“This too shall pass..”..and it did!

Happy to report that my stone/stones passed..I didn’t actually SEE them, but I went from writhing in pain Wednesday evening to waking on Thursday feeling like a human being again…It possibly was our trip to Chicago on the train, and the 3 mile walk to and from my new doc, that helped the “movement” downward and out of me.

We boarded the Union Pacific West in a little farm town called Elburn. This is the West end of the line and we were almost alone on the train when we got on at 6:35AM..That was short lived once it began picking up commuters on their way to work.. There is no ticket station as of yet, only the shelter to wait for the train, you buy your fare onboard . We arrived at Ogilvie Transportation Center (train station , downtown Chicago) at 8AM sharp. Then we walked 1.7 miles to Northwestern IL University Hospital..

 

It was a beautiful day for a walk along the Magnificent Mile….Right photo is the Galter Building, part of Northwestern University Medical and the building my doc was located in.

Upon arriving at the Galter Pavillion, MacGyver and moi rode one of the marked elevators up to the 14th floor, found the Endocrinology Dept. and went back to floor 1…After visiting many and various bathrooms, Den and I got a much needed cup of Joe at one of the kiosks in the building. We had 45 minutes to kill. Long story short, I loved my doc..Dr. Eve Bloomgarden. Of course she was very young, but extremely professional and thorough. I had gotten most of my records sent to  her, but a couple important ones were not there yet…including the OR record from my first “unsuccessful” surgery. I had signed a release in the doctor’s office, but no one told me I need to get THAT record from the hospital…HELLLOOOO! OK, I can take care of that. Dr. Bloomgarden spent about one hour with me, and also did an ultrasound of my neck in her office. After all the missing documentation is in her capable hands, I will most likely be seeing a parathyroid surgeon to discuss surgery.. Den and I left her office feeling like SOMEONE was finally going to get answers…YEA!!!!!!

We opted to take the scenic route back to the Ogilvie Transportation Center…It was about the same distance, but followed the Chicago River ..and went near the ORIGINAL Billy Goat Tavern..Ya gotta open that link..it’s one of the mainstays of Chicago history.

I would have loved to go in to the Billy Goat for the famous “cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger..chips no fries” Saturday Night Live Skit, but by now, I felt like crap and just wanted to get to the train and go home. However, the walk was really beautiful and showed just how lovely this city of Chicago can be…

Arrived back at the Ogilvie Transportation Center and found out we had about an hour wait for the next Elburn bound train…There was a little bar just across from the train entrance, so we ducked in there and Dennis had a beer…Yep, only one…even though he wasn’t driving. I had a Coke, and our bill was about $8.00 ..plus tip.

I never knew this, but you can get your drinks “to go” and take them on the train with you…And I thought all those people had coffee or soda…HA!!!  So that’s the reason for the bathrooms on those trains!! Food for thought, as I will in all likelihood have to make this trip again…

Of course I cannot let you out of this crazy blog without a family photo or two…right?  Our granddaughter, Taylor, had her Kaneland High School Homecoming game and dance last weekend…Here a couple pictures..

Tay was a busy girl…performing with the Poms Friday night at the game, and Saturday night the Homecoming Dance..Above, right is her and her date..Her Dad, Tim, (a police sergeant) was cleaning his guns…

 

Proud Mom and Dad…Taylor is a Junior this year…hard to believe she will be a Senior soon!

Left, is a photo of Tay and her brother, Peyton..He went stag..Right …well…what can I say…THE END!!!!!!