I've typed this three times and lost it because it took me too long. So this time I'm going to cut and paste to avoid that! So Recovery House was about 15 minutes away. Celestine, my daughter and I piled into the van and off we went to Recovery house (RC). This was really nice. I gated community - every home gated and entry gated and door gated. You are safe!! The ride there was a bit dodgy so be prepared.

Lovely comfy couches downstairs, a nice help-yourself kitchen and all the popsicles and kirkland brand water you can drink. The coffee uses filtered water too. Two bedrooms down and a regular bathroom - and two bedrooms upstairs and two bathrooms upstairs. One bedroom is large with 3 twin bed and a small alcove with two more beds. Very comfortable and AC throughout. the best part was the area to the left of the entry which looks like a garage but has been converted to a couryard - tiled - plants - chairs and a swing (be careful - it's hard to get out of).

Ray arrived later in the afternoon. HollyB and Eva were already there having been sleeved the day before me. They welcomed us and talked about the house, staff, and most of us were getting around pretty good. Celestine stayed in bed most of the time as she did not feel good at all. I'm sure her tummy was sore from getting sick the night before. So this was relaxing to walk around the courtyard - get those gas bubbles moving. Everyone took showers and had their bandages redressed. Sylvester is the house man or concierge if you like. He works 7 days a week for his room and board and his wages consist of tips. He never told me this but Katie spent a lot of time when we were sleeping or going for tests and he revealed some of his life to her. Seems odd to work 7 days a week - no holidays.

That night I got a shot in the rear with my antibiotic, and pain med, took a pill and was off to lala land in no time. (Note* I took my IV out as soon as I got to RC and no one noticed...I hate the darn things) Don't do this unless you clearly know what you are doing!

The next morning we were given our blue dye to drink...guess what - it tastes like blue dye...with a hint of dandelion (bitterness) added. Yum - I showed Ray that I was ahead of him and he chugged the rest of his HA HA!! Men!

So we pile into the van head to the clinic to pick up the others going for their Xray - Gem, Eva, and a few others. Gem and Eva had just started their ink drink and had not progressed too far and both ahd barf buckets with them. Oh oh please don't hurl on the way! We made it there safely but several barely touched their dye. No one commented and evidently it didn't matter. So this was sort of funny. here's exactly how they run you through the Xray gauntlet...

"Call your Name - in here - stand there - ye there - don't move - drink this in two swallows - straight down - take breath and don't move" So when they said go - I drank (yuck) xray - and all done! 15 minutes later we were on our way back to RC. Now - don't throw up or you have to do it over... right Eva? Poor sweetie. I think Celestine had to go through twice as well.

Back to clinica to exchange people...Gem going to RC and Eva and her spouse to a hotel and some others to RC. When we finally arrived back at RC - the nurse pulled our drains (I had Katie packing our suitcases so we could go back to San Diego a day early and try to get a flight back home).

Passing back through the border was about the same 20 minutes. You have to show your passport and then off to the airport. Katie and I said our goodbyes to Celeste and Ray and Eva and Dean. Gem remained in the RC for another night.

It was an interesting and "out of my comfort zone" experience but with the other people there - we sort of kept each other going. Definately worth it - but I am so very thankful I am currently in the Holiday inn Express (which joining their Holiday Inn Points plan - free) gets you a later checkout 2:00 pm at any Holiday Inn. So we'll check out today at 2 - head to the airport and shuffle off to buffalo...I mean idaho and live happily ever after. The important part being I will LIVE! I promise to not be a slug (or gamer potatoe) anymore! Love Reb

P.S. Thank you God for letting me be an American.

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