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The initial phone call came in at about 14:30 advising that Miss Sophia was going to be admitted to the hospital (yep, in San Bernardino County) for suspicion of pneumonia.  Of course, I volunteered to head up Boy Patrol, so I grabbed my go bag and started out for the IE.  But first, a trip to Target was needed … who knew that I would wind up going to be the first of three trips to that very Target in as many days … I needed to secure prizes for the patient, as well as the also under-the-weather little brother.

Almost 3.5 hours later … traffic was ludicrous … I was within a mere 0.5 miles of the aforementioned hospital, and more importantly, to my poor niece who undoubtedly had been put in jail, err hospital issued clothes, who was yearning for Target purchased items that would hopefully, temporarily, distract her from her plight. 

But I digress.

I had started to turn left onto Foothill Blvd., when my dashboard started flashing that I had an incoming call.  (So Batman).  The parents were in dire need of dinner.  Carl’s Jr. was requested and I obliged … if it gave them the trots, they were already in the hospital.

Finally, I was back on my way and I arrived at the hospital.  What a clusterfuck.  It’s still under massive construction and I swear the entrance location / parking pattern / valet drop-off keeps changing.  I struggled to make my way to the valet, now saddled with two diet cokes, two burgers + fries, my skull purse and my messenger bag.  I didn’t need the messenger bag, but there was no way in hell that I was going to leave my iPad in the car under the care of a valet in the 909.

I entered the hospital.  I swear the Scorsattos should have their own wing.  The only reason I don’t get panicky + nauseous in there anymore is because my sister had her fabulous children there … now I can manage to squash, albeit temporarily, the memories of my grandfather’s final days there by thinking of the arrivals of our bonus Italians, Sassafras and her sidekick, Dominic. 

But again, I am meandering along another tangent …

I was juggling all of my gear and the Sinks’ dinner and headed to the 3^rd floor, Peds.  My heart was in my throat as I rounded the nurses’ station to 319B.  I’d never seen a kid in the hospital outside of L+D.   Lucky for me, Sophia was off having a chest x-ray, so I had a minute to acclimate.  Oh, and to bitch about the traffic.

F.  Seeing Sophia return to her room in a WHEELCHAIR hooked up to Charlie, her IV, took my breath away.  It was so hard to be strong for her … I would have taken her place in a heartbeat.

Sophia was so brave.  And patient.  (Pun intended).  She had her toys and she loved opening her prizes.  My sister was preparing to spend the night, so I tried to convince her that they were camping.  (So not even glamping).  Hafuckingha.  It was difficult, but I left and made my way to the Sink Estate to collection provisions for Blondie.

Upon my arrival at the SE, I was greeted by the boy faction of the Sink family.  Man, that Dominic is cute.  James and I gathered Kim’s supplies and the three of us headed back to the hospital.  Mission, and yes, we chose to accept it, was to 1. Drop stuff off to Kim and 2. To drive the boy to sleep.  Duh, we were successful.  After visiting with the Sink Ladies, the boys and I headed back to the Estate.  It was rough, but we made it.

Oh, and Happy Birthday, James.