Since the move we've all been sick.  Then, remember that stomach pain I was talking about a month or so ago?  It got worse.  Suddenly.  I would feel a cold sensation each time I ate or lay on one side.  Air, food, liquid seemed to be pouring into my abdomen (if I were to best describe it) and it felt very odd and painful.  If I lay down on my back the feeling would travel up towards my shoulder and back. 

The kids were both very sick during the evenings and I lay awake, thinking I was about to die and debating going to the emergency room.  After two nights of this, I woke up and went to the urgent care clinic.  See, in the middle of all this, Mister Valentine has a major test he's cramming for, and we're still trying to keep the house semi-child proofed as we settle in. 

So I'm freaking out to say the least.  I go in, they do all sorts of blood work and it all comes back normal, except my blood sugar, which was high.  Diagnosis is that I have a stomach ulcer and I'm backed up.  And my heart rate is through the roof, the doctor says.  Take it when you are home during the day and call us if it's still high. 

The problem in the past?  I call and nothing gets done.  Ever.  This is why, even if health care DOES go through, the real problem won't necessarily be fixed.  Let's say I DO have a hole in my stomach.  Or heart disease.  Or melanoma.  If no one does the correct tests or is willing to go a little bit further, it doesn't help much.  You have a bunch of sick people, still sick, still fighting to get seen in a timely matter AND get the correct diagnosis.  So many doctors just send you home with a wait and see prognosis.

It turns out after some more tests and detective work that my bowels, stomach, etc have nearly stopped working because I am so dehydrated.  Several more days and I might have ended up in a hospital room in serious condition.  So that cold sensation was water going throughout my body, like an IV effect. 

I'm on a diuretic for hormone reasons so that automatically made it worse and....I admit I couldn't remember the last time I'd had anything to drink but soda.  Mt. Dew, to be exact.  And I know better.  I'd kicked the Diet Pepsi habit, like, four weeks ago.  So it was stupid of me to get into the habit again.  And with all the stress, two hour nights of sleep and go, go, go of the move I guess I'd really neglected my fluids and was looking for a continual pick me up AKA Mt. Dew. 

So I'm trying to relax and just lay around.  I've more than slightly neglected twitter, blogging and other social events but since the move, I've just tried to be there for the kids, keep a routine and keep things as stress free as possible.

Daily Gratitudes:

1. I'm alive.  I hope to stay that way.

2. The kids are mostly over their coughs, which were so much worse in the evenings.

3. Daughters ear infections are gone, YAY!

4. We're in our new house.  It's like we've come full circle. 

5. I got the Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz in the mail, which was recommended by Natasha.  So far, it's excellent!