Good-bye to Maryland

This is the view out my window at the Safra Lodge this morning...and so many other mornings...I had an eastern view.

We left the inpatient oncology unit at 9:30 (8:30 central) this morning and we walked into our house at 6:30 central time this evening...a very long day! We left NIH at 10am on the shuttle headed for BWI (Baltimore/Washington International) airport. We got to the airport around 11am. We got Woody's boarding pass and a wheel chair and headed toward security. It was a bit of a struggle for me as I had to take care of all the carry-ons and both our shoes and the laptop...as Woody got taken through security by himself due to being in a wheel chair. Once we got "it" all together again we were off to find the elevator to get to the correct floor for our gate. They were so nice at the security gates...telling us exactly where the elevator was. I walked right by Woody when I got through security...didn't recognize from the back at first! Got to get used to that shaved head!

Once we found the elevator, we were off to find our gate...we got to our gate three hours prior to our flight! We people watched...saw one family with six children who had a set of twins. Then in a few minutes there was another family with twins. I got something to eat...Woody couldn't as he isn't supposed to eat restaurant food at the moment...he had a granola bar. Around 2pm (eastern) we found out that our flight was delayed. Then it was announced that our flight was overbooked. Then when the airplane finally came in, we were told that they had changed planes. Then before we were to get on the plane, we were told that there would be further delay due to some computer problems! We finally got to get on...Woody was wheeled on in style and I followed right behind! Woody decided that he wanted to sit by the window and he enjoyed looking out during the flight...the clouds were beautiful for a while and then part of the time he could see stuff on the ground. I had a very interesting lady sitting to my left and enjoyed talking with her during the flight. She is from the Bethesda area and when we were picking up our baggage she gave us her business card and told us to contact her if we needed anything when were at NIH in the future. We took off about an hour late and got in an hour late (makes sense!). We found the elevator and went downstairs to the baggage area...when we got there, I called Melany to see where she was...she had just gotten to the baggage area...I told her we were at carousel 5...and the next thing I knew there she was...couldn't have been better timing. We got our luggage and then proceeded to her vehicle. Woody did walk from the airport door out to the parking lot. Heat and humidity greeted us as we walked out the door. I haven't cooled down since. It was 85 in the downstairs...and I'm afraid to guess how hot it is upstairs...not sure that it will cool down enough to sleep tonight!

Right now Woody is light headed...probably a blood pressure problem...they started him back on his blood pressure medicine this morning and it was probably too soon after the IL-2 which drops blood pressure. And, he has discovered that he gets tired very quickly...which he should!

Now to rest and recoup after a long 3 weeks and 3 days away from home!