Letter to Susannah

Hi,
 
I thought it was mud season. Even the sign on the local road says so.  We are in New Hampshire for the weekend. It is the middle of April, but according to the temperature forecast the high today will be 26-degrees. Mike, the man who had to tow our car out of a 3-foot snow-filled ditch twice, informed us that the ponds are still 18 inches thick with ice.  (I am going to say that again in case you missed it. Mike had to tow us out twice. It is a long story, and, for the record, I thought we should walk rather than drive. My new GOR-TEX Italian hiking boots are pretty awesome. Walking in snow is now a pleasure. Christian’s nine-year-old boots have holes in them. Maybe that is why he wanted to drive.) 
 
Yet, even with the weather, the weekend away is a welcome reprieve from the busy-ness of last week. We were in Boston a lot.  Some of it was for fun. Some of it was required and not fun.
 
Ten days ago, Friday: MFA with Susan, friend and Pilates instructor extraordinaire, to see the Klimt and Schiele exhibit. It was quite good. We had a fabulous lunch. 
 
A week ago, Sunday: MFA again with the Pearson Lo Family to see the M.C. Escher exhibit, which I appreciate, and the kids really enjoy. We had a fantastic brunch at the museum’s “fancy” restaurant. I love this place for two reasons: first, because you dine while seated next to a Yayoi Kusama painting, and second, because Emlen, who is enamored with the menu, eats his weight in hash browns, eggs, and white chocolate mousse. 
 
Tuesday: Trip to Children’s Hospital to visit Emlen’s pulmonologist for a follow-up appointment at nine in the morning. I find driving in rush hour traffic exhausting. Emlen’s PFT’s are back up. So, after the usual tests and a quick exam we were dismissed with a plan in case the cough comes back – test result dependent of course.  (Did I ever say rollercoaster?)
 
Thursday: Emlen and Henry’s annual trip to the see their ENT at Children’s. Emlen’s sinuses seem to be fine which is odd for a CF patient who refuses to do his daily saline rinses.  Henry’s sinuses, on the other hand, are a mess even though he does not have CF and diligently does his saline rinses at least two times a day. The nose scope revealed inflamed adenoids. If we can’t get on top of the current infection, surgery for Henry is potentially on the horizon. 
 
Friday: At this point I had sort of mentally prepared myself for another trip back to Children’s to stay the weekend on the 9th floor CF ward. I also considered hiring a real estate agent to help us find a city apartment. However, due to the good test results from Tuesday’s appointment Emlen’s pulmonologist’s plan does not involve IV’s at this time. Yay! No need for an apartment this week!. If his cough comes back, we are going to try a different and stronger oral antibiotic. Still in a holding pattern, I guess.  
 
The pulmonologist also said that the arrival of spring should bring relief. 
 
When is that going to happen? 
It is snowing. 
I should have brought a hat.
 
Hi to Miranda, Iris and Tim,
xo
Elizabeth

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