The Park with Allison

Last week the weather here was so nice that the boys and I decided to meet some dear friends at the park. Kristin and Allison met us there for a lovely morning of play and food. My boys both adore Allison. Drew has always loved her, he called her "baby Allison" for the longest time. Once Cooper was born, Allison was torn between the Milliorn boys. I am afraid Cooper may win the affections of sweet Allison in the end, purely because of the age difference. Allison is only 7 months older than Cooper, but Drew is nearly 3 years older than Allison. We will worry about that heart break later, right now it is just sweet to see them playing together, and it gives Kristin and I time chance to talk.

Cooper is trying to share a pretzel with Allison.

Drew helping Allison down the slide.

Drew, just walking.

Cooper loved swinging.

Memory Lane

In December of 1990, I had surgery at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas to treat scoliosis (curvature of the spine). It was 2 weeks before my 17th birthday, and I was a junior in high school. I remember my 5 days in the hospital very well (except the part when I was still pretty drugged up.) So imagine my surprise when I was asked to take part in a medical research study, following up on patents who have had scoliosis surgery 20-30 years ago. Really... was it really 19 years ago? Yep, I am that old. In talking to the surgeon who called to ask me to participate, I found out that 4 of the 5 doctors who treated me are still on staff at TSRH. How cool is that? So at the end of December I dropped the boys off at my parents house and drove to Dallas to have some Xrays taken, and have an exam done as part of the study. I didn't realize what a trip down memory lane it would be, how excited I would be about going back, or how little things had changed in the years since I had been there. While I was there they tried to get my main doctor to come down to say hello, but he was in a meeting so they couldn't get in touch with him. I really wish I could have seen him... he was the one I remembered.

I saw that sign every time we drove there for appointments... about 4 years total.

This hangs in the lobby. It is the same one that was there when I was a patient. They also have always had popcorn in the lobby. That smell brought back all the memories of being there 19 years ago.

All the sections of exam rooms have a theme. These have not changed a bit.

I spent a lot of time napping in rooms just this when I was a teenager, waiting to see the doctor. I remember the appointment when they decided I needed surgery was the longest we ever waited.

Even though at 17 I hated having surgery, and all that went with it, I always new that TSRH was a great place for kids, and I actually remember my time there fondly. I was one of the lucky ones that was only there for a few days and was able to see my family everyday. There were girls in my recovery room who had been there for months, who hadn't seen their families in weeks. There was something going on everyday to get these kids out of the rooms and allow them to have some fun. Instead of sterile white walls, everything is brightly colored and geared for kids.

Hopefully I don't ever need the services of TSRH for Drew or Cooper, but if I do, I know they will be in great hands.