The doctor's visit

So today was D-Day for both Mama and Second-or-Third Cousin.  Mama and I visited the oncologist today, and even though we both kept saying it was nothing we were a bundle of nerves.

Of course we didn't just go to the doctor.  We got to Sikeston super-early and had time to eat and swing by Goodwill, which I always like to do.  Mama needed a restroom and I wanted to look at any dolls they had.  Dig this funny-looking thing!

She was made of rough, cheap porcelain with a stiff cloth body and hot pink yarn hair.  Yep, YARN hair.  Yarn hair is not uncommon for rag dolls and not unheard of for dolls from the second world war, but this one was a weird one.

Speaking of rag dolls, Madeline toned the weirdness down somewhat.

Most Madeline dolls have removable clothes and visible appendix scars, but alas, this Madeline had her dress permanently attached.  Madeline's closest shelfmate was this Irish girl, Maggie. 

Maggie is ready to compete in a feis...or she would be if she could stand up straight.  Rounding up the items that caught my attention was this very pretty teddy bear. 

I'd have named him Cranbeary, LOL!  I didn't need any of these items so I didn't buy them, though I have to admit that I liked that first gal with the weird pink hair.

Then, of course it was time to go to the doctor.  Mama had been told that the doctor was more of a blood doctor than a cancer doctor, but the sign in front wasn't reassuring. 

The good news is that Mama doesn't have cancer.  The doctor said that though her hemoglobin levels were a little high they were still in the normal range.  He diagnosed her with secondary polycythemia, stated that the leading cause of this is sleep apnea, and scheduled Mama for a sleep study.  He also wants her nurse practitioner to keep an eye on the hemoglobin levels over the next few months.  So that's it!  Mama will probably be okay, and if she gets treatment for sleep apnea then she might even feel better than she does now!

While we were waiting for Mama's doctor we learned that Second-or-Third Cousin came through his surgery fine.  He'll have to lie very, very still for a time, but as always he's putting his faith in God and in his physicians.  So today started off nerve-wracking but ended on a positive note.  I'm thankful to our good Lord above for taking care of us all, and I pray that he'll continue to do so.  Thank y'all for the prayers, positivity, and advice!

Much love,
RagingMoon1987