Category: Health

My Humps, and Lumps, and Bumps…

Mario and I share everything, including flus and viruses. Whatever he has, I caught. I could barely drive home from school yesterday. It was 90° outside and I had the air off, windows up. I was freezing. I get home, take some DayQuil, nap for an hour and a half before I have to pick Eenan up (and go to the library to pick up a book, the bank and the post office), and then I get the sweats. Not just any sweats, not the kind that form tiny water bubbles over your pores, no. These were waterfall-type sweats. The lady attending me at the library must have thought I was having crack withdrawls. The pain I was having in my neck–which I thought was due to sleeping crooked–has become unbearable. My neck is swollen on the left side. I can barely turn to check my blind spots when I’m driving. It sucks. I didn’t know Mario was having this problem until today. Hypochondriac that I am I searched on Webmd.com and found this article:

Swollen glands with shaking chills or a fever

Having swollen glands and feeling ill are typical symptoms of many viral illnesses, such as colds or sore throats, that often get better with home treatment. When these symptoms occur with shaking chills or a high fever, it may mean a more serious infection is present. Uncontrollable shaking chills (rigors) that occur with a high fever can make the teeth chatter or the bed shake. They are usually caused by the release of bacteria into the bloodstream and a severe infection.

Bacterial infections are usually treated with antibiotics. Prompt treatment can prevent complications.

Lovely. It doesn’t even say EXACTLY WHAT WE’RE INFECTED WITH!

Having no health insurance sucks. Luckily Mary’s going to Mexico tomorrow to get us Penicillin. God Bless that woman.

Changing the subject, we went to Mr. Gatti’s today. The whole class actually conversed with each other and we were all very pleasant. I felt delighted and saddened at the same time because it took us this long to be peaceful with each other. They’re graduating next month. It’s really sad when you think about it .

We (Mayra and I) had a talk with Lucy today. I just don’t know how to help that girl. We’re worried about her more than ever. I want to call her and talk to her but I just don’t know what to say. I have no experience with these kinds of things.

Mario, the kids, Mary and I had an early dinner at The House of China. I felt like a gluttonous pig since I’d only eaten 5 hours earlier and was still full (or maybe it’s this virus thing? Mario and I both feel full all the damn time). Mary, who was sitting beside Eenan felt his head and she said he had a fever. We decided to take him to the doctor as soon as we were done eating.

They ran four tests on him: urine, blood, nose scrape and throat scrape. The diagnosis: Strep Throat. His doctor said either we have the same thing and it’s just idle for now or we just have something totally different. But she usually didn’t see neck pain involved with Strep. I promised him a Pokemon toy since he’d been so brave with all the tests, especially the one that pricks your finger to check your blood. Even I hate that. I’d rather get blood drawn through a vein in my arm.

I’m going to cuddle with my sickly husband now. I can barely hold my neck up and I have the chills. He’s got a fever and has the fan pointed to him so there’s going to have to be some type of compromise…

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Whirlwind

I’m fine, I’m alive. Passed my Technical Writing class with an A. Did great on my presentation, which was on Mario’s cell phone, if I do say so myself. Mayra, Ricci, and Lucy all did great, too. Everyone did actually–I was really impressed.

Ricci hadn’t gone to school in a while as I last mentioned. I went over there last Thursday after school and kidnapped her and the girls. I’d gotten a phone call from her, well Goyo actually, and she wrote me a letter saying her car was stolen. I was in shock. I couldn’t believe how much bad luck she’d had. She caught up on her assignments here, she turned it in and we did our presentations the next day and then we visted her Grandma. We got some shocking news about her car. I won’t go into detail as it’s not my story to tell, but she’s car-less.

Lucy seems to be having problems now, more than ever. She’s missed school two days in a row and that’s just unusual of Lucy. I don’t know how to help her and that sucks. It sometimes seems like she doesn’t want help at all.

Mayra, Rolando, Ricci and I went to eat at the House of China yesterday after school. It was fun and our conversations were just crazy. Ricci and I stopped by Mario’s work today and he sent me to Taco Bell to get him a Gordita, so I got Ricci and myself some food. Yum. I got that Fiesta Salad. Too bad I have incredible heart burn now!

We’re having a “Field Trip” on Friday to T-Mobile and after that we’re eating at Mr. Gatti’s. With all this fast food, it’s a wonder that I can’t figure out JUST HOW I’m gaining weight.

I actually lost 3 lbs. over this weekend after catching a virus on Friday (I even had to leave school early!), but I’m pretty sure I gained it all back, plus some, heh. I love food, what can I say?

Ok, the Fideo is burning or something and I feel like my body’s about to collapse. I’m so tired. Poor Mario came home from work with a fever and ear ache. I hope he’s okay for tomorrow.

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Christmas Eve 2005

It’s a sunny 79° outside right now. Needless to say it won’t be a White Christmas in south Texas this year. Bah humbug.

My immune system sensed that Christmas was ’round the corner because it decided to discombobulate after school on Thursday. I decided to drink orange juice this morning to accelerate my recuperation and sort of over did it as I now have a horrible upset stomach. I hate colds!

I spent Wednesday night getting everything ready for school: gifts, lasagna, cookies, camera. My car was packed to the brim Thursday morning. I got to school and took a few things in, and noticed all the presents under our “Christmas Tree”, which was a tree drawn with a marker on the dry-erase board. Romeo and Kimberly helped me bring everything else in and we put everything in it’s place. I read a card (a Cheer Bear one) that Ricci wrote to me. I initially thought Kimberly wrote it (I had my thumb over the name) and felt so embarrased when I said, “Aww, thank you, Kimberly!” and Ricci turns around and says, “THAT’S FROM ME!”

It seemed really odd to me while I was reading “Kimberly’s” card that everything she mentioned was what Ricci and I had been through. I felt like an airhead!

I really appreciate my friends though. I never thought I’d find friends like these and I just feel so blessed. It’s not because of the holidays, either. I think about them all the time and thank God for bringing them into my life.

Speaking of, Lucy looked really sad and…indifferent that day. I wish she’d just talk to me, but she seems to only open up to Mayra. It doesn’t bother me that she doesn’t talk to me, it just makes me feel a little disappointed. I wish there was a way I could make her feel better.

We reviewed chapters 2 & 3 of our new class, Business Communications, for the test we’d be having before our party. I can officially say, I highly dislike adjectives. Some of them are confusing to me. I can honestly say we weren’t taught certain things in high school.

Anyway, after reviewing, we opened gifts! From Kimberly and Romeo I got the Good Luck Bear baby, from Ricci a beautiful red glass pitcher with two glasses, from Mayra a gorgeous banana (?) clip, charm bracelet and red sequined purse; from Lucy a Hello Kitty toaster (exact one I got last year), Care Bear stickers, and glittery Hello Kitty switch plate; and from my Secret Santa, Rosy, a huge basket full of Sweet Pea lotions and bath stuff. I was thrilled with my stuff :).

I gave Rolando his present, which was a gift card to the mall since I COULD NOT figure out what to get him. I mean he gave ideas, but there was no way I could afford what he wanted. I figured I’d get him a gift card so he could choose what he’d like and actually LIKE IT.

I was utterly surprised when he rushed by, gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and whispered, “Mario got really lucky with you.” It could have also been that he was in love with the cookies and lasagna I’d made LOL. He kept saying, “WHY’D you have to be married?!” I guess what they say is correct: The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!

Unfortunately for him, I’m perfectly happy being married .

I felt really warm inside hearing compliments about my cooking. That never gets old to me. We had a great time pigging out. We laughed and talked and had fun. Mrs. C-R was with us, too. Most of the other side of the class had left, but that didn’t bother me at all. Everyone who’s company I enjoy was there .

I planned to chill out with Ricci at her Grandma’s for a while after school, but I got a call from Mom that Eenan’d been stung by a bee. I rushed home of course, thinking the worst, but thankfully he was fine.

Mom agreed to watch the kids on Friday while Mario and I went out to finish our Christmas shopping. We picked up some McDonald’s, then we went to Norma C.’s car lot first where he’d install a radio in a car and then we went to the bank. We tried killing some time before he had to pick his check up from work so we went to check on our property in McAllen.

We got down and inspected the lots. Mario estimates that we’ll be spending at least $2,000 to get the trees uprooted only from the backyard. There’s so many trees on that lot it’s not even funny. It looks like a mini-forest in the middle of town, no kidding. I felt this overwhelming feeling of bliss standing there, making plans with him about our future home. I momentarily stopped hearing what he was saying and just stared at him standing in the ray of sunlight and I thought, I’m so glad I married this man.

I really can’t wait to build our home together. I can’t wait to go through life together and raise our kids together. This is so important to me. I just pray that we’ll be able to actually uproot those trees and that Mario can buy his motorcycle since work would only be a few blocks away.

We met up with Mary and Elda at Chick-fil-a to eat lunch, and shortly after Mario was called to pick up his check. Then came the hours of shopping, paying $10 for crappy valet service, and having a fit at Target because they wouldn’t let me exchange my Hello Kitty toaster for something that wasn’t in Housewares. They wouldn’t even let me take pillows! Pillows go in a HOUSE!

Mario stopped by this little stand he likes to buy hotdogs at, then we ordered pizza and rented movies. We ate fast food all day, how sad. BUT, I’m so glad we finished with our Christmas shopping.

We visited Gramma this morning and took her her gifts. I really miss her. It would be the perfect Christmas if she were able to spend it with us *sigh*.

I’m going to go back to Mary’s. I’ve been trying to rest, but with all the kids running in and out of the house it’s basically impossible. All the kids are playing in the bedroom and I JUST finished cleaning half of it so I think I’ll take them with me. *checks* Oh yeah, they’re making a mess.

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Christmas. God Bless!

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