My Favorite Hotel: Short Stay, No Room Service

Well, I took a little trip back to my “homeland” — aka the hospital. This time I checked into the glamorous Hotel LIJ in scenic New Hyde Park. My rheumatologist just so happened to be doing rounds there this week, and after our morning phone catch-up (basically a medical podcast featuring me), he told me to come on by.

In all my glory on the stretcher in the hallway

Fast-forward to 6:30 PM and guess what? I’m home. Not admitted. NOT admitted. Let the choir sing and the confetti fly — hallelujah!

Honestly, having your actual doctor at the hospital is like bringing your own VIP pass. Especially with sarcoid — the mysterious condition that even stumps half the medical world. Having my doc there, who actually knows what’s going on with me (shocking, I know), meant I didn’t have to play “Sarcoidosis 101” with every nurse and doctor in the building. Huge win. Fewer eye rolls, more actual care.

It was a loooong day, but let’s just skip to the final chapter of this chapter of my medical motion picture. Turns out, most of the drama I’ve been dealing with is thanks to my meds and the latest episode of “Let’s Start to Lower the Prednisone.” My always-generous BFF Sarcoid decided to throw in a bonus diagnosis: Fibromyalgia. Because why the hell not? Thank you, Sarcoid — you really have outdone yourself. You shouldn’t have.

The treatment plan…… just some more medications and rest. You really can’t make this stuff up. But hey — life keeps moving, and, so do I. No time to dwell in the pit of chronic illness doom; just gotta keep throwing positive vibes at the methotrexate/Humira duo and hope they start doing their thing.

Meanwhile, to keep the tiny humans from noticing Mom’s solo pity party, my MIL thankfully swooped in and took them to a local carnival. They’re out living their best cotton-candy-fueled lives on spinning rides, completely forgetting I exist — which, in this case, is a win.

Loving the rides…:rain boots and all!

Fashion update: Briggs is rocking his rain boots, despite the fact that it’s currently sunny outside. Doesn’t matter. He’s committed. Rain or shine, those boots are part of the vibe now, even to the carnival.

Tonight’s solo party is in full swing — I have a gourmet low-sodium turkey sandwich and a side of chickpea chips. Fancy shit, I know. While I eat dinner, I’m catching up on all the shows I missed this week (Chicago PD, my jam), and I might even break out the lemon sorbet. Ending the day sweet but sour — just like my life.

There is such a thing as chickpea chips and don’t knock it till you try it!

And the best part? This whole party is going down in my bed. Because Mamas, if you know, you know — there is no safer, cozier, or more sacred space than a mom in her bed, unbothered and snack-equipped.

Lots of love to my ride-or-die crew who checked in and kept me laughing while I was stuck in medical limbo — you guys are the real MVPs. Extra shoutout to Shirley, who totally saved the day by getting Ella to school after both of us had an alarm-clock fail. We straight-up slept through the bus. In my defense, I couldn’t sleep the night before… and of course, it all had to happen on the exact day my husband went into work in Manhattan at 6:15 AM. Classic.

Sleeping in gave her enough energy to party hard at the carnival

So yeah — today was a hot mess express with a side of medical mystery, but I survived. Kids are fed and entertained (thanks to my MIL), and I got to eat chickpea chips in bed like a glamorous mama queen. Fibromyalgia? Sarcoid? New meds? Bring it on. I’ve got my sorbet, my village, husband and kiddos to keep me grounded.

Here’s to taking the wins where we can get them, laughing through the chaos, and always keeping a little bit of sass in our survival strategy.