All stressed out!

Woody went all prepared (running shoes and all) to do a treadmill stress test...but he had a drug (Dobutamine) induced Echo Stress Cardiogram. They got his heart rate up to 133, their goal. Woody said that the hardest part was laying on his "bad" arm. I guess there was some confusion about the doctor's name who had requested this test...Dr. Puzanov...he wasn't in Harton's "system" and they didn't know how to spell his name...Woody called me and we got them headed in the right direction with close enough to the correct spelling that they found him. We got an email a little while ago from the Vandy research nurse. She was concerned as to whether Woody had been given the stress test...I guess Harton didn't have the needed doctor's signature. Our research nurse at Vandy had to explain to Harton Hospital that Dr. Puzanov had been in a skiing accident and that he was in the hospital and not there to fax a signature! (It sort of sounds like a "dog ate my homework" excuse!) I don't know why Dr. Sosman didn't figure into this picture. He must be away, again. Woody asked the tech if "he'd passed." Of course the techs can't say much...but she did say that she didn't see any problems, but that a doctor would read the test in the morning and send the report on to Vanderbilt. So now we wait to hear from Vandy and NIH. Our research nurse is off till Monday, but she said that she had left instructions for co-workers to send her the results when they arrive at Vandy. She told me that she would get the information on to the NIH research nurse as soon as she finds out that his stress test results fit within the parameter of NIH's requirements for the drug trial that they want for Woody. Oh, by the way, the tech at Harton told Woody that the reason that they didn't do the treadmill stress test was "cost." The stress test that he had today cost 1/3 of what a treadmill stress test costs.

Woody slept in a bit later this morning since he wasn't going to work. He headed off to the hospital a little after 8am and was home before 11am. He worked on the tedious painting of the spindles on the front porch. He wishes that he had gotten farther...but that is really "slow-go" painting.

I want to share a cute story about the above picture...it is Abigail with a wonderful find for a child...a bird egg! She, Joy, and Esther brought it over to show to me. They were so excited. At first they tried to find the nest that it had fallen from so they could put it back. Then, when they couldn't find the nest, they decided to make a nest for it (She had me get a bird book so they could look at nests!). Abigail was talking about raising the baby "chick." She talked about when it would be a teenager and when it would be six months old, etc. It was just so cute to listen to them plan the future of this little bird!!!!

I gave Abigail, Joy, and Esther their jumpers and matching tops today...another project completed! We just picked up our car that was in for some repairs...so things are heading back to "normal!" Back to "normal" just in time for the next disruption...perhaps NIH?!?