Day 186

What a day! I'm amazed I got through it without crying my eyes out. My goodness!

I did my regular morning duties, and had just under 5 minutes to read to the boys before we headed off to school, but they wanted me to read what I could anyway. Which was nice. We all went out the front door, and as usual, Zach trailed behind, as we made our way down the paths. When we arrived, I asked Nathaniel to stand in line so that I could see him from Zach's class. He got upset with me because "No one in his class was wearing a coat, why did he have to". I explained that everyone in his class was probably a better sicky than him as well, and walked Zach up to his portable. I spoke to Michelle, and then proceeded home.

When I arrived, I didn't have long at all. I sat down, got some directions for where I had to go to get to an appointment I had, and checked some e-mails. Before long, I was out the door, giving myself an hour to find where I had to be. This was where all of the chaos began.

I started driving towards Chelmsford, and when I got to a certain point, I started following signs for the hospital. It was about 10 minutes later when I really began to listen to the little voice that had been screaming "YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY" at me for the last 5 minutes. I decided, even though I was following signs, that I needed to turn around, as I was approaching Springfield, and I knew I wanted to be in Chelmsford. I found somewhere to turn around, and headed back to where I thought I wanted to be. I pulled over and asked someone if he knew where I had to go. He explained to me, but told me I was quite far away. I repeated the directions back to him, and began the pursuit, once again.

I went most of the way, and thought I was close, so when I got to a traffic light, I rolled down my window and asked someone if I was to turn at the next roundabout. She told me which way to go, and then said to follow signs for the hospital. I did as she said, and reached a hospital at 11:30. (My appointment was 11:40). As I drove through the car parks, I noticed that I was most likely, at the wrong hospital. I couldn't believe it! I pulled over and asked someone if it was St. John's Hospital and she told me it wasn't. She then tried to explain how to get there from where we were, but when her husband got out of the car, the two of them decided it was way too complicated. They told me you couldn't drive straight there, you had to go a very roundabout way. They said they'd take me to a certain part, and drew me a map for where they would leave me. I thanked them, and we began our journey. I was super stressed out. I almost got rear ended at one point, and at another, I almost got in an accident at a roundabout. UGH! I followed them a bit further, and at a light, they pulled over. The lady hopped out of the car and told me they would escort me the entire way. I could not believe their kindness. I followed them to a location I NEVER would have found on my own, and when I was saying goodbye and thanking them I offered them the only cash I had. They wouldn't take it and told me not to be so silly. They asked what time I had to be there, and when they realized I was already 10 minutes late, they said goodbye and forewarned me that the parking lot was atrocious. I pulled in, and saw a guy pulling out. I instantly threw on my indicator, hoping no one would steal the spot. The guy pulled out, and I attempted to get in. As I reversed I thought "There's no chance in hell the beast is getting in there" *THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID* - Sorry, it had to be done - and so I pulled out, and luckily found another spot right away. I pulled in, closed the door and went to the meter. It didn't take bills, just coins. GREAT! I walked over to the first couple I saw, and asked if they had change for a 5. They told me they had just used it in the meter. I walked up to the next couple I saw, and asked the same question. Between the two of them, they came up with the money and I gave them my bill. I was so grateful. I went over to the meter. I read it. 3 pounds for 15 minutes to 3 hours. I put in one pound, then the next. I tried the 3rd, and it wouldn't take it. I tried switching the coin, it wouldn't take any of them. "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" I thought. The next thing I heard, while getting very frustrated, was a woman's voice. "Have you already put your money in?" I looked up, and she was speaking to me from her van window. I told her I had, but it wasn't taking the rest. She told me she had a ticket and asked if it was too late. I managed to cancel what I was doing, grabbed my coins and booked it over to her van. I thanked her and told her she had just made my day. I went over to the car, put the ticket on the dash, locked up and went on a search for the building I needed. I approached a woman at the meter and asked if she knew where the building was. Her answer? "No, I know that once you have the baby, it's over there". Too stressed to dwell on the fact that she thought I was pregnant (until later when it went round my head...Am I that fat? Do I look like the type of person that would just sleep around?), I thanked her anyway, and walked up the way I had driven in. I found the building, and went into reception.

When I got to the desk, my eyes filled with tears that I was sure were going to pour out anytime soon, I told the receptionist I was sorry, and I was so late! "Oh...and I was just about to close up" she said. I sort of thought she was kidding, but couldn't be sure. I paused for a minute...looked down at the counter, then back up as there was silence. I said "Really?". She smiled and said no. I was so relieved. She asked my name, and told me my folder was sitting right in front of her and not to worry. She joked around with me a bit, and then told me where the waiting room was. I sat down, and finally let my mind start to relax. It wasn't easy, and my head was pounding, but I took a couple of deep breaths, and eventually the stress drained out of me.

An hour passed, and the waiting room emptied. I was the last person sitting there when the nurse came out and said my name. I stood up and she told me they weren't ready yet, she just wanted to come out and apologize for making me wait so long. What could I say? I had been 10 minutes late myself. I said that was ok, and sat back down. Finally I went in to see the doctor for what must have been 5 minutes. Once I finished with him, I had to get some blood work done. I also had to book another appointment. - Yes, I have to find this place again another day - The receptionist asked me if I was booking another one, and when I said yes, she said "Oh good, we like the nice ones to come back". It was so nice to know that she didn't think I was psycho, and that even through my stress, people could see that I'm not an arrogant person who's always late. She gave me the number in case I can't find it next time, and I explained that I was going to call today, but because I didn't know where I was, or where I was going, I didn't have time to pull over to tell them I was late, and it's illegal to speak on the phone while you drive here. She said that was true, but they would have liked the call because then all of the girls would have had a laugh. Haha. She was awesome. I left the desk, and walked through the hospital, out the door, and to a portable to get my blood test. No one was at the desk there, the seats were filled with people, and you had to take a number, and sit amongst the crowd. I was number 78, and we were only at 60...if that. I told myself as long as I left by 2, I'd be fine to get the boys from school. It was at about 1:30 when they finally called me in. The nurse told me to have a seat, and seeing the bed there, I told her I better lay down. I explained what normally happens to me in this situation, and she was a bit of a muppet. "Well, there's no reason for you to pass out" UM HI! Don't you think if I could help it, I would. It's not exactly the best feeling in the world. I couldn't believe she said it. I laid down and chose to ignore the comment. She did what she had to, and I got up to leave. She told me to sit down for a minute so she could watch me I guess. Knowing there was a room full of patients though, sitting there was the last thing I wanted to do. She took out the tape, and dropped it on the floor. I told her it was ok, I didn't need any, to which she said "It's ok, I have a new one here", and she took more out of the drawer. Awesome. I now had tape across my arm, that I knew was going to have me in pain later. Ugh. I put my sweatshirt on, went outside as quickly as I could, and began the dreaded drive home.

Because I drove around for so long beforehand, I knew that I would have to get gas on the way home. I found my way alright, a few turn arounds, but other than that it was really ok. I was panicking though, because at one point, I looked to see how much gas I had, and it said 25 miles. Ok, I thought, I can get to a gas station by then. Well, I headed towards Colchester (as Kelvedon is in the middle of Chelmsford and there), and the signs said 20 miles. I drove, thinking I'd hit a gas station, but was soon on the highway. Awesome. I had to turn around, as I missed a turn, and the gas was down to 20 miles. Then as I was driving, the gas station I wanted was on the opposite side of the highway, so I had to go almost home to turn around, and that's when the gas meter said ---! It couldn't tell me how much gas I had left! I prayed I would make it to the station, and was literally talking to the car. Luckily, I made it. I then proceeded to pay the equivalent of 85 dollars, for less than half a tank of gas! RIDICULOUS!

By the time I got home, it was 5 to 3. I had yet to have lunch, and had a huge tension headache. I downed some raisins, and grabbed an apple. 5 minutes later, I walked up to get Nathaniel and his friend Cameron. The other 2 were going to friends houses for dinner. I picked them up, and we walked home. When I got back, I made their dinner, and then Heloise came home. After dinner I sat down with a crossword, and then went in to see how they were getting on. They wanted me to play Wii with them. We played Super Mario Bros while Heloise went to get Josh, and Cameron's mom came to pick him up. Soon after Josh got home, the two had to go off to Judo. When Zach got home, the two of us made a Spongebob robot, and he went up to bed. I went up right away, and after speaking to my Mom for a bit, I went to sleep. Now to write today's blog...xx