Epic Journey Home

We are home again, after an ambitious journey involving all possible means of transportation and multiple low-hemoglobin melt-downs. I'll explain.

Yesterday morning we woke early at Grandma and Papa Georgio's house at Union Bay, Vancouver Island, so that Wren could eat breakfast six hours before her scheduled blood work. The blood work required a six hour fast, so we thought that if she ate early enough we would be okay. Then Grandma Carol drove us to the Departure Bay ferry terminal and we walked on to the Queen of Cowichan. Wren associates BC Ferries with hotdogs, so we endured 2 hours of pleading and crying for hotdogs, which effectively cleared our section of the ferry of other passengers (so much room!)

Next we got on the Horseshoe Bay Express, a big articulating bus that races along the Upper Levels Highway to downtown. The bus was packed, and I (with Wren on my lap) was fortunate to wedge onto half a seat next to a very large and extroverted world traveler who entertained the entire bus with his life story. The girls were temporarily quieted and Wren began to doze just as we arrived at the Choo-choo High Station (the Georgia Street Sky Train). With car seats, stroller, back packs, Dora and Tinkerbell suitcases, and various other baggages in tow, we elevatored and escalatored down into the earth and boarded a Choo-choo High for the King Edward Station, the one closest to the hospital.  Back in the sunshine, we trundled our impedimenta 1/2 km to the BC Children's Hospital and disgorged into the oncology clinic waiting area.

Wren's blood work showed low hemoglobin, which explained the rash of recent irrational outbursts, but was high enough for us to continue without a transfusion. After meeting with our doctor, we grabbed a cab and headed for the airport, with a stop-over at the Little House to retrieve our remaining items that were jettisoned for our "alpine style" excursion to Vancouver Island. It took several tries to find a configuration that would allow all four of us and our belongings into the Toyota Prius taxi.

Poor, tired Wren was outraged about the seating arrangement and screamed for the entire trip to the airport, ensuring that the driver fully earned his $45 fare. "Goodbye Little Troublesome One" he said upon departing.

Then the flight, which went mercifully well with only a few minor outbursts. Nadina Mountain peaked through a foamy sea of cloud and we knew that we were nearly home. Finally we reached the Smithers airport where our old Rav 4 was waiting for us, and shortly we were home again, girls squealing with the excitement of rediscovery. I could barely stand, worn down by the day's many trials, as we tucked two tired little ones in bed. They soon fell asleep. Paula and I were not far behind.

It is great to be home.