CryptoSporidium, My New SuperHero Name

To infinity & beyond... OR to the hospital for 4 days.

Can I write my book yet? The one called Pure Luck or Dumb Luck or something like that. One thing's for sure, I'll never run out of great conversation topics. I'll be that annoying person you sit by on a plane, you know, the one who's "Had" everything. Right down to the very rare parasite.

When I collapsed on the bathroom floor Thursday morning & Jeff took me to Mo-Bap's ER, we just thought it was for dehydration. But I had told several of you, that I could swear that this wasn't just a virus! It hurt TOO BAD to be something that most people tough out. They said they'd keep me a night to get my levels back up. Then, when a gastro-intest. doc had a look at me, they realized this wasn't normal. My colin had something foreign in it. But they couldn't figure out what was wrong. At first they diagnosed me w/ something they called "C Bac" which is caused by antibiotics (Lord knows I've taken enough of them in the last year). I was put on "Contact" which meant ANYONE walking thru the door of my room was to 'suit up' w/ robes, gloves, etc. Made for a good science fiction movie. They just had a slight hesitation about this diagnosis becuz I hadn't taken an antibiotic in the last few mos.

Later, through a, um, er, stool sample, they realized that this was not c bac, but yet a PARASITE. Literally a bug. Gross, yuck, sick me out.

Cryptosporidium is a waterborn parasite. Usually ingested through river water. Sometimes in well water. And can be transferred through feces.

So, I either got this thing by my trip last week to India, where I guzzled down gallons of their water or when I was white water rafting with Gabe in the back of the boat.

Actually, I had to have either drank this thing in some water or ate at a restaurant where it was passed to me on my food through feces. Gross.
Makes you think twice about eating out, doesn't it?

First I was so super aggravated. I've never claimed to keep an immaculate house, but one thing I obsess about is hand washing. And when we're out, I slather the antibacterial gel on me & the kids.
You should've heard the drs questioning me. Have you traveled outside of the country? No. Have you been hiking or camping in the last two weeks? No. Have you drank from a well lately? No.
I was thinking, let me explain it this way: I could not possibly 'get out' less. I should've told them to read my blog.

I had an iV for several days. And each night I enjoyed a shot in my stomach. I got to go for my first night away from Gabe & instead of him being 1 1/2 years old & Jeff & I going to Hawaii, he was only 7 mos, still nursing & I was laying in a hospital bed crying (instead of sleeping in a over-the-water Maui bungalow).

We were frustrated. Here I was for a few days, laying in a hospital bed having NO clue what was wrong w/ me. Away from the babies I rarely leave, and when I do, only briefly. Wondering. Forced to worry & think the worst.
Jeff left me his iPod. And I remember one morning, putting them on & cranking up Casting Crown's Who Am I. I looked up at the ceiling & felt God's warmth on my face. My eyes were streaming hot tears & I tried to remember that even as small as I am, with needs so much smaller than most people's, that a huge God cares, looks on me w/ Love & reminds me (just like a good parent) that I am taken care of.
The rest of my time there, esp before I saw an end in sight, I tried to hold on to that feeling.

My babies survived w/o me. My Mama's Boy is no longer a Mama's Boy (according to Dad, he's more of a Papa's Boy). He also likes formula, which is a relief (considering he didn't have a choice) since I couldn't pump as much as he drank. Flynn of course saw this as a big spring break. She flitted around the countryside. Family of course came to the rescue once again. And Jeff, God bless him, ran things almost as I would have.

So, now my job is to rest & get my strength back.

You can bet one thing: For a long time, I'm going to appreciate sitting down playing with Flynn or tucking Gabe in at night. I'm going to love the feeling of laying down in MY bed next to the love of my life.

And...
I'm not going to drink the water in Mexico.