Thursday! I'm free until my 9 o'clock flight.

(Or I suppose you could make plans that don't revolve around me. I suppose.)

I met a fellow traveller this morning. A few ER visits ago I mentioned sharing a room with a patient that seemed totally entitled--but good way entitled. She was asking for a lot of dilaudid, and like she was expecting to get it.

I struck up a conversation with her this morning. Boy, can the lady ever talk. More than I could keep up with, because I certainly fell asleep during the middle of some of her answers.

She did have some assertiveness-about-your-meds suggestions that I appreciated.

She did have some assertiveness-about-your-meds suggestions that I appreciated.

Cool! Like what?

I'm so sorry about Pearl, Theresa.

She did have some assertiveness-about-your-meds suggestions that I appreciated.

That's good, ita. It's a hard time to be assertive, I'd imagine.

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. Teppy, I got your note. Thank you.

Happy Birthday, Matilda. My theory has always been that four is the very best age to be. I expect you to prove me right, this year.

My theory has always been that four is the very best age to be.

Really? She's been super whiny this week. Though Emmett got about 200% easier after he was 4.5.

I've been anxious about this transition stretch with the new school. I know there will be heels dug in and tears shed for several weeks.

Then again, she's been such a fuss butt this weekend it won't be a huge change.

I should note that the fussy is about 20% of her waking time and the rest is cheery and charming with much imaginative play, verbal invention and long, misremembered stories with curious and surreal narrative turns.

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. Teppy, I got your note. Thank you.

Let me know what you get -- I love to live vicariously through others' booze!

Cool! Like what?

My specialist wants me to get a dose of 6mg, with an optional 6 more of dilaudid later if that doesn't work. ER is hesitant to give me more than 4 in a shot. She suggested I do the math, and ask for a third does of 4mg when necessary. Pretty sensible--just usually that advocating feels like too much to engage in at the time.

Turns out she has sickle cell anaemia with frequent pain flareups that her doctors can't explain what's up, and she's relegated to regular ER trips for two of the drugs in my cocktail.

She's gone whole hog and gotten the portacath, though. But at least she has a tangible diagnosis of something. Unfortunately, it's a minority disease, and not widely understood. She gets the drugseeking skeptical treatment, etc, etc.

Thanks to everyone. It's a new day.

Happy Birthday Matilda!

ita, I'm glad to hear you got assertiveness-about-your-meds suggestions. Anything that helps during that time.

Could you write a strongly worded letter, have your doc sign it, and whip it out when you're too pain-filled to argue?

Like a diabetic bracelet: "If you're reading this, it's because I am in too much pain to advocate strongly for myself verbally right now. Here's the facts: blah blah specifics-cakes."

I like the letter idea, Erin.

Really? She's been super whiny this week. Though Emmett got about 200% easier after he was 4.5.

I've been anxious about this transition stretch with the new school. I know there will be heels dug in and tears shed for several weeks.

Then again, she's been such a fuss butt this weekend it won't be a huge change.

I should note that the fussy is about 20% of her waking time and the rest is cheery and charming with much imaginative play, verbal invention and long, misremembered stories with curious and surreal narrative turns.

Well, a school change is a big deal to a little kid -- like a job change is to an adult, but with less ability to tell everyone to Eff off.

I mean I think four is a great age for the child herself (neutral for the parents). You're big enough that you can do loads of things, but you're little enough that nobody expects much of you. It's a great low-pressure mix of freedom/ability. If I had to be a child, I'd be four, again.