Dare I say I’m actually feeling better? I haven’t taken Tylenol or Advil since yesterday–and it wasn’t for fever, but for the incredible pain I have due to my stupid wisdom tooth uprooting my gums. I’m still really tired all the time, but I haven’t had a fever *knocks on wood* and my body isn’t aching in odd places (like my buttcheeks or the bottom of my feet–now that was annoying!).

Mary seems to have what we have, which seems to be Mono according to this website. Vic was kind enough to point me in its direction and I’m not kidding you, it describes our symptoms to the T. Mary got a blood test done, and since we don’t have insurance, we’re counting on her results on Monday to confirm whether we have Mono or not.

I took John to school with me yesterday for a sort of observation day. I think he liked it–maybe not so much the fact that my friends and I laugh, loudly, all day long, but other than that I really do think he enjoyed the class. It would have been cool if he’d had the chance to start with me when I first enrolled, but at least we’ll hopefully be in school a month together before I finish.

We laughed uncontrollably during one of our breaks when Ricci told John it would be his fault if her baby “came out” with a powdered donut face since he ate them all without offering her some. Just as I took a big gulp of water Mayra said, “Well, if God wants to give you a baby that looks like a donut…” and then said something along the lines of it serving her right since she never went to the doctor (and is already 4 months along! I can’t believe her!), I spit the water out since I imagined Ricci caressing the face of a huge white, powdered donut baby. After going to the sink and cleaning myself up, I returned to find John pretending to hold a donut baby, then licking it when no one was looking. You had to be there–it was just hilarious.

I had an appointment to donate blood at the United Blood Services bus and took John with me for moral support. Turns out I couldn’t donate since my iron was really low. For those who don’t know, they prick your finger, draw blood and drip a drop of the blood into some blue-ish liquid. If it floats right down, you’re okay. Usually, my blood’s perfect. Yesterday, however, the nurse dropped my blood in and it just floated in the same spot. Weird. So I didn’t get to donate. When we get back to class John and I read that Mono website again, thoroughly, and it says clear as day not to donate if you think you have Mono. John smacked my arm and said, “You could have infected thousands of people!”

I felt guilty, but my pride made me say, “The blood you donate can save the lives of up to 3 people. What those three people do with their blood and saliva is up to them.”

I’m a bitch, I know LOL.

It makes me sad to think I might not get to donate anymore though. I feel good when I donate. If we do in fact have Mono, we won’t feel completely healthy again for another 18 months. Months. And we’ll have the virus in our bodies for the rest of our lives and can even keep infecting people without knowing. Stupid virus.

Mario and I didn’t have the most romantic Valentine’s Day–but we were both sick so I don’t think either of us really cared. I know I didn’t…all I prayed for every night was for both of us to get better. He did surprise me with a dozen light pink roses, my favorite gummy candy: Sour Patch Kids, and Just Like Heaven, which I’ve yet to watch, on DVD. I didn’t get him anything because he never even dropped a single hint as to what he’d like, but he claims his present is a CD player he bought himself for the Prelude. He always does that.

He called me from work on Thursday night and said to meet him there, so I did. From there we stopped by the ATM and then went to eat at Applebee’s. We’d never, in our almost 9 years as a couple, been to Applebee’s together. It was nice. The service was great and we had a really nice time talking. He broke my heart when he said the green beans I made him (along with his meatloaf and mashed potatoes for his lunch) needed to be cooked longer, but he made up for it when he said, “Well, we’re going to be together for a long time, and you’re going to be cooking for me for a long time, so isn’t it a good thing that I’m telling you what needs a bit of work?” Aww…it was sweet…kind of LOL.

Lucy and Mayra gave me cards and sweets on Valentine’s Day. I’m slowly working through the huge bag of candy Lucy gave each of us (and then I wonder why I have a gazillion cavities).

We’d visited Gramma on Valentine’s Day and kept a good distance away since I didn’t want her to catch my sickness. She’s doing fine. She doesn’t seem to have Shingles anymore, but the rash never went away so she has an appointment with a dermatologist on the 28th. Mom will be going with her. I need to start figuring out how I’m going to do it since the appointment’s at 1:30 and I get out of school at 12.

It’s SUPER COLD outside. I’m all nice and wrapped up in my Hello Kitty blanket on my huge computer chair and I don’t want to move. Mary wanted me to drop her off at church but John’s car wouldn’t start–I don’t blame it, it’s freezing.

I needed to decide what to make for dinner, but upon inspecting the fridge I realized we have tons of leftovers, so leftovers we shall have. Since the boys are behaving angelicly (for now) and my legs are in pain from the cold, I think I’ll just curl up on the couch with The Devil Wears Prada and my warm cup of Chamomille tea. Feels nice over swollen gums.

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I’m still sick, with the same thing. So’s Mario. We went to the doctor in Camargo, Mexico (same one we went to when I had that 4-week stomach virus) and the shit he prescribed for us sucked. The medicine he gave us for the fever and inflammation made my throat burn and the antibiotic was so huge I couldn’t pass it down. Didn’t help that my throat felt like it was the size of a straw. I’ve had a fever since last week. It only goes away when I’m on something, like Advil or Tylenol. Since last week! I’m so afraid my liver’s going to crumble apart for taking so much Tylenol. Who knows what Advil does. I just feel so shitty. I hate not having health insurance, I really do. Insurance at Mary’s is super expensive for us and supposedly all the other places are too. I can’t stand this. I hate feeling like crap. I had to come home from school early yesterday; thank God it was a study/make-up day. Today was our final for Help Desk Support. I think I did okay. Nothing was staying though, I couldn’t concentrate.

I’ll be going on a Hiatus (*gasp*, but it’s not a big surprise…it’s like I kind of am anyway) till I feel better or finish school, which ever comes first–which right now, feels like the latter.

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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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