I Bet You Missed Me!

So I havn't blogged in quite a while, but I have several very good excuses. The rest of Mission Arlington went really well, and was quite drama free. The kids had fun and did a great job of spreading the Word. Thursday, I celebrated my 21st birthday in a very uneventful, but fun way at the Rainbow Expresses.

On Friday we went to Six Flags. I actually rode the Texas Giant! We got fast passes which made it possible for us to ride all of the big rides without waiting in line. Theoretically, its a great idea, but when you don't stop in between, it can make you very sick. I almost lost my lunch! We also met a really nice guy who let us sleep in the Sam Houston theather once we were done with the rides. Overall, I think it was my favorite trip to Six Flags.

Once we got back, I had a 90s birthday party at my house. Overall, it was a ton of fun. Thanks to everyone that came. Pictures are as follows:

The next week I spent the week playing catch up at school after missing a week while at MA. I had 3 different tests and 2 quizzes plus a couple of papers. Working at the same time left pretty much no time to blog.

On Thursday I headed home to Georgetown and hung out there for a while before heading to Goldthwaite for the Covey family reunion. It was interesting to say the least. I did a ton of things I have never done before: eat yellow meat watermelon, try fried alligator (it was very good), back road in a homemade buggy, watch older uncles drink moonshine in the barn "out back", and play washers. I also got hit on twice, and one of the boys that hit on me offered to "wrestle" Jaron the next day. Probably for my love. Overall, it was a really good time, and it was fun to spend time with Jaron's family.

Sunday is when what we shall now refer to "the sickness" began. Jaron and Philip spent the night here in Georgetown and we got up early and headed to Lockhart for church. I woke up with a killer headache and spent most of the day with it. By the end of the night it was making me sick to my stomach.

On Monday I still had my headache but made myself go to work, school, and then back to work. By the time I got home, I had a stiff neck and a very high fever, and a nurse on the nurse hotline recommended that I go to the ER because I was suffering from many symptoms of menigitis. My awesome roommates (thanks guys) took me to the hospital. I got blood work, CT scan, urine sample, and even a spinal tap (which, don't let doctors lie to you like they did to me, hurts!) but the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. The doctor there gave me some painkillers and told me to sleep it off.

Tuesday and Wednesday I laid on the couch in the living room very miserable. My roommates took great care of me, and Jo even came by and gave me little TLC. Thanks Jo! By Thursday I couldn't swallow spit, water, food, or anything else, my fever still hadn't gone down, and I was absolutely miserable, so my mom came and got me and took me to my doctor in Georgetown, who immediately checked me into the hospital because of severe dehydration, which was causing an unsafe increased heart rate and decreased oxygen intake.

Thursday and Friday were spent in the hospital. I got pumped full of all sorts of stuff the whole time I was there. By the time I left Friday evening, my left arm was twice the size of my right because the tissues were so full of fluid! Sodium, Saline, Potassium, Steriods, Antibiotics, you name it, it was in me. I also had to do urine tests, and a bunch of different blood tests. It wasn't a good experience for someone like me (I'm terrified of needles). I also had a pee in a special cup and keep track of how much I peed for the nurses. I needed help going to the bathroom, showering, eating, changing. It was a very demoralizing experience. The only positive was that I got all the jello, ice cream and yogurt I wanted, and all the nurses, doctors, and techs were very nice. Also, Jaron and Philip came and visited me (thanks guys) and my aunt and uncle sent me some very pretty flowers.

All the tests came back negative, and the doctors still have no idea what was wrong with me.

Once I finally got to go home, I was exhausted from not sleeping, and have been doing so the last couple of days. Today I went back in for more testing, and while I still have to wait for the test results to come back, the doctor has banned me from school and work until Monday. Mostly because all of my protein, potassium, and white blood cell count levels were too low to be around other people.

This means that instead of spending next week at Junior High Camp, I'll be busying catching up with school.

In conclusion, being sick sucks, and although "the sickness" made me lose 14 pounds and got me access to all the jello, ice cream and yogurt I could ask for, I don't wish it on anyone.

And that is my updated life.