Update on Natale

For those reading, she's ok.  Looks like a bladder infection which potentially may have caused her fever.  They've given her fluids, but I guess are booting her from the hospital, so it's a cab ride back to the camp.  As such, this will probably set her back a little, so if anyone has the potential to send some money to help her out to get some groceries, that would be helpful!  The woman doesn't even have soup in the RV!  Yogurt, granola, and fruit when sick is not enough.  She needs to get stocked up more, so let's get her some help.  Hell if she was nearby, I'd go to the food bank and get her some food for the road.

Thank you to all for the support for my aunt.  She's a strong woman, but she needs to know there are those out there that love her, care about what happens to her, and want to encourage her to keep going :).

Day 12, Day 13, Day 14, Day 15, Day 16

Nothing to post for day 12, as I have been sick all day. Headache, sore throat, hot and freezing cold flashes, sinus issues and more. Because I can't take meds, by body has become a fighter. Fever has finally broke (2am day 13). Now just need the rest of it to go away. Wish I had soup onboard.
<p>Time to take dog out and then go back to laying down. </p>
<p>Day 13 is pretty much the same as 12 without the fever. Plus from being in bed more then out of it last 2 days, every muscle and joint is screaming. Dog has not gone out in 12 hours so need to do that. Good thing most campers are gone and I don't have to walk her. </p>
<p>Oh, there was a little excitement last night. Saw 4 police cars and ambulance with lights on go by and a helicopter was flying around looking for someone for over an hour. </p>
<p>Spent most of the day dozing and freezing under the blanket. By 9pm that changed and I awoke with a damp shirt. Hoping I will be better tomorrow. </p>
<p>Day 14, very weak. Have not had anything with real nutrition in days. Have not urinated so guess dehydration has set in. I try and drink water whenever I get up, but I guess it is not enough. I will either get better or die in the desert.</p>
<p>Hopefully I will stop being sick and have more to blog about.</p>
<p>Woke up last night soaked head to toe. It kept coming out for almost a hour. Once I stopped gushing, got cleaned up and put dry clothes on. Then came the chills. Fever keeps coming and going. Right now I'm just burning up. If just the headache and nausea would go away that would help some. You know I am really sick, have not smoked since this all started.</p>
<p>We can say day 16 was an expensive day. So sick couldn't sleep so called 911 to catch a ride. The Fire/Emts here at Cochiti are all local volunteers and got here pretty fast. They decided to take me to St.Vincent in Santa Fe. On the way out they stopped at the shop to switch people. Putting in iv line he used a needle that was to big and that vein is blown. Nothing but a giant black and blue knot on that hand.

Using a much smaller needle now and going higher on arm, we finally got a line in. I have a bruise on my finger as that is where blood draw had to be gotten from. Of course my inner arms are all bruised and I look like a druggy from all their missing because they never listen to the one person who really does know their body best.

Night shift started processing me and respected my liver issues and did not force any meds. Then day shift took over and started just pushing stuff into my line. I was told most  livers don't like meds. When blood test came back they found my enzymes up, because mine really does not. Looks like I will need to take some meds to kill this infection. Not sure on why blood platlets are low, but will have them checked again later on.

Testing is brutal. Choke me with a Strep test to my tonsils. Then there is the flu test where they try to drown nasal passage with saline and suck you boogers out. Awful feeling and I said if they wanted my boogers I would have preferred to pick them a few.

Only way back to campground was a taxi and that was big bucks $110. Rangers were good about checking on dog.

Still need to get my prescription filled, but tomorrow is another day.

Day 11

Got up at 6:20am took out dog, fed dog and cat and went back to bed. Though a little broken up, for the first time in a long time I got 10 hours sleep. Now to get ready for my day out with Heather.

Took dog for nice walk so she went potty. Feel like a mean mom leaving her without food, but she will be locked in 75 degree RV for 9-10 hours. This will be a good test on how long she can hold it.

Met a women over by bathroom who made fun of us people with AC running. Though today is actually a nice day and I explained that mine has to be on for pets. It is on for me only when temps go over 80. She thought dog was old and was surprised to find she was only 8.

Time to head south to Albuquerque. I think it is only an hour drive, but will give myself some leeway.

Wound up being an hour early, so getting a bite to eat in a sit down restaurant. Have not eaten in a restaurant since November 2011. Nothing fancy because I want to have room for dinner tonight with Heather and all her Partilite family of friends. So short stack and OJ only.

Heather arrived, I collected my stuff and got in her car. Don't know about her, but for me it did not feel like a first meet. Things flowed and was real comfortable from the moment I got in her car. We walked around Old Town and ate sopapillas. We stopped in the mall for Heather to get something from Bed and Bath. They were sold out. Ms Booth introduced me to her favorite clothes store. We shopped the sales and I now own my softest and most expensive pair or sweat pants from Hollister. Never heard of them till today as I am a bargain shopper not a brand shopper. I am told they will last a long time. We shall see. :-P

Next we meet up with M, Jimmy, Devon, Dustin, Liz and Rick at Boston Bar and Grill for dinner. Heather and I not that hungry, so we split 3 sliders. Heather ate the fries and I got a side of broccoli as I have been veggie deficient lately.

After dinner we drove up to Sandia Tramway way to look out over everything. One day next week we plan on going on tram just before sunset. Plus doing so scares me and I will face that fear.

Back at camp by 11pm. Dog did good for 12 hours. Only thing she got in trouble for was getting on couch. She knows better, but figured she was watching out window as I left blind up a little for cat to look out. I am sure my dog wonders how I always know. If she ever figures it out, she might learn to fix throw she messed up to cover her tracks. Lol

Now it is time to find heat wraps as I really need them tonight.

Day 10

After texting Heather and making plans for Saturday, I listened disk 1 of The Pagen Stone.

Laid down at 11pm and could not get comfortable. Back really bothering me. Got up, made a cup of Chai went out at 3:30am to enjoy the morning. Since campground was asleep I let dog explore on her own off leash.

It is 10:20am and hot out already. Right now all I am going to do is eat brunch and listen to book.

Finished listening to book, shower, dressed and now going to take a short walk with dog. She is not going to like it as it is really to hot for her. I will take her to the lake to cool her off.

Walking I felt leash go taunt and turned to find my dog doing something she has never done. She pooped in middle of road. I guess she really had to go. I had already taken her out 3x prior today. I an not picking that up. Though she was dragging in first 15 mins of walk, she perked a little when she saw jack rabbit. On way back she was so tired she did not even notice the cotton tail.

This time I almost did not think I would make it back to campsite. By mistake took the long route to water. Once close we went down a wall of rocks, (right side of picture is the low end. We did the higher end, as it end on land not water). Picture with distance view, we already walked half the distance to water. I am already dreading walk back before we even get to destination.

Dog even though she was cautious and thought out every move, still beat me down. I tapped rocks every step of the way to make noise and warn rattelers. I almost fell a few times and almost broke walking stick once to prevent fall. Dog swam and drank. I went through 20 oz of water in 1 1/2 hours. Uphill killed me and I am not day walking in the desert again unless temps go down or it is raining.

No more today as back is screaming once again, my knee is unhappy and I need both settled for my date tomorrow.

Time to eat, read, relax and maybe nap.

Day 9 Traveling Day

What a night. First to hot even with windows and vents open to sleep. Plus could not find a position that would help my back stop hurting. Then dog added to the mix because she was upset she could not sleep in her spot when slide is closed. Funny how animals make their own routine and get upset when broken. I know she wants to be close, but she can see me from living room. Not like it is far away. Finally started to fall asleep when my guts started up. Lets just say for next hour it is a good thing I have an onboard water closet. Don't know what was the cause, but almost afraid to eat. Will have a little oatmeal though, as I'm hungry.

Cat was funny in that anything not in its place or something new is cause to slowly approach and whack it. When she jumped in bed and saw an odd object near my pillows, she did just that. Now she has met my pocket pistol.

Upon taking the dog out this morning I found I did not lock door and that is something that is normally habit. :-(

Onboard generator has not been run in 7 month, so it was stubborn staying started at first. Tire was down 60 lbs this morning. Did something I never do. I left air in compressor just in case I need a few lbs before I park again for the night.

Stopped at Flying J in Amarillo TX to top off tank. Walked dog and then went in for.99 44oz soda. Fancy machine that had a syrup dispenser. So put 2 squirts of cherry and 2 of lemon. That was a really good Pepsi. Since pizza was a 2 for,  I got 2 slices. One for lunch and one for dinner.

Next stop was a rest area west of Santa Rosa NM. I was planning on staying there for the night. Plans changed for two reasons. One, when I took dog out and was hit by the heat, I knew we needed AC. Air hot, wind hot and hard to breath. Second, there was only 108 miles left to go. I will pay another $10 to have a campsite with power.

Upon parking last night the wind came and I have been dealing with it since. Driving in it with such a high profile rig is tiring and sucks up the fuel. Driving on hwy 285 was not bad as it was more tailwind that time.

Found out my $10 a night campsite with 50 amp power has no water. That is fine though. I unhooked car, backed into a site with water and put some in the tank. Of course the people from TX that reseved it came in while I was filling. They were nice about it, but I did not want to hold them up. I stopped at 2/3rd and got out of the way. Good thing to as more were coming in.

Even though my spot is on a hill where I picked to park in it was level. So I only had to drop jacks for support, for slides to be put out. Once power was hooked up, I got AC on and then finish setup. Cat is finally out of hiding. We all ate and now I am resting as my back not happy with me.

Since I am here for 10 days I am hoping to be able to meet up/hang out with Heather and Sarai, as well as see things I may have missed when here in 07 for a week.