A peek into Rich's world

Tonight we were all missing Rich and needed a break from the chaos of the house, so we decided it would be fun to pick up some pizza and go and visit Rich at the hospital. While I usually pack Rich dinner (that is if I actually cooked the night before and there are leftovers) and on occasion have driven to the hospital with the kids to drop off food to him and say a quick hello in the patient drop off zone, this was the first time I parked the car and went in to see where Rich has been hiding away for hundreds and hundreds of hours over the past year. That is sad to admit, but I am happy that now I can envision where he is working everyday and know where the little dark room he lives in when he is on call is found.

While we were walking in, some people look and count, some smile and some can't help themselves from saying, "you've got your hands full." Tonight it was actually true. There were no other people entering the hospital through the handicap entrance with three boys walking beside, a baby in their arms, another in the stroller while the second opening for a child is filled with 2 X-large pizzas from Papa John's and two 44 oz drinks from Speedway teetering on the tray. I am sure many wondered who we could possibly be coming to visit, though it was obvious they would be eating well!

As crazy as we may have looked, Rich was thrilled to see us, though I don't know if the dictation typist will be amused with the crying baby in the background on the tape. We ate pizza, Rich read a few films and then showed us around the place. We saw the lecture room, the on call room, the reading room, the resident room and the interventional area Rich is currently working in. The boys even got to feel a real skeleton.

It was a real treat to see him on a call night. Kaitlyn wouldn't let him go, all the boys wanted to stay the night and sleep on the bed in the call room and Brynn wanted to run down the halls and push all the doors open.

Thanks Rich for showing us around! I hope the bed gets used tonight for at least a few minutes, but somehow doubt it will. Maybe the rain will keep people home and safe.