A Hospital Stay is Never on the List of Things to Do

 September 6 - 10, 2022

Jonesville, North Carolina

For the first time, I modified a blog post after it was published. Originally the previous post included a final note about Bill being in the hospital, but since family didn't know yet I didn't want that to be the way they found out - so I deleted that bit. A couple of you saw it before the change, but Bill was able to tell the boys directly - much better.

Monday afternoon Bill is struggling to catch his breath so I take him across the street to Urgent Care. Unknown to me (for some reason they don't think to look for me in the waiting room) they send him to the hospital in an ambulance 20+ minutes before I ask about his status. I find him at the ER breathing much easier.

We're told he's going to be kept a couple days to deal with pneumonia and other issues. I'm grateful for our current and next-stop RV parks for their flexibility with our necessary travel changes. Also for the ER doctor who manages to get the local hospital to keep Bill here rather than transferring him 45 minutes to Winston-Salem. Although I'm confident he's going to be fine, these factors lessen the stress of medical issues on the road. No one puts a hospital stay on their list of activities!

A big surprise is his positive COVID test. Just as surprising to the hospital staff as they agree he doesn't have symptoms. Alas it means he's on a closed unit where I can only visit once a day for two hours in full gown. Fortunately they allow Tessa to join me, but Bill can't pet her. I test negative.

Safe haven.

Somehow we just knew we'd have strong Internet here :-)

Over the next few days I mostly hang around home before and after our two-hour visits. Wednesday I figure this is a good opportunity to have sushi which Bill doesn't like. The closest is in Mt Airy, 30 minutes away. While the sushi is mediocre, the town that inspired the fictional town of Mayberry RFD has a cute downtown to explore. My favorite discovery is the vintage police cars (there are two) that give visitors tours of the points of interest. Apparently the pic I thought I took, I didn't :-(

Maybe the sushi would have been better if this dude wasn't staring at me the whole time!

A very pretty area.

Mt Airy, NC - the original Mayberry RFD, home of Andy Griffith.

Like the bears and seals found in other small towns, Mt Airy features painted fiddles in their downtown.

It may be Andy's hometown, but Barnie is the most celebrated.

This advert was discovered when the building beside it was demolished - they were built less than a foot apart. It was restored and the space converted to a resting area for historic downtown.

Thursday the doctor(s) confirm Bill is doing great, and can likely come home on Friday. We're ready to have this blip in our plans behind us! I make new reservations for our next stop, and cancel one to make a longer drive that keeps us on schedule to visit friends in Tennessee next week. Like sushi, Thai food is also not a favorite of Bill's. I love it, and make a stop to celebrate the good news. 

Panang Curry at Prime Thai - sooo much better than the sushi!

Every afternoon.

Getting out of the hospital always takes longer than it should, but he's finally released and we're back home together. I guess I just blocked out the whole "you're going to be living in 400 square feet with COVID" reality of his coming home. Of course short of masks and lots of disinfectant and taking immune booster, I'm not sure exactly what there is to do. Not like I can strap him on the roof!   Hmmmmm......

Not sure what the deal is with us and September! In 2020 the slides quit and we came back to Arizona early. Last year the SUV crashed into the house and we were back early again. This year we have this drama! Hopefully he continues to feel better, but we know we might have to return early once again if not. 

More rain expected for our Saturday drive, but we're grateful to be continuing west.

Henry off to pre-K

And so is Reese.

Aaaaand Little M too!!