and he did that just fine too, even though the line at SBC was too long and we turned around and left again.  Oh, and this is all without the iPad in hand.  Woohoo!

So, we had a (mostly) fantastic visit! Right off the bat  Ian had an accident in his pants, which I was thankfully prepared for.  I was worried that would mess up the whole day, but he turned it around and was the best patient he has ever been!  Blood pressure, temperature, EKG, his behavior was perfect with them all!

Ian was a model patient

 On his first visit the EKG was extremely hard.  It took 4 of us holding him still to get it done.  On this visit, he did it all on his own!  He was quiet and well-behaved while I had an interview...

He sat quietly while I had an interview

 he did great in the noisy and crowded food court...

Lunch was a little late, and he ate his fries and mine too!

 and he listened and followed directions during his physical with Dr. Lachiewicz.

Ian with Dr. Lachiewicz

 He especially liked her hammer to test reflexes and copied what she did.  On our first visit, he wouldn't even let her look in his ears.  We've come a long way!

The bridge to the garage

 Finally, it was time to walk over the bridge, back to the garage and our car.  He knew we were headed home to Daddy, Ashby and Pups, and he was happy.  Another successful visit to Duke!