I'm Back!

I apologize that it has been sooooooooo long since my last post. The last week in September, I got very sick. My symptoms included severe stomach cramping, nausea and diarrhea. I have never been so sick in my life. All I could do was lay in bed...for two weeks. I hardly had anything to eat or drink during that time. Grady was very worried about me and did not want to send me to a clinic in Mexico. With advice from a few of Grady's professors and Gary and Mary Hines, we were able to determine that I probably had a parasite.
It was decided that I would return to the U.S. for medical treatment. On October 7th, I flew to Oklahoma City. Grady's mother was there to pick me up and take me to the doctor. The diagnosis was that I had amoebic dysentery. The antibiotic I was taking really did a number on my digestive health. I was also very dehydrated which seemed to be a big concern for the doctor. I was finally able to begin eating soft foods and now am eating solid foods. Lab tests showed that the amoebas are all gone. I am feeling so much better now and am so thankful for my good health.
Grady is continuing to do VERY well in school. I am just so proud of him!

it's an amoeba!

Grady came home from class this morning, flung open the door and said, "Good morning my little pooper trooper!" How sweet.
I'm laying on the couch, still sick. It's now been eight days of stomach cramps, nausea and severe diarrhea. After consulting with one of his professors, Grady told me the consensus is that I have an amoeba (amoebic dysentery), probably from consuming contaminated vegetables or water. Grady's comment: "You reap what you sow" (referring to my eating of vegetables). Ha!
Moral of the story here: if I would just eat ketchup and bologna sandwiches like Grady, I wouldn't be in this predicament. :-)
Grady purchased metronidazole (you don't need a precription here to buy medicine) and I should be feeling better in a few days.
Grady is absolutely incredible and has taken such good care of me. He is going to make a wonderful doctor!
Thank you for your prayers regarding my health.

Five days later...

and still sick. As stated in my most recent blog, I became very ill Sunday evening. It is now Friday and I still feel terrible. I have not left the apartment, cleaned the apartment or even brushed my hair in five days. This is the worst stomach illness I have EVER had. I lay in bed most of the day with severe stomach cramping and nausea. Grady comes home for lunch, brings me dry toast and gatorade and then goes back to class. Yesterday evening, he was able to buy cypro (an antibiotic - no prescription needed here). I started taking that and hope that will cure whatever this is.
Meanwhile, I have a paper due to UCLA at 6 p.m. today so I better get started. Ugh.

Ugh!

I apologize for not posting a blog in the past several days. I became very ill Sunday evening, I think from eating bad food. It has been three days of nausea, stomach cramps, the works.
I haven't gotten out of bed, the apartment is a disaster, Grady is now eating cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has even had to iron his own clothes (which, by the way, he is doing such a good job at ironing, I may have to put him on permanent duty).
I made the mistake of trying to eat something yesterday. Since then, I have reverted back to my water and cracker diet. Yummy!
On the bright side, being sick has forced me to slow down (well actually, my life has come to a screeching halt). I have been able to do a lot of reading and studying. Grady has been so wonderful. It is so nice to be married and be able to take care of one another when we are sick.
Well, I hope to be up and at it tomorrow!

Just when I thought there was nothing to blog about...

Things have been kinda quiet lately and I was beginning to wonder what I would blog about...then the hail storm came. Grady and I were walking home yesterday evening when all of a sudden (really, all of a sudden) it started raining heavily. The winds picked up and then it started to hail BIG pieces of ice. I have never seen a hail storm like this before. Had I been inside watching it from the comfort of my home, I would have enjoyed it. However, Grady and I were about a mile from our apartment. With no shelter to take cover, we got soaked. We were so wet, our clothes were barely hanging on. We started running but since we had just eaten, Grady said he couldn't run or his stomach would ache. Moments later the hail came down in bigger pieces and with greater frequency and we were running whether we wanted to or not. Hail covered the streets. Tree branches were snapping and crashing to the ground. I got pegged in the face, head and arm with hail. We were able to briefly take cover under an awning but then the wind changed direction and we were getting hit by rain and hail again. We ran the rest of the way home. Once inside, we realized we had left the windows open (there's no such thing as air condition here) and water had poured inside. With the electricity being out from the storm, we fumbled around in the dark for clean clothes to wear and towels to clean up all the water. What a weekend to remember!

Thursday's Medley

So what's new this week?

Grady and I are now taking medication for worms. Don't panic...we don't have worms...yet. The produce is poor quality and apparently, getting intestinal worms from the produce is common here in Guadalajara. We are taking the medication once every six months as a preventative measure.

As if Grady needs one more reason not to eat his fruits and vegetables right?

Speaking of produce, I created quite an commotion at the grocery store last week. I was leisurely shopping in the produce section when I looked down and saw a HUGE insect-like bug on my forearm. I let out a conservative shriek and quickly brushed the bug off. The bug landed on a lady next to me, who then also screamed. Next thing you know, there was an uproar in the produce section over this one bug. It was quite a scene. I told Grady about it when he got home. His only comment was, "Why am I not surprised?"

Do you remember our "washer" and dryer"? Well, I am putting it to good use these days. We had been using a laundry service that is near our apartment. Ramon would pick up our clothes every Tuesday, wash, dry, fold and return them the same day. We are charged by weight for the laundry. We had noticed the price steadily increase week by week as our clothes seem to weigh more now. Interesting. So now I wash what I can by hand in the sink. It's not so bad.

Next week, I may have the opportunity to tutor students after school...for pay! Finding legal employment here is nearly impossible if you are a foreigner. I am grateful for this opportunity and hope it will turn out. I'll keep you posted!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Today, Grady and I have been married two years. It has been two years of growth, discovery, thinking together and then thinking alike. It has been wonderful. Happy anniversary Grady! I look forward to each year ahead - the challenges, the opportunities and growing closer and more in love with you.