Back in the Saddle Again!

So just in case you are wondering...I really am ALIVE and still kickin' after one of the toughest weeks in a long time. (Although I am quite sure some of the teachers/parents at school may have thought I skipped out on Mike and the kids and headed back to the states....I'm here to set the record straight....I am still on the Mountain!)   Thanks to Mike for keeping everyone up to date on my health status...mostly Choppie and Poppie and Mom Schaefer as I knew their little minds would be whirling with all sorts of swine flu media hype and wondering just how was I coping???  Hmmm, don't think it was swine flu...cow flu...maybe?  Don't think it was a parasite either, I think it was some bad virus that glommed onto John Gustavo and then found its way to me after a week of caring for him.  (See my previous post re: underwear :)

I dare not wish this on anyone!  John fell sick with two days of fever followed by a week plus of diarreah.  After his 5th day of the runs, and my first day with slight fluish symptoms (a week ago Sunday), we decided we better get him into the clinic to rule out any type of parasite.  We left the clinic with orders to return the next day with a stool sample (ya right, tell me how I am suppose to pull that one off with a 3-year old...ain't happenin'.), a urine sample and an order for blood work.  Monday rolled around and I could not get out of bed.  Generally, my body temp is below 97.5, I started the day with a 99.2 and ended up with a temp over 102 the next day.  The bone pain was excrutiating; and the boys jumping over me, debuting their latest gymnastic move on my bed, didn't help the situation.  Finally, after sweating through three t-shirts in the night, my fever broke but left me with 6 days of diarreah and stomach cramps; like nothing I can remember.  Oh how I longed for my bathroom back in the little green house on Tuttle Avenue.  Instead, I hunkered down in my 'now' bathroom with my Spanish verb book in hand and stared either at the concrete floor below me or up above at the cob webs and mold infested ceiling.  Take your pick!  And let us not forget the dreaded toilet paper...in the garbage my dear friends, not down the toilet.  I made sure Mike had a little package with him every morning on his way to school last week which he could easily toss into the dumpster across from our pasture gate.  He was a trooper through my illness, coming home from school early, keeping me well hydrated, keeping the boys out of my hair so I could rest and that is only the beginning!  

Thursday came and I simply could not function so Mike stayed home from school and secured other teachers to take his morning classes until Gaudy arrived at noon.   Gaudy was a tremendous help, keeping up with the Schaefer laundry and running down to the Pulperia to fetch me gingerale and Gatorade.  I missed family in a bad way but found comfort in the offerings from the community, as Mike mentioned in a previous post, everything from chicken soup, lemonade, brownies, bread, plant leaves for tea, probiotics, yogurt and goat's milk to make more ourselves (yogurt that is), vitamins and DVDs to keep the kids occupied.  All so helpful!

I finally made it out of bed this past Saturday and yesterday stepped outside for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks to walk the kids to school.  

  

Somehow Mike and Michael escaped this bug...how? who knows?...perhaps the luck of the draw.  As for me and John, we've done our time, so stay well my friends and know that I'll be waiting in the wings to come to your rescue with perhaps some chicken soup or a Powerade in hand.

Signed: S

Delicious Home Cooked Support

Yesterday after school, the boys and I stopped at the Sue and John's house - neighbors across the road. They are a sweet elderly couple who moved here from the States about 30 years ago. Their son moved here from New York City a few years ago and the three of them are very involved in the community. Sue invited us over to pick up some 'hands' (what we call a bunch) of bananas from a their racimo of bananas. The racimo is the true bunch of 100 or so bananas clumped together.  They enjoy tree ripened bananas from their yard about ten months of the year. They sent us home with two dozen delicious bananas - they have a rich flavor, are soft but not mealy. 

This morning, the son Richard came to the house with a loaf of homemade bread, brownies and lemonade.  About the same time, Elizabeth, mother of Johnny at school, delivered a bucket of Greek lemon chicken soup. It certainly is nice to have meals prepared for us, but the greater gift is the caring and support from one's heart. We might feel isolated at times, yet the simple kindness shared by neighbors this week creates those connections we long to have. By the way, everything is delicious! Thank You.

This morning, Sally was not in any condition to play role of active mom, so I stayed home until Goudy arrived about noon. (Thanks to Jessica and Heather for taking my classes) Their is a glimmer of hope that Sally is turning a corner as she did eat two bowls of hearty soup at dinner. We shall wait until tomorrow.

Good night and sweet dreams, M

Mom Now Sick

Its Tuesday night, about 8PM and I am the sole survivor in the house and have not yet succumbed to illness. Michael is finally over his congestion, John is still engaged in battle with his lower intestine and now Sally has been in bed for two days and has experienced her first fever since I've known her. It looks like the flu and it will just have to run its course as we address the symptoms with oatmeal, rice, thumberry leaf tea and guyabas. I think this is the greatest challenge since we've been here and we miss the comfort from family and close friends. People here have been helpful, and just like anywhere some are busier than others and some will ask if we need anything. Veronica, the mother of six year old Stuart, prepared for us a little care package of Alleve and thumberry tea leaves for making tea. I skipped the Tuesday faculty meeting today to take Michael home and pick up supplies at the local grocery. Sally was collapsed on the couch, John absorbed by a movie and Michael and I climbed trees in the pasture to pick guyabas.

To add to the illness yesterday, my frustration peaked as I called the utility to inquire about our lack of electricity. I was informed that I did not pay the bill, and pabaam, out go the lights. Yes, it was entirely my fault. I pleaded my case (sick family, flashlights are inadequate when dealing soiled child bottoms) with the woman on the other end. If I paid now, we will get power in the morning. Of course, nothing is easy and she could not accept credit card payment by phone. Fortunately, Stellas bakery was still open and I used their wifi to navigate the bank web site and pay my past dues. (Please don't tell any future creditors) By the time I returned home at 6PM, it was completely dark in the house and our last candle was pittering out. So, eliminating the option of opening the refrigerator, the boys and I brainstormed and decided on a dinner menu of chocolate oatmeal. It was a flashlight dinner for three, and then by Michael's reaction, a miracle took place. One of the dining room lights turned on. Funny thing, it wasn't much brighter than that last candle. Michael rejoices, "Oh my goodness, dad the light went on because you paid the money for the electrical bill!" "Let me check the bedroom dad, oh my, this one works too." And from room to room he went enjoying the power of electricity. We all settled down, consumed the meal, and listened to the wind roaring through the trees.

Yes, the weather pattern changed yesterday. For the past month, the air has been calm and Pacific moisture rolls quietly in from the west. The clouds build and dump on western Costa Rica each afternoon. Now, east winds are blowing over the mountains from the Caribbean. We should still get plenty of precipitation, but it won't be as intense or as predictable. I understand we will feel the winter here when the temps are in the upper 50s and wind driven rain pulls the heat out of everything. Someone commented about our drafty house that lacks a wood burning stove. We will wait for that experience.

Signed M

Throwing in the Towel As Far as Underwear Goes!

Just a quick post as the boys are watching a DVD and sipping hot soup...John has the flu (truly the stomach flu) and I simply cannot keep up with the underwear he is going through. Yesterday, I counted 10 pairs...so between washing those out and washing our hands what seemed like every five minutes, my hands are definitely feeling the wear and tear. I miss my dryer! The oven has been on overdrive the last 24 hours as I can't wash/dry the undies quick enough to keep up with, what we call back home, "the squirts".

Its not like John will hang out in the bathroom on the toilet reading the NY Times, so often times, it ends up in his undies. He has the cramps to accompany, the phlem, snotty nose and fever mostly at night! Michael is still battling the cough, so both are home from school today.

Open for suggestions; perhaps he'll go for wearing a plastic baggie or ziploc with two holes cut out instead of cozy cotton undies???

Peace,
Signed: S