2 weeks and counting...

is how long I've been sick. Ya, it's getting old. 2 weeks ago today I was fine, shopping with a friend and playing volleyball. But 2 weeks ago from tonight was not fun. REALLY bad stomach cramps attacked me out of nowhere. Where does this junk come from? It could drive you crazy trying to figure it out. So of course the next day I was wiped out, in bed all day. Saturday I was a little better, up and around and we even went out with friends and played games. I felt ok. I went to church Sunday, again, I felt ok. My whole fam went to my parents for dinner that night and I ate a little, just kind of ok. This was Labor Day weekend so Kurt and I could stay up a little later and we were watching a movie in our room and about 1 am it attacked again, this time with vomiting. Gross. It's just the grossest thing ever. That lasted about an hour then sleep brought relief. Monday we had plans with the kids spray painting shirts (SO fun) so I really wanted to be up and out of bed. So I was, but taking it easy - sort of.

That night I noticed my right pointer finger and left middle finger knuckles were sore. I thought it was weird but maybe a little arthritis, or sore from the spray painting. They kept me up all night. They just got worse and worse until both my hands were throbbing with pain. It didn't matter what position I had them in, nothing brought relief. I didn't know what the heck was going on. Tuesday mom my and sister came over to can peaches and pears. Those 2 fingers I mentioned were swollen and I couldn't bend them. I did the best I could working in the kitchen and as the day went on, I noticed my left ankle start to hurt a bit. I kept on going, making dinner and walking on it which was a mistake. It just kept getting worse until I could no longer walk on it. Again, any position it was in didn't matter, just throbbing pain like it was broken. Wednesday I went to the Dr., explained everything and when he saw my puffy hand he said

"did you get a bite?" "no" "well what is that?" Uh... isn't that why I'm here???

They drew blood and tested for gout, lupus and arthritis and gave me some pain/anti-inflammatory stuff that's basically glorified advil and didn't do anything. By this time if I walked just right I could put a little pressure on my left foot. Thursday I noticed my other ankle starting to get sore and I thought noooooooooooo!!! I'll need a wheel chair to get around! That night was really bad. It was my right ankles turn to throb uncontrollably like it was broken. And not just the ankle, the pain shot up my leg. I pretty much cried all night, Kurt was miserable because he couldn't do anything to help except carry me to the bathroom and get me what I needed. Not a fun night. Fast forward to today, and lets see, it's moved through all my fingers, (currently my left pinky and ring finger, right thumb and right ring finger are sore) both shoulders (my right one kept me up all Sunday night throbbing, broken, same thing. It's still a bit sore today but I can lift it above my head now - yay!) both wrists and knees and now the top of my left foot hurts. That's not a joint!

Monday we heard from the Dr. and my blood work came back clean. Yay! No scary diseases just a really scary virus. I also got vicadin on Monday which has made my nights better, but my days groggy and a little nauseous. Kurt and dad gave me a blessing and some things it said were: we are given trials for us to grow; this is an opportunity for people to serve me and for me to let them which is hard for me; I will be healed but I must be patient and be positive. I know I've learned a valuable lesson, I need to serve and help people more. I need to step out of my comfort zone and when somebody needs something, just do it instead of waiting for them to ask. I've been repenting and trying very hard to stay positive. Let's see, it doesn't stay in 1 joint for very long, so far 4 days is the longest. I have an awesome husband. He's been so sweet taking care of me and the house stuff even though he's maxed out on stress from work. I have awesome kids. They've been taking care of me when Kurt can't. I have awesome parents and sisters. They've been taking care of me when they can and keeping me company. I have awesome friends. They've brought me ice cream, dinner, lunch, books and movies and best of all, their company! I've been house-bound for so long I'm going a little stir-crazy. I have SO much to do this Fall I really can't be laid up any longer. In the next 3 months I have 3 birthdays, 3 enrichment nights to put on and 3 holidays. Ok, breathe, I can feel the stress building... I am determined to be better next week because I have no other option. I have to get ready for enrichment on the 29th and Kurt and I have tickets for Wicked on the 25th. No WAY are we missing that! Please pray for me. I feel like the Grinch as I head upstairs to: